Middleton & Giannis Outduel Booker, Bucks Tie Series! 7.14.21
It’s a Wednesday night and we have Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks.
(2) Phoenix Suns vs (3) Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns (2-2)
The Suns had this game, it was right there for them. Devin Booker was awesome, the Suns led by 9 early on and they led by 9 to start the 4th. But Chris Paul struggled and Booker’s foul trouble kept him off the floor longer than it should have. They couldn’t guard Khris Middleton in those screen and rolls late and they couldn’t make enough plays to win the game. The Suns were inches away from making it a 3-1 series lead, but instead the series is tied 2-2 heading back to the desert.
The first half was the Devin Booker show. He was very good in those curl screens and the Suns did a much better job involving him offensively. He had 20 in the first half and the Suns were ahead for most of the first half. The Suns played with pace, shot very well from the field, but yet the game was tied. How?
The turnovers were a problem again. The Bucks got 8 points off turnovers and 8 fastbreak points. The Suns did a better job containing Giannis but Middleton was hurting them on those screens and Giannis was still dominant at times. But it was still anybody’s game at halftime.
The 3rd quarter was the Booker show. He was 7/7 from the field with 18 points. He was burning Tucker with those curl screens and torching the Bucks whenever they switched Pat Connaughton onto him. The Suns shot 71% from the field overall in the 3rd, holding the Bucks to just 36% shooting and 24 points.
Like we talked about, the Suns led by 9 early on in the 4th. They had the momentum, the game was theirs. Sure, Booker picked up his 5th foul with 10:50 left in the 4th, but the Suns still had the game in hand. But Booker’s offense being off the floor was a major problem. He had 38 points entering the 4th and when he was out, the Suns struggled.
Chris Paul’s hand was bothering him, he just didn’t look right. His mid-range shots weren’t falling, he couldn’t lead the Suns the way they needed him to. The physical game got closer and closer, the Bucks taking the lead with 3:08 left off of a Pat Connaughton 3. Booker came back in with 5:55 left, but the Suns were just dead.
The game was tied with just over 2 minutes left. The rest of the game was crazy. Middleton scored with 1:28 left, giving the Bucks the lead. On the next play, the Suns ran an an alley-oop. It was open and Ayton looked like he was going to tie the game. Enter Giannis Antetokounmpo. He somehow made one of the greatest defensive stops in NBA history, getting his long arms to get back to the ball and deny it. That play might have just saved Milwaukee and hurt the Suns are feeling the after effects.
The Suns got a crucial stop but then Chris Paul lost the ball and that led to Giannis scoring and the Bucks leading by 4. And yes, Devin Booker should have been called for his 6th foul on Holiday. The Suns cannot complain about a single call for the rest of the series, that was egregious. Luckily it didn’t affect the game too much and the Bucks iced the game at the line. But that was a terrible call, in favor of the Suns and there’s no denying that.
Booker was great, 40 points, 38 points through 3 quarters. But he just got into too much foul trouble. He sat for half of the 4th quarter and watched as the Bucks inched closer. He was magnificent, but availability is the best ability. And Booker wasn’t there enough for the Suns to win.
Jae Crowder had 15 points and a few flops leading to free throws. Chris Paul was 5/13 from the field, perhaps that left hand is really bothering him. Don’t know how good he’s going to be for the rest of this series. Cam Johnson was great off the bench and Ayton had 17 rebounds. But the offense wasn’t good enough around Booker.
The Suns shot 51% from the field but they only shot 30% from 3. 17 turnovers is really hurting the Suns as they’re losing possessions and the Bucks got 24 points off turnovers. You just can’t have that in the Finals. The Bucks had a 15-0 fastbreak points, the Suns are just looking sloppy at the worst time.
This is adversity, for maybe the first time for the Suns. They just have to get it together. Chris Paul has got to be better, hopefully he’s actually healthy enough to try and be better. Bridges, Crowder, and Johnson have to hit shots and Booker has to be Booker. Offensively, having less turnovers solves a lot of problems for the Suns.
Defensively, much better job on Giannis. He was still good but not nearly as dominant. But you have to do a better job on Khris Middleton screens. He had 40 points in this game, doing a lot of damage from those screens. You have to put pressure on him, fight over those screens, make a change. He can’t do that again otherwise you’re at risk of losing.
The Suns can still win this series. But they just have to take a step back, take a deep breath, and calm down. They have to re-collect themselves and get back at it for Game 5, a game they desperately need to win.
Milwaukee Bucks (2-2)
I have not been a big believer in the Bucks. I thought in this situation, they would be a team to crumble. But I was proved wrong. With their backs to the wall, Khris Middleton and Giannis led to the way to one of the biggest games in Bucks history, certainly one of the most important since 1971, the last time the Bucks won it all. The Bucks couldn’t stop Booker, but the Suns couldn’t stop Middleton. Middleton had a late surge and Giannis made that ridiculous block that all but sealed things, a pivotal Bucks win to tie the series.
Khris Middleton was awesome. 40 points on 15/33 shooting. He hit some big shots late, he was everything they needed him to be. He hit some 3’s and in the 2nd half, he was excellent in the mid-range off of those Giannis screen and rolls. He had 14 points in the 4th quarter and 10 points in the final 3 minutes. He was excellent.
26-14-8 with 3 steals and 2 blocks for Giannis. He made some big plays. Obviously that incredible block on that Ayton alley-oop late, but he had that steal on the in-bounds pass that led to an easy dunk with 8 minutes left. He was very good.
For once, I love what coach Budenholzer did with the rotations. Brook Lopez only played 19 minutes, no minutes in the 4th quarter. He went smaller, with Giannis at center and Tucker and Connaughton in the game. You also saw some Bobby Portis. He finally made some smart decisions and they paid off.
Pat Connaughton played 31 minutes and he was a +/- of +21. He hit that big corner 3 with 3 minutes left that gave the Bucks the lead. He was and has been their unsung hero in this game. Perhaps you consider starting him, he’s been that effective (he’s also a former Blazer, which obviously means he’s a great player).
Jrue Holiday was awful offensively, 4/20 shooting. He had some easy shots at the rim that wouldn’t fall. But his defense on Chris Paul was excellent. He picked him up and half-court and rarely gave him running starts. The Bucks are playing drop coverage, but with Giannis at center, he’s quick enough to recover to Ayton and contest CP-3’s shots. That’s why no Brook Lopez is really good for the Bucks. Lopez was a -13 in 19 minutes. Connaughton was a +21 in 31 minutes. There’s obviously a big difference there.
The Bucks have found their recipe for success and now they’re running it to the ground. They’re forcing turnovers, getting out in transition, and force feeding Giannis and Middleton. They just have to keep doing this, keep getting to the line, keep playing Pat Connaughton, the Bucks have turned the tide in this series. Now it’s time to steal a road game and secure this title.
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