The NBA Finals Rematch We All Want Is Destined To Happen

Last year’s NBA Finals was a bloodbath. The Bucks and Suns were two franchises that hadn’t tasted winning in decades. Milwaukee, led by the Greek Freak, won a hard-fought, six-game series. It was a refreshing series, mainly because we didn’t have two super teams squaring off.

For that reason, we ignored these two teams over the summer. Who cares about Phoenix when Klay Thompson is coming back? The Nets’ Big 3 will roll over Milwaukee if they stay healthy. We’re not going to see a Finals rematch.

Fast forward to the All-Star break, and wouldn’t you know it? Our two protagonists are dominating the league. They’re on a collision course towards each other, potentially leading to an NBA Finals rematch we all wanted to see.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix are on track to become one of the greatest teams ever. With a record of 47-10, their best 57-game start in franchise history. They are 5.5 games better than the second-best team in the NBA record-wise. Since the turn of the year, they’ve lost just twice. To say they’re on a roll would be an understatement to end all understatements.

They have the third-ranked offense and the third-ranked defense. Head coach Monty Williams has one of the deepest rosters in the NBA by his side. It’s hard to find a flaw with this machine, I mean, team. An 8.2 net rating signifies their dominance.

Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton

Landry Shamet
Cam Johnson
JaVale McGee
Cameron Payne
Torrey Craig / Elfrid Payton / Aaron Holiday / Bismack Biyombo
HC: Monty Williams

If you were to break the Suns down into three main categories, they would look like this.

Perfection in the Clutch

When things are close, the game is already over against this team. Clutch in the NBA is the last 5 minutes of a game when the game is within five points. Winning close games separates teams. Teams who lose most of their close games struggle to be great. Try finding a contender who doesn’t win close games.

Phoenix is unstoppable in close games. They are 23-3 in clutch games this season. There are seven NBA teams with fewer than 23 wins this season.

Since the 1996-97 season, only one other team has been this good in the clutch. The 2015-16 Warriors won 88% of their clutch games (30-4 record). That team made it to Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Being this good in close games is a testament to the players and coaching staff. When you are not only more talented than your opponent, but you’re also better in close games? That combination is something you’re not going to see that often.

Pick-and-Roll Perfection

The Point God lives up his name in the pick-and-roll. He’s a masterful scorer from the mid-range, the perfect complement to his unreal playmaking. Paul leads a Suns team that is one of the best PnR teams in the league.

0.92 PPP (T-5th)
45.5% FG (4th)
Chris Paul (not a stat, but that’s besides the point)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but did I count three screens on this play? I’m not the only one, right?

There’s something about this that is so satisfying. It’s like watching an assembly line in a factory. It’s seamless.

Stout Defense

The Suns don’t have out-of-this-world defenders, but they have solid defenders aplenty. Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges can guard 1-4 on any team. Deandre Ayton is the safety net on the backline, cleaning up anything that comes at him.

Chris Paul remains a pesky defender, someone to get under your skin. Devin Booker tries his tail off on defense, which is enough. He has a wide base, so he’s not going to get pushed around on the perimeter.

Off the bench, it’s more of the same. Cam Johnson, JaVale McGee, Landry Shamet, and Aaron Holiday are all above-average defenders.

All of that culminates in an elite defense;

6th in Opponent PPG (105.2)
3rd in Opponent FG% (44.0%)
4th in Opponent 3-PT% (33.4%)
22.2 Opponent Assists (2nd)

Here were some of the Suns’ best defensive plays last night against the Clippers;

Devin Booker reads this perfectly. Ayton closes off Jackson’s drive to the rim, so Booker instinctively takes away the pass to Zubac.

I don’t know how you escape this team.

Overview

The Suns are good. Top-tier analysis from me, I do dare say so.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Jrue Holiday last offseason and haven’t looked back since. They have been hampered by injuries all season, but we know they’re waiting to unleash hell on the East.

Despite an injury to Brook Lopez down low, this team is a juggernaut. They have weapons galore on offense. Pair that with some of the best individual defenders in the NBA, and you’ve got yourself a title contender.

When healthy, I would put money on this team to win the East. That’s how dominant they can be. In 2022, it’s been a matter of finding that championship-level focus again. If they can achieve that, there’s a runaway train coming down the tracks. Everybody should get out of the way.

Jrue Holiday
Grayson Allen
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Brook Lopez (+)

Bobby Portis
Jordan Nwora
Pat Connaughton
Serge Ibaka
George Hill
HC: Mike Budenholzer

Here are a couple of my favorite things about this team.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Still) Can’t Be Stopped

As Suns fans can attest to, Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t be stopped. The two-time MVP is embarking on another glorious season filled with efficiency, a lot of dunks, and numbers that don’t make sense.

For instance, last night against the Pacers, Giannis dropped 50 points. It was his first 50-point game since Game 6 of the NBA Finals. However, it took him just 21 shot attempts. That’s the fourth-fewest shot attempts ever to reach 50 points in an NBA game.

But wait, there’s more. Over his last five games, Giannis is averaging;

33.8 points
10.8 rebounds
6.2 assists
66% FG
56% 3-PT
31.3 MPG

He’s leading the league in points per game, but he’s 57th in minutes per game. It doesn’t make any sense how this guy is only 27 years old.

He’s one of the favorites to win another MVP award. If the Bucks continue to win and end up a top-3 seed in the East, it’s hard to see him not winning the award. Look out everybody, Giannis’s dominance will stop for nobody.

Elite Paint Defense

The Bucks’ paint defense is their anchor. They do allow too many threes for my liking, but that’s beside the point. With a fully healthy frontcourt, it’s nearly impossible to score against them down low.

Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton make it hard for you to even get into the paint. On top of that, you have to try and get past Giannis, the best help defender in the NBA? Good luck with that, chief.

Milwaukee allows just 43.3 points in the paint (4th best in the NBA). The Bucks are top 10 in terms of restricted area field goals allowed. The strongest aspect of their defense is down low. With the myriad of physical, bruising defenders they possess down low, go to the rim at your own risk.

The Similarities Between These Two Juggernauts

It’s striking how similar these two teams are. I believe that the Suns are better, but they are strikingly similar. For one, they needed veteran point guards to become contenders. CP-3 and Jrue Holiday are both integral pieces to their respective teams.

Both teams house versatile wings (Middleton / Bridges). They are both balanced, able to scheme any way you’d like. More than anything, neither of these teams are all-star teams.

They are balanced squads who employ solid players all-around. Other than Giannis, there isn’t a top-10 player on either of these teams. It’s fascinating how these two teams operate compared to the rest of the NBA, where star power and big names are king.

Instead, these two front offices have found production. They found guys who can give them minutes, no matter their background. Cameron Payne isn’t a star, but he’s the backup point guard for the Suns. Bobby Portis isn’t a star, but he’s turned his career around with the Bucks.

Why An NBA Finals Rematch Seems Likely

If you look at the West, the only villain to the Suns’ magical season are the Warriors. They are the only real threat standing in the way of a rematch. Having homecourt against the Warriors would greatly help Phoenix’s chances in a series.

The East is a mess, filled with teams who are still finding themselves. If Milwaukee remains healthy, a path back to the NBA Finals seems clear. Unless teams like Brooklyn or Philly become dominant overnight thanks to their deadline trades, I see the Bucks as the clear favorite.

A rematch between these two teams would be fun. It would be a chance for the Suns to redeem themselves after blowing a 2-0 series lead. The Bucks would get a chance to double-down on their beat down from last summer.

There would be no cons to Suns vs Bucks II. You wouldn’t hear any complaints from me, that’s for sure.

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The NBA Finals Rematch We All Want Is Destined To Happen