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The Milwaukee Bucks tied the Phoenix Suns 2-2 in the 2021 NBA Finals after a thrilling 109-103 win in Game 4 on Wednesday. Leading the series 2-0 after the first two games on their home floor, the Suns have fallen to hard times on the road with two consecutive losses.
In Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks, they couldn’t hold off Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had a second straight 40-point outing in the NBA Finals. In Game 4, it was Khris Middleton who broke free for 40 points to hand the Phoenix Suns their second straight loss.
It’s as if they were asked to pick their poison against the Milwaukee Bucks and no matter which one they chose, they still ended up on the losing end. How should the Phoenix Suns respond to avoid a complete meltdown at home?
Here are 5 adjustments that the Phoenix Suns need to make to win against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Finals:
#1 Wear out Khris Middleton in the first half
The Milwaukee Bucks are most dangerous when Middleton gets into a hot streak. At 6-foot-8 with long arms, he can get his shot off against most defenders, including Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder. But the Bucks forward can be contained and he has been inconsistent throughout the playoffs, including as recently as the second game of the finals.
When Middleton is making his jump shots regularly in the first quarter, the defense has to body up on him and prevent him from getting the ball.
The Phoenix Suns will have to double team him at times just to get the ball out of his hands and force him to be tentative when taking a shot. They focused their defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4 and forgot about Middleton. The Suns have to balance their attention between the two Milwaukee Bucks stars.
#2 Phoenix Suns need to keep their composure
This has more to do with their attitude than their execution on either side of the court. When the LA Clippers lost their cool in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, they lost the ball game easily. Coupled with Chris Paul’s all-time great performance, the Clippers lost their cool when things got out of hand and it cost them the game.
The same was true for the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3. Devin Booker was the primary culprit here. His fifth foul came out of frustration and it kept him off the floor for several minutes. Coach Monty Williams has to talk to his players and help them stay calm and composed at all times. It will make a great difference when things heat up in the finals, as they are expected to.
#3 Let the Milwaukee Bucks keep Brook Lopez on the floor
Game 1 was an easy win for the Phoenix Suns despite Brook Lopez having an outstanding game offensively with 17 points and six boards. But the Milwaukee Bucks lost because Lopez was a liability on defense. They failed to adjust until the fourth quarter and by then it was too late.
The Milwaukee Bucks are more dangerous against them when Lopez sits and goes small with Giannis Antetokounmpo playing center. If they can lull the Bucks into thinking they can stay big and be successful, then the Phoenix Suns can definitely exploit Lopez on defense.
Perhaps they should avoid abusing Lopez in pick and rolls too much. That way, they can press their advantage and at least keep coach Mike Budenholzer from recognizing immediately that he needs to take Lopez off the floor.
It will be a tricky line to toe for the Bucks but this minute adjustment can determine the fate of the game.
#4 Help Chris Paul
Whether he’s hurting or not, Chris Paul was so unlike himself in Game 4 that the Phoenix Suns would’ve been better off sitting him down. He was a -10 plus/minus on Wednesday, suggesting that they would have won against the Milwaukee Bucks with Cameron Payne (0 plus/minus) on the floor rather than with Paul, especially in the last five minutes.
Paul held onto his injured wrist during the game and came out in the second half with a compression sleeve on his leg. The wear and tear of the long postseason may be getting to him and it’s time to free him from some of his responsibilities against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Aside from Payne possibly playing more minutes and taking on some of the playmaking chores, Devin Booker can handle being a floor general as well. Remember, the Phoenix Suns played him as their point guard not too long before Paul arrived.
Doing so could unburden Paul and mix up his tasks. The Suns can utilize him as a scorer one second and a facilitator the next.
#5 More ball movement by Phoenix Suns
This is another factor that will help with the previous point. There’s a reason why the Phoenix Suns won the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the LA Clippers without Chris Paul. The Suns sometimes become too predictable and mechanical on offense with Paul pulling the strings. They’re sometimes slower, too, with him around.
Get the ball out of Paul’s hands and let more people touch it, swinging the ball from side to side for the best possible shot. Not every play has to be executed by the guards. The Phoenix Suns were successful in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks because of this and they need to get back to that type of offense.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Phoenix Suns lost 103-109 against Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of 2021 NBA Finals
