Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns: 3 Key player battles that will decide Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals

#2 Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) vs Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

Cam Reddish #22 defends Khris Middleton #22

This battle of shooters from the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns will be one of the highlights of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. A season-ending injury to shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo forced coach Mike Budenholzer to slide Khris Middleton to the shooting guard position. The decision has worked wonders so far for the Bucks.

Middleton has put up 23.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in the postseason for the Milwaukee Bucks. However, he has made just 33.8 percent from three and 43.4 percent overall in the playoffs.

Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the first players age 26 or under to lead their teams in scoring to an NBA Finals since LeBron James and Kevin Durant in 2012. pic.twitter.com/cQgMM6mQdw

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 5, 2021

Similarly, the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker has not shot the ball particularly well in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. In 16 games, he averages 27.0 points on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range. He has also added 6.4 boards and 4.8 dimes per contest.

The Milwaukee Bucks forward has a size advantage over Booker, who is two inches shorter. They may not necessarily face each other defensively but they will have to outdo each other regardless. Both players are also excellent shooters from inside the arc, though Booker is the better slasher.

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#3 Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns) vs Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks)

Deandre Ayton #22 attempts a shot between Marcus Morris Sr. #8 and Paul George #13

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez will face an offensive threat of a similar build in the 2021 NBA Finals. Unlike in the first three rounds of the playoffs, Lopez will be taking on the Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton, who is bigger, stronger and a more polished low post scorer than the other centers he has faced so far .

Ayton averaged a double-double in the WCF for the Phoenix Suns with 17.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. He has shot a sizzling 70.6 percent from the field in the postseason. Ayton also has a soft touch from eight-to-10 feet and can cause Lopez and the Milwaukee Bucks a lot of problems in the painted area.

Giannis LOVES this slam from Brook Lopez 😳 pic.twitter.com/yWTyhmfou4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2021

But the 280-pound Lopez will be able to bump bodies with the relatively slender Ayton. Additionally, the Milwaukee Bucks center is an excellent defender, and could cause the Phoenix Suns big man a lot of problems when he attempts to get clear looks at the basket.

Lopez scored a 2021 postseason high of 33 points to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks in the Milwaukee Bucks' crucial Game 5 win against the Hawks. Numbers such as these suggest he could present more problems for the Phoenix Suns than most realize.

Lopez could cause some issues for the the Phoenix Suns with his 3-point shooting, but Ayton has the advantage in this battle.

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