Series Thread: 2021 NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns

[Stakesarehigh]

Not so sure he's the better coach. I mean, even after this season he still only has won 48% of his games. Still gets the credit for making it but it's no secret each opponent on the playoffs pre Finals was missing their best or 2nd best player.

Let's at least see what he does next year before - apologies to Dennis Green - crowning him.

Monty is solid imo

 

[Wamu]

Exactly. The injuries happened. It's part of the story. If they don't happen, do we get a Bucks/Suns finals? Probably not. But that's not how the season played out and it sure as heck didn't stop us from having a very exciting playoffs this year.

Heck, you could make a case that these playoffs were more fun than if they had played out the way everyone expected at the start of the season. We had so many teams playing late in the playoffs who had either, never won a title...or hadn't won one in many years. The finals had a team that has never won a title vs. a team that hadn't won a title in 50 years.

What's not to like about that?

I enjoyed this years playoffs. The Lakers didn't win. The Nets didn't win. I hope that repeats next season.

 

[tlance]

Not so sure he's the better coach. I mean, even after this season he still only has won 48% of his games. Still gets the credit for making it but it's no secret each opponent on the playoffs pre Finals was missing their best or 2nd best player.

Let's at least see what he does next year before - apologies to Dennis Green - crowning him.

Win percentage is not a good way to evaluate a coach. Have to take roster into proper context.

Saying he is a better coach than Bud isn’t a very high bar.

I don’t think Bud is a bad coach, just seems like a very average NBA coach. Monte Williams might be better than that.

Time will tell.

 

[Montalban]

To be fair, if the playoffs had ended the way it looked like they were going to end for the Bucks, he likely would have been. He was late making adjustments in every series. The finals is a good example. The Bucks were down 0-2 before he adjusted his defense and started picking up CP3 at full and 3/4 court. Dude's 36 and it wore him down. Basically, it was the same thing the Bulls did to Magic when MJ got his first title.

Had he gone into the series doing that, the Bucks may have swept the Suns.

Seems like Phoenix has no plan. Just dribble around and hope their one on one skills work. And the disappearance of Ayton after game two should get the Phoenix coach fired

 

[Montalban]

He probably is the better coach.

Milwaukee definitely had the best player and the better, more experienced roster.

Monty is a leader but really disappearance of Ayton after game 2 was inexcusable

 

[tlance]

Seems like Phoenix has no plan. Just dribble around and hope their one on one skills work. And the disappearance of Ayton after game two should get the Phoenix coach fired

Congrats. This might be your worst post yet.

So…

In your mind, Monte Williams should be fired after his team overachieved tremendously because Ayton didn’t play well in the Finals?

Makes sense.

 

[Montalban]

Congrats. This might be your worst post yet.

So…

In your mind, Monte Williams should be fired after his team overachieved tremendously because Ayton didn’t play well in the Finals?

Makes sense.

No. Just feeding you your own medicine. Games 3 through 6 were a coaching disaster though. I bet the suns set a record for fewest assists in a series. I like Williams. It just disgusts me when clowns like Steven a Smith look to denigrate any white coach

 

[trojanfan12]

Seems like Phoenix has no plan. Just dribble around and hope their one on one skills work. And the disappearance of Ayton after game two should get the Phoenix coach fired

The Bucks were just bigger, stronger and more experienced. Jrue Holiday picking up CP3 at full court and 3/4 court wore him down. He's 36, it's gonna happen, especially in a physical series like the Bucks were able to turn this into.

The disappearance of Ayton has a lot more to do with the appearance of Giannis. Giannis spent the series putting himself in the best player in the league convo. Aren't but probably 4or 5 guys in the league who could slow him down, let alone stop him. Especially if he's being as aggressive as he was. Ayton doesn't have the experience to be expected to do anything with Giannis.

In short, what happened to the Suns has very little to do with coaching. If anything, the Suns were able to keep every game close and have a chance to win, largely because of coaching.

 

[Montalban]

The Bucks were just bigger, stronger and more experienced. Jrue Holiday picking up CP3 at full court and 3/4 court wore him down. He's 36, it's gonna happen, especially in a physical series like the Bucks were able to turn this into.

The disappearance of Ayton has a lot more to do with the appearance of Giannis. Giannis spent the series putting himself in the best player in the league convo. Aren't but probably 4or 5 guys in the league who could slow him down, let alone stop him. Especially if he's being as aggressive as he was. Ayton doesn't have the experience to be expected to do anything with Giannis.

In short, what happened to the Suns has very little to do with coaching. If anything, the Suns were able to keep every game close and have a chance to win, largely because of coaching.

I was shocked that we never saw Ayton active around the basket rebounding and blocking shots like he did in the first two games.
Jrue Holiday really impressed me with his toughness and clutch play. Middleton was also clutch and Giannis was beyond description. His hustle on every part of the court was impressive. Themore the series went on, the more I loved the Bucks never quit attitude and Giannis has become the player I now admire most in the league.
It surprised me though how much both teams just relied on iso ball and athleticism to get shots. Nothing like the game played out west in Golden State, Denver, Utah and Dallas. That's the game I enjoy.

 

[bksballer89]

I was shocked that we never saw Ayton active around the basket rebounding and blocking shots like he did in the first two games.

Ayton had 17 rebounds in game 4.

Ayton had a total of 2 blocked shots in the first 2 games. Had 7 iin the final 3 games

 

[Montalban]

Ayton had 17 rebounds in game 4.

Ayton had a total of 2 blocked shots in the first 2 games. Had 7 iin the final 3 games

That's a pretty good game 4. I'll take 17 rebounds. Maybe I overestimated his series. Thought he was good in games one and two. I guess he pretty much sucked in every game except game 4 according to you.

 

[bksballer89]

That's a pretty good game 4. I'll take 17 rebounds. Maybe I overestimated his series. Thought he was good in games one and two. I guess he pretty much sucked in every game except game 4 according to you.

I said nothing like that. You made a ridiculous claim like he was out here blocking shots like crazy in the first 2 games which was a lie. As for rebounding, he had one bad rebounding game this series which was last night

 

[Montalban]

I said nothing like that. You made a ridiculous claim like he was out here blocking shots like crazy in the first 2 games which was a lie. As for rebounding, he had one bad rebounding game this series which was last night

I made an astute observation that he was a non-factor after the first two games.

 

[bksballer89]

I made an astute observation that he was a non-factor after the first two games.

20 and 10 on nearly 60% shooting is a non-factor? Got it lmao

 

[Montalban]

20 and 10 on nearly 60% shooting is a non-factor? Got it lmao

He didn't come close to averaging 20 and 10 for the series. C'mon Moe, you don't always have to be a stooge.

 

[bksballer89]

He didn't come close to averaging 20 and 10 for the series. C'mon Moe, you don't always have to be a stooge.

You said he was a non-factor after the first 2 games. He had 20-10 in a critical game 5.

Ayton played how a 3rd option who isn't even a star should play. His numbers were very similar to what he put up in 3 of the 4 playoffs series. Did you think he was also a non-factor vs the Lakers and Nuggets?

 

[Montalban]

You said he was a non-factor after the first 2 games. He had 20-10 in a critical game 5.

Ayton played how a 3rd option who isn't even a star should play. His numbers were very similar to what he put up in 3 of the 4 playoffs series. Did you think he was also a non-factor vs the Lakers and Nuggets?

Played well against the Nugs and Shitbirds from L.A.

 

[LambeauLegs]

 

[msgkings322]

Giannis by the numbers. Damn impressive.

First NBAer to achieve all this stuff before 27.

-2x MVP
-Finals MVP
-5x all star
-5x all NBA
-DPOY

Highest percentage of teams points in a closeout win.

1. MJ- '98 (51.7%)
2. Giannis- '21 (47.6%)
3. Bob Pettit- '58 (45.5%)
4. MJ- '97 (43.3%)

His 50 points in the closeout win is tied for first all time (only other player to do that- Pettit in '58)

And his 35.3 ppg is the 3rd most all time for a Finals debut

buckalis was right....

 

[Wamu]

buckalis was right....

Almost. What Giannis has accomplished so far is incredible. But it still doesn't match Kareem's accomplishments in Milwaukee.


KAJ's numbers (6 years): 30.4 ppg, 15.3 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1.2 stls, 3.4 blks

Giannis (8 years): 20.9, 9.1, 4.5, 1.2, 1.3