NFL
By: Stephen Garner
The Suns 120-100 loss in game three was loud but was expected nonetheless.
Down 2-0, it was inevitable they’d get the best buck from Giannis and company in front of their home crowd.
Milwaukee’s Attack in Game 3 
Giannis Antentokounmpo (41 points, 13 rebs, 6 assists) had his way… again. He did so early as a screener, cutter, in transition, and on the offensive glass (five offensive rebounds). 40 and 10 in back-to-back finals games is a feat only reached by Shaq and LeBron 
. He had a 20-point third quarter in game two, and followed up with a 16-point third quarter in game three, as his team compiled a 16-0 run to end the third. He then began to play more in the post going into the fourth, completely taking over the game.
This time, however, he received plenty of supplementary help as well.
Holiday had 21 points, including four timely three’s in the third quarter (five on the night) while the game was in the balance, the last make essentially staving the Suns off permanently near the end of the quarter.
Middleton did not take over but enjoyed a viable shooting night especially from deep (3/7) for 18 points.
The Bucks ancillary efforts were what made the biggest difference in the game though. PJ Tucker was ever-present, he was a +12 on the night and had two crucially timed offensive rebounds, one that garnered the Bucks a lead in the second quarter and they never looked back. Tuck also took charges, amassed multiple deflections, and overall was a pest, especially to Devin Booker.
Aside frm CamJo's dunk, PJ may have made the biggest play of the game with this offensive rebound & dish 2 Giannis for all the momentum. With 6:46 left in the 2nd, MIL took the lead & never looked backpic.twitter.com/GlimpIaSM5
— Stephen PridGeon
(@StayTrueSDot3) July 13, 2021
Milwaukee also saw crowd-engaging energy from Bobby Portis, specifically on the offensive glass, where he also compiled four offensive rebounds, matching Giannis’ output. He’d score 11 off the bench.
Though they showed fight, especially early and in the third quarter, the Bucks outplayed the Suns. However, it was just one game. Milwaukee took away the corner three’s that killed them in game two, and did a solid job in recovering defensively after closing out as well. They were a +7 on the boards at the half, and were +11 by the end. They were also a +7 on the offensive glass, mainly a by-product of the Suns zone defense in the third.
For the Suns
They didn’t play a bad game, but there were unforeseen instances that hurt them over the course of this one. Ayton’s foul trouble combined with lacking production from Devin Booker in game three, but also from Cam Payne, made for a perfect storm. Neither of the latter two has played particularly well for a sustained period since game two of the Western Conference Finals.
Since game two of the Clippers series :
- Booker is averaging 23 PPG on 36.4/28.8/85.7 shooting
- Payne is averaging 5.4 PPG on 33.3/31.3/100 shooting and 2.7 APG
The Suns can win with one of those two not scoring effectively, but they cannot win with both struggling. Payne, not having a direct matchup to tend to, was one half of the x-factor for the Suns this series in my opinion (the other half being Ayton). He has to be better moving forward for them to win this series.
Game three saw CP3 have a solid Point God effect (19 points and 9 assists) while trying to navigate the waters sans Ayton and Booker for crucial stretches.
Here he held PJ honest with patience, then a no look, causing him to hesitate in his rotation, which should've been to stop the roll man first. He didnt, & it resulted in an easy twopic.twitter.com/wT3BbuFkp1
— Stephen PridGeon
He played with solid pace and was the most effective player for Phoenix in this one. He scored in a timely manner, keeping the Bucks defense in a string, and was able to get the most out of his offense.
Ayton was dominant early, scoring 12 in the first quarter. His impact would be lessened though as foul trouble ensued. He’d finish with 18 points and 9 rebounds (including 2 offensive rebounds) but for the first time all playoffs, succumbed to foul trouble. When he was on the floor, he was stifling. He came up with a few deflections, had two steals, and did an alright job on the Bucks frontcourt as well as in pick and roll defense.
Jae Crowder had himself a game, scoring 18 points on 6/7 from deep.
Expecting Jae to shoot better in these next 2 games. The Marquette alum shootin in his alma maters backyard
— Stephen PridGeon
Five of his nine double-digit scoring outings these playoffs have come on the road. The Suns are 8-1 in said games where he scores this well, this being their first loss. Hurts to squander him finding his shooting touch, but he’s streaky and tends to have carryover from game to game, which bodes well for game four and beyond.
Cam Johnson, deserving of an uptick in minutes especially sans Saric, had another strong showing. His 14 points and five rebounds off the bench were extremely timely, and quite honestly kept them afloat (10 points) in the middle of the third quarter.
Then there was this
When CamJo scores well, the Suns don’t typically lose. Sunday was one of those rare times that they did, however.
Where the Suns must show up
My points of emphasis for this series went as such
- Crunch Time Execution
- Continued Mid-Range Mastery
- Dominance from Ayton
- Defensive Connectivity
- Pace of Play
- Pick and Roll Play
They got decent production in these entities but needed more production from the other ⅔’s of their guards to give them a chance in game three.
Crunch time execution came extremely early this game, which was in the middle of the third quarter. The Suns had to go without Ayton in that stretch and depended on small ball (starters sans Ayton and plus Cam Johnson). Their 2-3 matchup zone was effective for about how long Monty would typically rely upon it. After cutting a halftime deficit of 15 down to four, an extended stretch where Phoenix had to use it as a crutch while Ayton sat in foul trouble grew tumultuous as the Bucks ended the third on a 16-0 run.
The shot selection from Booker was not good in my opinion, as he didn’t attack the rim nearly enough.
Four shots in the paint and just one near the restricted area is unacceptable. Even that shot was a turnaround, he attempted no layups or dunks which is the foundation of his scoring game, attacking the cup.
Coach Williams has to structure more for Booker to get free early and especially on the move in detaching from Tucker, but Booker also has to take matters into his own hands (as he’s done numerous times in his ingratiation with the Playoffs).
Ayton only being available for 25 minutes certainly impacted the Bucks points in the paint as well as the Suns presence on the boards, his dominance is beyond imperative.
Quite honestly, there’s a question as to whether or not the level of play for the Bucks from game three is sustainable, as we’ve seen their play fluctuate. By that same measure, Ayton being in foul trouble was an anomaly as well.
For Phoenix, if they can play their game, which would check off all boxes in my points of emphasis, they can give themselves a chance to steal one on the road and be in prime position to go home with a chance to close, as I predicted they’d do in five
Final closing thoughts
“Legal guarding position” was the phrase I took away from Monty Williams’s postgame presser.
This was the type of foul Monty was talking about last night pic.twitter.com/GaenurOXc6
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) July 12, 2021
There were a handful of questionable calls on fouls charged to the Suns, and Monty’s main gripe was not being able to coach his players on how to defend without fouling due to the grey area regarding what is legal guarding positioning, and what’s not.
Especially when you consider that the Suns attempted 16 shots in the restricted area, while Giannis attempted 12 (and, alone, was a +1 over the Suns in free-throw attempts).
Independent of what is out of their control, the Suns need more bench production. Cam Johnson omitted, this has become an issue. They need more production from their ancillary players, collectively.
In all, I believe a thorough film session will put the Suns in position for a chance to win game four at the finish line.
Speaking of their 2 road Ls, their G3s vs the Lakers & Clippers respectively, this game has gone the same way those two did. Let's see if the can correct things at half in this challenge. Need one of those big 3rd quarters https://t.co/a0ZlKesKyU
— Stephen PridGeon
Sticking to my guns here. Suns in 
remains the prediction.
*All stats and information used come directly from basketball-reference or statmuse unless stated otherwise and are accurate through 7.13*
@StayTrueSdot3 
