The NBA Finals between the Bucks and Suns tip off tonight, and they’re surrounded by much uncertainty. The biggest question, of course, relates to the health of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hyperextended his knee halfway through Game 4 of the Bucks’ series against the Hawks. The Bucks are being cagey with his injury — initially ruled as doubtful by the team, he has since been upgraded to questionable, with his status for Game 1 to be determined after pre-game warmups.
If Antetokounmpo is fully healthy, or even mostly healthy, he is a great bet to take him the coveted Bill Russell Award, which would make him the third player to have a Finals MVP, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year award to his name, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
If Antetokounmpo isn’t ready to go by the opening tip-off, though, things get much more interesting.
The Bucks managed to get contributions from multiple sources in Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Finals. In Game 5, Brook Lopez led the way with 33 points, going back to his Nets days as a low-post offensive hub despite the defensive presence of Hawks’ center Clint Capela.
In Game 6, though, Lopez was unable to keep up the pace, providing 13 points on nine shots. It seems unlikely Lopez would be able to maintain his Game 5 level of offensive production over a full series, especially while battling with defensive anchor Deandre Ayton. If Ayton gets in foul trouble, however, Lopez could have an easier path, as the one weakness on the Suns’ roster is their lack of a back-up center.
Meanwhile, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday both exploded in the last two games against the Hawks. Holiday averaged 26 PPG and 11 APG over the final two contests while Middleton averaged 29 PPG and 7.5 APG. The Hawks had no match for either player, though the Suns have far more wing and guard defenders to throw at them than the Hawks did.
As for the Suns, their big three of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Ayton have been rolling all playoffs long. While detractors have pointed to the injuries of their opponents, the Suns’ ability to close out series – especially for a relatively inexperienced team – has been extremely impressive.
Ayton has been a force on both ends, averaging 17.8 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 1.7 BPG in his first Western Conference Finals. Booker, hounded
all series long by the likes of Patrick Beverley and Paul George, was able to put the team on his back as a scorer time after time. And Paul is coming off possibly the performance of his career: a 41-point, eight-assist, zero-turnover game to eliminate his former team, the Clippers, and advance to the first NBA Finals of his 16-season career.
It seems unlikely that Ayton will be named Finals MVP in the case of a Suns championship, barring an unexpected offensive explosion, but both Paul and Booker are prime candidates for the award.
In fact, according to DraftKings.com, Booker and Paul have the two highest odds for coming away with the Finals MVP, with Paul having a slight edge on Booker. Middleton and Antetokounmpo are tied for third, but Giannis’ odds are sure to change if news breaks that he will, in fact, return in time to play in Game 1 of the Finals.
So here’s our question of the day:
Who do you expect to be named Finals MVP?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Just pick a Suns starter and you’re almost there…
Why are we still talking about hyperextensions like they are an injury. It’s the action that the knee took. It’s not an actual injury
If CP3 wins FMVP before Curry the Curry-hating Lebron stans will have a field day, they’d repeat it even if Steph won 3 of them in the future. Curry haters are the worst fans in all of pro sports.
Pot meet kettle. You’re both black.
Leave it to the bandwagon Warriors fan to make it all about Steph Curry. Did you know there are 29 other teams in the NBA?
CP3 because it is rigged.
It’s State Farm pulling his strings, he’s just a puppet.
CP3 is a lock. Doesn’t matter what happens if the Suns win it’s like a lifetime achievement award BC he never won a regular season MVP.
True, he should have been MVP this year. Joker had the better stats but Paul took at perineal losing team to the 2 seed and the finals in one year.
Should have one from 2008.
Must suck for Brook Lopez to have 8 fewer votes in the poll than “someone else.” Especially bad considering the top 3 players on each team are not included as “someone else.”
Someone else is like Iggy winning it
I do understand the concept of someone else, thanks though.
Not really, at this point in his career, he’s a role player. Only 12 and 5 per game in the regular season. I’d be less surprised to see Bobby Portis win the MVP.
‘Someone else’ is multiple players. It should actually be higher on the list because of guys like Payne (if, say, Paul gets injured) or Cam Johnson or something. On second thought, Lopez himself should be in the ‘someone else’ category.
(I saw the game) Just want to throw in, if the Bucks played a Lopez-based game, they may have saved the game and not “over-stretched” Giannis. Lopez was making his shots— except for the bunnies.
It’s time for the Post Season, Chris Paul lower extremity injury.
It wouldn’t be the first time he cost his team the championship because of an injury.
People sleeping on Brook! Real Nets fans know what I am talking about.
Brook Lopez.. lol
Chris Paul is gonna win Finals MVP if they win
I always like the someone else option. You never know when someone is going to pull and Iggy. Phoenix is full of guys that could. Bridges, Payne, hell even Johnson could go off.
man, i got way to much coin on chris.
Giannis is gonna be the MVP if he is at 100%… if not the best PHO player so far in the playoffs & specially in game 1 of the finals is Ayton, so there you are one of them, though everyone is rootin’ for Giannis, right?