With the 2021 NBA Finals set to tip-off tonight it looks like the Milwaukee Bucks will have to take on the Phoenix Suns without former back-to-back NBA most valuable player award winner and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo suffered a left knee hyperextension in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks and had to miss the finals two games of that series.
According to NBA.com, Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer says that Giannis’ injury is “day-to-day” and had no other update about his status. “We’ll update it when appropriate. The conversations between him and myself, it’s kind of private and we’ll see where he is each day,” Budenholzer said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could miss Game 1 of the NBA Finals
Meanwhile, the coach did say that he was impressed with the resiliency the Bucks showed in winning back-to-back games without Antetokounmpo, lead by Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
If the Bucks can steal a win tonight without their best player it will go a long way towards winning it all as this Suns team is fast, smart, and most importantly hungry for the trophy. Chris Paul out of all the Suns has been chasing that elusive championship for years now after failing to reach the Finals time and time again.
Bucks and Suns look for big wins in Game 1
At the start of the season, not many may have expected the Suns and the Bucks to be in the NBA Finals but here we are and there they are. Two small market teams with big talents in the Finals.
For the Bucks to be able to win Game 1 they will have to play perfect and complete basketball. That includes making the right passes, taking good high percentage shots, and playing lockdown defense. It will most likely be an uphill battle for most of the game but if they can do those things they have a good chance of taking Game 1 and hope that Giannis is back for the rest of the series.
All and All it should hopefully be a very interesting series especially if Giannis comes back soon. But all we can do for now is wait until tip-off on Tuesday night to see who will take Game 1 and take the early series lead.