Five players who can decide the NBA Finals on their own

After an incredible regular season and playoffs, along with some shocking results, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the two grand finalists in NBA’s 2020-2021 season. 

Some might tag it as an unlikely finale, given Milwaukee Bucks won their only title half a century ago and the Suns, on the other hand, are yet to lay their hand on the title since the club began playing in 1968.

But undeniably both teams have put forward their finest performances in recent years to reach the spot they have. 

However, just after two games in the NBA final, the Bucks are already in a fix as they have two more matches to sort out their flaws and figure out a way to defeat Phoenix Suns, something they haven’t been able to do all season.

Come Sunday, the Bucks will enter the third game of the best-of-seven championship series trailing 2-0 and no team in NBA history has ever won a series after dropping the first three games.  

So, let’s take a look at five players who turn it around for the Milwaukee side or win it handsomely for the Suns. 

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

There’s not much left to write about or argue about why Antetokounmpo is top of the list. The Greek forward has emerged as the talisman for the Milwaukee side since a very young age. 

Even in game two on Thursday, Antetokounmpo was the only bright spot in an otherwise lacklustre Bucks performance. He top-scored with 42 points and bagged four assists and 12 rebounds as Suns registered a 118-108 victory.

In the 2020-21 playoff season, the 26-year-old has recorded a massive 28.5 points and 12.9 rebounds per match.

2. Devin Booker

He’s charismatic, he’s fantastic, he’s consistent and most of all, he’s bloody good at this game. Son of former basketball player Melvin Brooker, the 24-year-old was selected with the thirteenth overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2015 NBA draft.

Although he had a few lows in the initial days, Booker has shown the critics why deserves to play at the highest level with his performances in the 2020 NBA Bubble.

However, this year, he has only gotten better. In the playoff season, he has amassed 490 points, 88 assists and 110 rebounds. In the first two games in the NBA finals, he had 27 points and 31 points respectively.

3. Chris Paul

There’s a reason why Booker has gotten better this season, and it’s quite simple — the addition of Chris Paul to the Suns. The veteran point guard has not only amplified Booker’s game, but he has also taken a lot of responsibility on his shoulder.

Given how young the Suns’ core team is, Paul brings in the range of experience to play such crucial games without much fear. However, this is also the 36-year-old’s first NBA final, and what a story it will be if conquers the title.

On Thursday, CP3, as he is widely called by basketball aficionados, delivered himself a boost up a major playoff record list, passing Kobe Bryant for 10th in career playoff assists.

4. Khris Middleton

The Bucks small forward hasn’t enjoyed the best of playoff seasons, with three-point shooting falling from just under 42% in the regular season to 33.8% in the playoffs.

But on his day, Middleton can light up the court as a very few can. 

In the 2020-21 postseason, in Game 3 of the Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, Middleton tied his career-high 38 points, alongside 11 rebounds and seven assists in a 113–102 victory. He followed it up with 32 points in a 118–107 win against Hawks in Game 6.

But come Sunday, Milwaukee will be hoping that Middleton can find his A-game.

5. Jrue Holiday

Quite like Middleton, Jrue Holiday has been underwhelming in the first two games of the finale. But there is undoubtedly a lot of quality that he possesses.

During the regular season, Holiday averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists per game. However, in these playoffs, Holiday has had a significant drop off in consistency than what he showed in the regular season offensively.

He averages just 17.2 points and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs. But if Holiday finds his mojo back, he can turn it around for the Bucks from deep.