The "inexperienced" Phoenix Suns wasted no time getting experience in the finals by taking Game 1 of the finals after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 118 - 105.
This was the first-ever Suns final game in my lifetime, and it was well worth the wait. I have waited 21 years for this game and the team did not disappoint. Everything that they had done in the previous series and the regular season showed up on Tuesday night. The offense was clicking, Chris Paul and Devin Booker were hitting midrange shots, the wing players were scoring and defending as always, and Deandre Ayton was owning the paint. The Suns did not change their identity by playing any differently because of the occasion. Jae Crowder was the only person to play who had any Finals experience, but it seemed like all the Suns' players had been there before.
This moment means the most to Chris Paul who led the Suns in scoring. After playing 16 seasons with five different teams, Paul has finally found a team he could lead to the promised land.
When the Suns play the way they did in Game 1, I honestly don't think there is a team that can beat us. Phoenix had an answer for everything that the Bucks threw at them. Coach Monty Williams also tried several different defensive schemes including zone defense. The Suns would also double Giannis Antetokounmpo when he drove to the basket and make someone other than Giannis or Khris Middleton shoot. This led to Brook Lopez getting more points than would have been expected but neutralized the Bucks' two biggest threats.
On offense, Milwaukee couldn't handle the pick and roll. Paul and Booker led a clinic on how to run the offense by getting switches onto Lopez who could not keep up with the fancy dribbles. The switching also led to Ayton rolling to the basket with force against players much smaller than him. If the Bucks did somehow neutralize the shot and the lob, the maestros would find an open three-point shooter for a high percentage shot.
If I were Coach Monty, I would stick with the same game-plan and have the Bucks prove to me that someone not named Giannis or Middleton can make shots consistently. I would also tell Paul and Booker to keep attacking Lopez until Milwaukee makes a change. The one change I could see the Bucks making would be to go smaller and replace Lopez with Bobby Portis. A problem with doing that is that you are giving up more offense in hopes that your defense improves. Whatever change the Bucks make I am sure Monty will have a counter for.
The Suns must-win Game 2 to keep the home-court advantage and take a commanding 2-0 lead into Milwaukee. If that happens, the Suns just need one win there to bring the series back to Phoenix up 3-1 with a chance to clinch the franchise's first-ever championship. But, one game at a time. It was a great win in Game 1, now it is about keeping momentum and winning Game 2.