NBA Finals preview: Should Budenholzer be fired, if Bucks don't win? / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA Today Sports-Scanpix, AFP – Scanpix | BasketNews/D.Repečka Credit USA Today Sports-Scanpix, AFP – Scanpix | BasketNews/D.Repečka

The NBA Finals are right around the corner, and we are going to see an unpredicted matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns.

Extraordinary playoffs, marked by injuries to NBA stars, will end with an extraordinary Finals series. The Bucks will be trying to reclaim the championship after 50 years-long drought, while the Suns will fight for their very first title in 53-year franchise history.

For both teams, it will be a completely new experience. Among both teams, there is not a single NBA champion and only Jae Crowder has made an NBA Finals appearance before.

So, we asked our BasketNews experts four questions before the upcoming series.

If you're Mike Budenholzer, on who – Devin Booker or Chris Paul – you're putting Jrue Holiday?

Giorgos Kyriakidis: Holiday, one of the candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, is going to have his hands full defending the likes of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, two matchups that could be key when it comes to determining the winner. Through three Conference Finals games, he relentlessly defended Trae Young while being the primary playmaker on offense.

On paper, he can defend both of the Suns' top weapons. He's one of the best perimeter defenders, and he will definitely spend time on both Paul and Booker, as he did in the Suns win over Milwaukee on April 19. In that meeting, the Bucks opened with Holiday on Paul and Middleton on Booker. Generally, with how the Suns use Booker off the ball, it seems safe to predict that Tucker will not defend Booker all that much.

Credit USA Sports Today-Scanpix

At 36, Chris Paul appears to be the best candidate for the Finals MVP. He is the catalyst for everything the Suns do offensively, and his presence raises the team's play on the defensive end. From the two regular-season meetings, it's pretty clear that Paul was the Sun's best overall player, and his success against Milwaukee's defense will be key to Phoenix's hopes for the title. Holiday needs to make Paul work on the defensive end to absorb some of the energy Paul brings on offense.

So, if I were coaching the Bucks, I would mainly put Holiday on Paul, hoping that Middleton and Tucker take care of business with Booker while he's busy.

Robertas Kliunka: I would put Jrue Holiday on Chris Paul. Holiday is the best perimeter defender for Milwaukee, and Chris Paul is the offensive engine for Phoenix. If Holiday can wear out CP3 and Middleton can stand his ground against Booker, Milwaukee will be in great shape.

Edvinas Jablonskis: My pick is Chris Paul. He's the brain and soul of this Suns team, so taking him out of the rhythm will be crucial, and Holiday has a reputation for being able to do that.

While no one doubts Holiday's defensive abilities, the question is, if he will give his all on defense, will he be able to maintain the numbers he put in the last two games against the Hawks?

Miguel Lois Vidal: If I were Budenholzer, I put Holiday on Chris Paul. He is the guy who makes the Suns run. Booker may have historical shooting performances, but the brain and soul of that team is CP3.

Who's your X factor for the upcoming series?

Giorgos: Along the way, the Bucks' role players, including Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, P.J. Tucker, and Pat Connaughton, have all shined at various points, and the Bucks decision to swap Eric Bledsoe for Jrue Holiday has paid dividends.

If I were to choose, I would go with Bobby Portis as a potential X-Factor. Portis is the Bucks first option to replace Giannis Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and one of their most versatile players.

Moreover, he is an elite 3-point shooter, has some mobility on defense, and, most importantly, can take advantage of mismatches in the post. Portis's scoring ability will be crucial if Chris Paul and Devin Booker have to guard him for long stretches, which would wear them down physically.

Robertas: Mikal Bridges will be the X factor of this series. At 24 years old, Bridges is inconsistent on offense. However, his contribution would help the Suns massively and relieve some pressure off of Booker and Paul.

Edvinas: Jae Crowder because he will be the one trying to contain Giannis. His presence on the defensive end will be crucial. I guess Monty Williams will be praying for Crowder not to get into foul trouble because a 31-year-old forward is basically his only option against Giannis.

Credit USA Sports Today-Scanpix

Furthermore, Crowder is shooting 37% from three during the playoffs, is a perfect 3&D guy, and such players have been game-changers in recent years. In fact, the Suns won all seven games when Crowder scored 10 or more points.

Miguel: The X factor, in my opinion, will be DeAndre Ayton. Despite playing in the first playoffs of his career, 22-year old showed solid defense and is averaging 3.4 offensive rebounds per game. If he can continue like that, he will be a massive weapon against Brook Lopez.

If the Bucks don't win the title, should Budenholzer be fired?

Giorgos: Budenholzer has a year left on his deal. The Bucks could have extended him early in the season or in the offseason, but they chose not to. It is hard to imagine Budenholzer getting blamed, let alone fired, for an alleged underachievement that is, in fact, greater than any of their achievements over the last 45 years.

The Bucks have already gone further than their seeding would indicate they should, and their season could go down in history as one of their best ever.

"Coach Bud" saved the season, overturning a 2-0 Brooklyn Nets lead, which could have cost him the job had the series ended the way it started. Milwaukee finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference two straight years before finishing third this season.

They blew a 2-0 series lead against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago, followed by a second-round playoff exit at the hands of the Miami Heat last year.

Budenholzer has shown a greater propensity to adjust in this postseason, regardless of his job being at risk. His deal expires in 2022, so I wouldn't bet on him getting fired, even if the Suns win 4-0.

Robertas: You can only fall short so many times with a two-time MVP on your squad and still keep your job. Budenhozer failed to get his team to the NBA finals in the previous two seasons. If he doesn't deliver the championship to Milwaukee, I believe the Bucks ownership will not give him another shot.

Credit AFP-Scanpix

Edvinas: Yes. Will he be fired? Probably not, but however you look at it, the Bucks got a bit lucky on their road to the Finals, but questionable rotations and lack of discipline still exist. You simply can't let Giannis shoot 5, 8, 10 threes a game. Antetokounmpo is averaging 3.7 threes on 18% shooting in the postseason. That's way too much, and, in my opinion, it's on the head coach.

However, it must be noticed that Budenholzer did well at the end of the Hawks series after losing Antetokounmpo due to an injury. So, maybe there is still hope?

Miguel:If Bucks don't win, Budenholzer should not be fired. I mean, if Giannis is not in his best shape... What can you do?

Does this championship deserve an asterisk?

Giorgos: Overall, I find the conversation about asterisks utterly ludicrous. If we had to question the circumstances under which almost every NBA champion was crowned over the last 10-15 years, the list could go on and on.

These 2021 NBA playoffs have been brutal, hectic, and painful for the players. Athletes need rest. If they don't get it, their bodies must endure massive stress with no break in the middle. Once this passes a certain limit, it results in injuries. The 2020-21 season has been full of them.

However, that should not invalidate the effort the winning team will have made to win the title. It's a commonplace to discredit a title or a player, but it should not happen in these Finals. Every team competing in the NBA playoffs has suffered at least one major injury (or a health and safety protocol incident).

After all, winning against all odds should rank higher on anyone's list.

Robertas: This championship does not deserve an asterisk because injuries are an inseparable part of sports. In 10 years, nobody will care who was injured; they will only care about the championship trophy.

Credit USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Edvinas: Reading my previous answer, you'd probably think I'm going to say yes, but my actual answer is no. And the reasoning for that is straightforward – you face what's in front of you. And it's not like the Suns or the Bucks have been perfectly healthy.

We've seen arm-less Chris Paul in the series against the Lakers; later on, he contracted coronavirus. As for the Bucks, Giannis' status for Game 1 is still unclear, and they've been playing without Donte DiVincenzo since the Miami series.

Miguel:I firmly believe that this title does not deserve an asterisk. Just a typical season, only 10 games less than usual in the regular season, but... The team to be crowned will be the real champ in my book.

Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.