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5 reasons why Bucks can beat Phoenix Suns in NBA Finals

By Brian Sampson

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 03: P.J. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on July 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 03: P.J. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on July 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 03: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against P.J. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on July 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 03: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against P.J. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on July 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Reason #2 why Bucks can win NBA Finals: Switching defense

Part of the reason the Bucks failed in the past two postseasons is they weren’t prepared to be flexible on the defense end of the court. They found a way to dominate with their now infamous drop defense but couldn’t adjust when teams figure that out. That’s all changed this year.

Budenholzer had his team running more switching defense in the regular season and that’s prepared them to run it even more in the playoffs. Milwaukee has still run a good amount of drop coverage and has had varying degrees of success. What’s stood out, however, is their success with a switching scheme.

Milwaukee has a plethora of flexible defenders including Tucker, Khris Middleton, Holiday, and Pat Connaughton (Antetokounmpo is obviously included in this as well if he plays in this series). It was Brook Lopez who stuck out like a sore thumb when it came to this category.

As a massive human being, it’s often difficult for him to stick onto guys like Trae Young or Kevin Durant when they get matched up with him following a ball screen. This has led Budenholzer to switch all screens involving every player not named Lopez, but defenses still targeted the big man. However, Lopez more than held his own over the last two games when the Bucks almost exclusively switched. Look for the Bucks to switch up coverages in the Finals, but they’ll be a lot quicker to throw this scheme out and (hopefully) stymie the Suns’ offense.

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