NBA Finals: 3 takeaways from Bucks-Suns Game 1

NBA Finals: Takeaways from Bucks-Suns Game 1: 2. Can the Milwaukee Bucks solve the pick-and-roll mastery of the Phoenix Suns?

Throughout Game 1, the Milwaukee Bucks struggled to slow down the pick and roll scheme of the Phoenix Suns. With Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Cam Payne initiating the sets as the ball-handlers with big man Deandre Ayton setting the screens for the most part, the Suns were able to break down Milwaukee’s versatile defense at a constant rate.

The Bucks experimented with different defensive tactics, such as traditional drop coverage and switching one through five, but the Suns couldn’t be cooled down. To start, Phoenix targeted Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis in the pick and roll to get their guards matched up with them. Lopez and Portis weren’t even poor defensively in those scenarios, but Paul, Booker, and even Payne continuously made tough shots whether it was from 3-point land or the mid-range.

Later in the game, the Bucks opted to switch more often defensively with Giannis Antetokounmpo at center, which seemed to be more effective as the game went on. However, the Suns still connected on difficult shot attempts and were able to control the paint easier with Milwaukee’s smaller lineup.

Sometimes, all you can do is tip your hat to Phoenix for draining tough jumpers. It could be as simple as the Suns just made difficult shots. That’s why Paul and Booker have become so lethal in these situations and have done it all year long in their first season with each other.

It’ll be interesting how the Bucks react now. Will they allocate more minutes to lineups with Antetokounmpo at the five so that they can constantly switch each position, or will they slightly adjust their drop coverage scheme like we saw them do against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks and with Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets?