NBA Finals: 3 takeaways from Suns-Bucks Game 3

NBA Finals: 3 takeaways from Suns-Bucks Game 3 – No. 2: The supporting cast of each team have served as key determinants thus far

Unlike Game 1 and Game 2, the supporting cast of the Milwaukee Bucks showed up and delivered during Game 3. Behind Antetokounmpo’s legendary effort, they were able to successfully back it up with each guy maximizing their respective roles for the most part.

Heading into this game, the role players of the Phoenix Suns had been outplaying those of the Bucks, but that was not the case in Game 3. The co-stars of Milwaukee bounced back from poor shooting woes, Brook Lopez and P.J. Tucker matched their expected production, and Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton brought the double-spark off the bench.

Although, it was mainly Jrue Holiday that made the difference. Holiday’s impact has defined these NBA Finals thus far. Following two disappointing games to begin the series that saw the two-way stud struggle from the field, make non-decisive decisions, and fail to meet the expectations of disrupting Chris Paul and the Suns defensively, Holiday turned it around in Game 3.

Milwaukee’s point guard recorded 21 points and nine assists on 57.1 percent shooting from the floor and nailed 5 3-pointers on 10 attempts. Jrue also had a team-high +22 plus/minus. To much relief of the Bucks, they got the aggressive, decisive, and valuable playmaking from their star guard on both ends of the floor that they’ve been waiting for in these Finals.

Khris Middleton added 18 points, six assists, seven rebounds, and the rest of the Bucks brought the necessary intensity, energy, and grit at home. Major shoutout to Bobby Portis.

While Jae Crowder and Cam Johnson shined for the Suns, Mikal Bridges, who scored a playoff career-high 27 points the previous contest, only contributed four points last night. Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton played well, but clearly not well enough. Devin Booker didn’t help much at all and was finally cooled down as the growing superstar settled for just 10 points on 3-of-14 field goals.

It’ll be interesting to view how the battle of the supporting casts fares moving forward. If Milwaukee’s trio of stars can efficiently produce together each night with the role players maximizing their roles similar to Game 3, they seem unbeatable, yet the same argument could be made for the Suns.