Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory in dire Game 3 vs. the Phoenix Suns
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks must defend the perimeter in Game 3 vs. the Phoenix Suns
A Bucks fan can only ask themselves so many times, “The opposing team cannot keep shooting like this for the entire game, right?” Defending the perimeter is a flaw that has haunted this team for the past several years, and it returned during Thursday’s Game 2 with the Suns.
Phoenix caught fire from 3-point range early, knocking down eight triples in the first quarter alone, three less than they hit throughout the entirety of Game 1. They never took their foot off the gas as they would finish with 20 triples in 40 attempts, claiming a new franchise playoff record for the most threes in a game. There has always been a running joke that teams break all of their previous shooting records when they are playing the Bucks and that ultimately proved true as the Suns had an unbelievable shooting night from deep.
Whether or not they can sustain that shooting remains up in the air, but the Bucks would certainly not like to take that chance entering this must-win game. While the Suns deserve credit for once again knocking is tough shots from the perimeter, there were several instances of overhelping by Milwaukee that gave Phoenix great looks on the perimeter to help get the ball rolling. They must tighten up the defense from long range this time around, which will be a tall task as this entire roster can shoot the ball at an extremely high level.
Booker was on fire from deep in Game 2 by shooting 7-of-12 from long range, helping fuel his electric performance. Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, and Mikal Bridges were all respectable from deep as well as they poured in three each, while Cameron Johnson and Torrey Craig both chipped in a pair to cement a solid all-around team shooting night. Making those looks as tough as possible will be among the top priorities for the Bucks, as another 20 threes from the Suns would practically be a death sentence in Game 3.
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The Bucks and Suns will square off in Game 3 of the NBA Finals tonight back at Fiserv Forum, and be sure to catch the action at 7:00 p.m. CST on ABC.