Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory in crucial Game 4 vs. Phoenix Suns
By Dalton Sell
Strap in, there are bound to be fireworks in tonight’s Game 4 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals.
The first three matchups have been must-see and signal that this fourth installment will be very unpredictable until that final buzzer sounds. The series started as the Suns jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after winning the first two matchups on their home court in convincing fashion. Needing to secure a victory to virtually keep their playoff hopes alive, the Bucks regrouped and earned a much-needed 120-100 victory at Fiserv Forum to make it a 2-1 series in favor of Phoenix.
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Resiliency and adversity have been a staple in this playoff run for Milwaukee, and that will certainly continue after digging themselves in this early hole to kick off the series.
If they will even up the series tonight, the Bucks will have to emphasize several key factors that made them successful in their thrilling Game 3 victory. With that being said, here are three keys to victory for a critical Game 4 tonight between the Bucks and Suns.
The Milwaukee Bucks will need to keep feeding Giannis Antetokounmpo in dire Game 4 vs. the Phoenix Suns
There is no denying that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s greatness has been on full display during his first trip to the NBA Finals.
After tallying 20 points and 17 rebounds in Game 1, the Greek Freak has erupted in the past two contests with performances of 42 points and 12 rebounds, and 41 points and 13 rebounds. Continuing the excellence that has been witnessed throughout this entire playoff run, Giannis has been a dominant force on both ends of the floor, putting up numbers that are typically unheard of in his first trip to the NBA Finals. It is a no-brainer that the Bucks will look to keep that momentum rolling heading into this pivotal Game 4 matchup.
A massive reason for this sheer dominance has been Antetokounmpo’s willingness to settle down on his jump shots and take a more aggressive approach inside. According to NBA.com/stats, he is shooting an astounding 26-of-28 (92.9 percent) from the restricted area in this series, imposing his will offensively close to the basket with consistency. That does not mean he has stopped his shooting elsewhere entirely, as he is 3-of-9 from the mid-range and 2-of-9 from deep, but it is clear that attacking inside has been a winning formula for him.
Antetokounmpo has made history throughout these first three games in the Finals, and another otherworldly performance in Game 4 would continue that. The Suns will undoubtedly look to combat Antetokounmpo’s assault down low, likely by building up a wall to prevent him from penetrating, and time will tell how things transpire there. Yet, it goes without saying that another dynamic performance from the two-time MVP would bode well for the Bucks.