The 2021 NBA Playoffs have been been a wild ride with so many unexpected performances, players, and franchises. The conference finals came down to Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals, while the Milwaukee Bucks battled the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Regardless of which team comes out on top of the NBA Finals, that franchise’s long-suffering fans will finally be rewarded with a championship. The Suns and Bucks have advanced to the July NBA Finals, and Betway have priced Phoenix Suns as favorites to win their first title. It will be the first title in at least 50 years for whichever team wins.
The 2021 NBA Finals begin this week and the winner is already assured to create history. Let’s take a look at the NBA’s final four teams.
The Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks won the league title in 1971, with future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Lew Alcindor on the team (who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Since then, they’ve endured a severe deep playoff drought.
The Bucks have put together some good teams since those Kareem and Big O Bucks in the 1970’s, but the franchise hasn’t appeared the NBA Finals since 1974. This small-market team has participated in a several conference finals in the last 30 years, most recently in 2019 where they were up 2-0 before lost four straight games to the eventual champions, the Toronto Raptors.
They’re looking to take that next step after advancing again to the Eastern Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks to a Game 7 victory against the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern semis, said the team’s work isn’t done. “It’s a great step for our organization; it’s a great step for us,” he said. “No matter the pressure, no matter what’s going on, we are built for this. We believe in who we are.”
Following a loss in Game 1 in the WCFs to the Atlanta Hawks, the Bucks have been favored by home court advantage to rebound in their series against the Hawks and they did just that. With Antetokounmpo out with an injury, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday strung together a couple strong games to close out the Atlanta Hawks in six games.
The Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have never won an NBA championship despite being around for over 50 years (1968). Now behind the leadership of their dynamic backcourt; Point God Chris Paul and up-and-coming Kobe disciple Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns are back in the NBA Finals winning an up-and-down series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Games 1, 2, and 4 were all decided by six points or fewer, proving that the Suns know how to close out games. On the other hand, the Clippers have won two games in the series by establishing huge leads that the Suns have been unable to overcome. Then in game six, Chris Paul stepped up; scoring 41 points in a blow out win to close out the Clippers. CP3’s performance was so spectacular that he out-irritated the always-irritating Patrick Beverley.
That was simply extra icing on the cake for Paul who is making his first trip to the NBA Finals in his 16 year, Hall of Fame career. The Suns Finals appearance will be the first in nearly 30 years. The last time was in 1993 behind Charles Barkley, but the Suns were defeated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. They haven’t returned to the championship series despite some great seasons during the Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire tandem.
The Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers, who were formerly known as the Buffalo Braves before moving to San Diego and then to Los Angeles, had never made it to a conference final, let alone the NBA Finals, in their 51-year history. They are one of just six NBA franchises that have never reached the NBA Finals.
The side has been overshadowed by the considerably more successful Lakers for most of their 37 years in Los Angeles. The Clippers have only become relevant as postseason contenders in the last decade or so behind players like Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Blake Griffin and ironically Chris Paul, who plays for a Suns team that eliminated the Clippers.
The Clippers became the only team in NBA postseason history to win multiple series after falling behind 2-0. Now they’re attempting to make it three in a row by defeating the Suns. Leonard (knee) is still sidelined but George stepped up in his absence incredibly.
The Atlanta Hawks
Even though they’ve been to the NBA Finals as the St. Louis Hawks, the Atlanta Hawks have never made it to the NBA Finals since relocating to the ATL in 1968.
The last time the franchise won a championship was in 1958, when they were based in St. Louis. That’s a city removed and 60+ years ago so it’s nothing the franchise really leans on in terms of legacy. Hawks’ superstar Trae Young said it best:
“It’s been a tough journey. It took a lot of losses to get here.”
The Hawks have had a particularly rough few years, finishing in the Eastern Conference’s bottom five in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The last time the club reached the conference finals was in 2015 when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers swept them.
“For us, I think the guys who have been here since the rebuild, this feeling is a lot better than what it’s been,” Young said. “We know it’s our first year in the playoffs together, and it’s only the beginning.”
Trae Young has steadily grown into a superstar during these playoffs, and the Hawks have continued to exceed all expectations. Young hurt his ankle when he stepped on an official’s foot in Game 3, but he should be fine for the upcoming showdown.
The 2021 NBA Playoffs Format
The NBA regular season in 2020-21 consisted of 72 games, with the top six teams in each conference receiving an automatic spot in the playoffs. Teams from the 7th through 10th places in each conference will compete in the Play-In tournament.
Each conference’s 9th seed will have a chance to advance to the playoffs by defeating the 8th seed twice in a row. To progress, the 8th seed would need to win one of those games. If the 10th seed qualifies, the scenario is the same for the 7th seed in each conference.
In both the Eastern and Western Conferences, the NBA intends to use best-of-seven series formats for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. These rounds will take place from May 22 to July 6, with the NBA Finals taking place from July 8 to 22, only one day before Japan hosts the 2021 Summer Olympics.
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