Chris Paul is almost there. The 36-year-old veteran had to wait well over 1000 games and almost 16 seasons before he was finally allowed to step onto the biggest stage in basketball: the NBA finals.
On the night of Wednesday (3.00 a.m. / DAZN) the finals for the title begin for his Phoenix Suns, rivals are the Milwaukee Bucks for the ailing Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo. “Man, that sounds damn good. 16 years of operations, hard work, defeats, really bad defeats,” enthused Paul.
With the first tip-off between Phoenix and Milwaukee, an endless loop of waiting ends not only for the tireless ball virtuoso Paul. Even the Suns, which last called for a certain Michael Jordan in 1993, and the Bucks, whose only title was exactly 50 years ago, are not exactly successful clubs in the best basketball league in the world. “I was on a mission that we mustn’t lose,” said Paul. He would like to continue this mission in the series in “Best of Seven” mode.
Finals for the first time since 2010 without James or Curry
It is still unclear whether both teams will be able to play in the finals, which will take place for the first time since 2010 without LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). In particular, the use of Antetokounmpo, who was voted the most valuable player in the league in 2018/19 and 2019/20, is open. The 26-year-old had recently missed the crucial games of his Bucks on the way to the final series after a knee injury.
The Suns led by Paul, on the other hand, are the surprise team of the season, defeating the Lakers, the Denver Nuggets and then also the title contender Los Angeles Clippers one after the other. The veteran Paul, who has finally found the perfect team after difficult years in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Houston and Oklahoma City, will make a difference in the finals. The longer break helps him: “Every day off is good and we have the opportunity to rest a little before we start again.”
Paul’s extended arm of the trainer
So far, Paul has achieved an average of 16.4 points, 8.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the playoffs – even a shoulder injury at the beginning and a corona-related break in the conference finals could not slow him and his Suns. Against the Clippers, his ex-club, he scored 41 points in the sixth game of the Conference Finals, his playoff career best, despite several torn ligaments in his right hand.
As a conductor, Paul transfers the ideas of coach Monty Williams to the field. As ingenious partners, he has Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton at his side, who with their skills are ideal buyers for Paul’s feeds. Phoenix initially has a home advantage in the final series and would also host a fifth or seventh game. The two games in the main round against the Bucks were decided by the Suns each with one point ahead of them.
dpa
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Stand: 05.07.2021, 12:17
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