2021 NBA Finals: 5 things we learned from the first two games between Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked dominant in the 2021 NBA Finals so far
Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked dominant in the 2021 NBA Finals so far

#3 Milwaukee Bucks need consistency

Khris Middleton shot poorly in game two of the 2021 NBA Finals
Khris Middleton shot poorly in game two of the 2021 NBA Finals

Beyond Giannis' greatness, the Milwaukee Bucks need more scoring. In game two, the Greek scored 42 points while the remainder of the Bucks starting five scored 43 collectively. Khris Middleton was 5-16 from the field while Jrue Holiday was 7-21 and between them they made just two three-point efforts from nine attempts.

Elsewhere, despite Brook Lopez' brilliance in their series against the Atlanta Hawks, he added just eight points on Thursday night. While the Bucks' supporting cast have shot at varying rates throughout the postseason, they have been able to show up when it mattered most.

Both Middleton and Holiday, the former especially, were electric on offense when Antetokounmpo was injured at the end of the Conference Finals.

If they are to even up the 2021 NBA Finals series at home, though, they will need to make major improvements.

#4 Chris Paul's leadership knows no bounds

2021 NBA Finals - Game Two
2021 NBA Finals - Game Two

Chris Paul isn't going to let this opportunity pass him by. The point guard hasn't spent 16 NBA Finals-less years in the league just to lose on the one occasion he has made it.

In the 2021 NBA Finals so far, Paul has been untouchable and the Milwaukee Bucks are having a nightmare trying to defend him in the pick-and-roll. In game one, the 36-year-old was giving Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis all kinds of problems in the paint and on the perimeter. He even managed to lure the former into a flagrant one foul when the center took up Paul's landing space on a three.

He has so far shot at 56% from the field and 58% from downtown, leading his team by example with 27.5 points per matchup and 8.5 assists. As he has shown throughout the regular season and in these playoffs, CP3 has built an immense trust between him and his teammates who are now seeing the fruit of their labor by following his leadership all year.

#5 Milwaukee should continue to attack the paint

The Bucks need to continue to attack the paint in the 2021 NBA Finals
The Bucks need to continue to attack the paint in the 2021 NBA Finals

After going 2-0 down, the Milwaukee Bucks need to focus on the things they do best to try and get back in this series - and that so far has been attacking the paint. In game two, the Bucks scored half of their points in the paint (54) and will continue to find joy there against the less experienced DeAndre Ayton and without the Phoenix Suns having backup center Dario Saric, who is injured.

Giannis and co. need to continue to drive the lane despite their and his ongoing free-throw troubles. Bucks fans will want to see Antetokounmpo's size and length get Ayton into foul trouble and hook shots from Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday.

The Phoenix Suns are a very complete team but as with any opposition there is a weakness and Milwaukee currently have to expose it if they want to win.

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