'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Brooklyn Nets could not end their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 on the road, and the second-round battle between two top contenders in the NBA will be decided in Game 7 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
Kevin Durant's historic performance in Game 5 at home gave the Brooklyn Nets a seemingly unlikely victory and a 3-2 lead in the series. However, the team missed out on its first chance to seal the series at Milwaukee, and a do-or-die game will come fast for them.
The Brooklyn Nets might be favorites for some as they'll play at home and have a unique player in Kevin Durant, but the rest of the team will still need to perform at a high level for the Nets to find success.
Since building the 'Big Three' of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have been rightfully tipped to win the NBA championship. However, this game is the first high-pressure moment for Steve Nash's squad in the NBA Playoffs.
Talking about the Big Three is not accurate either, as the three have not been healthy in this series. James Harden effectively missed the first four games of the series with a hamstring issue, while an ankle tweak bothered Irving in Game 4.
Still, the Brooklyn Nets have to strike back at the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday.
In this article, we will give you five reasons why the Brooklyn Nets can win Game 7 at home and advance to the Eastern Finals to continue their run in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
#5 James Harden is due to have a big game
Although he's surely been struggling with a hamstring injury, James Harden has been healthy enough so far. If he was fit to average over 40 minutes in the two full games he's played in the series against the Milwaukee Bucks, he should be good in Game 7.
At this point in the series, James Harden has had two bad outings in the previous two games. Though he might be tentative due to the physical issues he's had, Harden having a big Game 7 could be a possibility, and the Brooklyn Nets need it.
Harden had a bad Game 5, with just five points, making one of his 10 field goals, and then scoring 16 points on 5/9 shooting in Game 6. He played 46 and 40 minutes in the last two games, respectively.
In his career, Harden has played in four Game 7s and he has struggled from the field, making 39% of his field goals, 24% of his threes and 76% of his free throws. He averages 24.3 points in Game 7s, and his teams are 3-1 in such instances.
The Brooklyn Nets could definitely use a big game from James Harden, and Game 7 is the perfect moment to go for it from The Beard's standpoint.
#4 The Brooklyn Nets' role players are expected to play better at home
Even with Kevin Durant going absolutely nuclear in the fifth game of the series with 49 points on just 23 shots, the role players still had to step up.
Jeff Green scored 27 points in Game 5 with only 11 field goals attempted, and he made seven of his eight attempts from the three-point line. Blake Griffin also helped out with 17 points, while Landry Shamet added a good nine points off the bench.
Those efforts did not happen in Game 6 at Milwaukee, and the Bucks had a comfortable win. However, role players usually play better at home, and that will be key for the Brooklyn Nets.
With Jeff Green starting in Game 6, the Brooklyn Nets' bench only scored 12 points in that game. Moreover, Green himself struggled with five points on 2/9 shooting.
Joe Harris will also be needed for the Brooklyn Nets as he's been quiet in the series, converting only 35% of his field goals and 32% of his threes in the series so far.
#3 Milwaukee Bucks' mistakes and decision-making on offense
In Game 5 against the Brooklyn Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks even enjoyed a 17-point lead and were looking in control of the game and perhaps the series. But mistakes on offense and going away from what usually works against the Brooklyn Nets' defense cost them the game.
They've visited the Brooklyn Nets three times in this series and fell all three times, while being competitive in only one of those games. Even though the Milwaukee Bucks seemed to find the right style in Game 6, attacking the Brooklyn Nets on fastbreak and capitalizing, Game 7 will be a huge test for them.
Also, if the game is close, it could be defined by small details, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's unreliable free-throw shooting could end up costing the team.
The Milwaukee Bucks can be expected to play much better with the season on the line, but the Brooklyn Nets should put pressure on them early in the game.
#2 Barclays Center
As mentioned earlier, the Brooklyn Nets have defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the three games played at home in this series, and they average 118 points per game in those three victories.
In the entire 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets are 6-0 at home, and four of those victories were by double digits.
Playing a Game 7 is definitely a high-pressure situation, but most NBA teams would elect to play such a match at home in front of their own fans.
Statistically, the Brooklyn Nets have been great at home in this series, and their three-point shooting has been stellar. In the three games so far, the Brooklyn Nets have made 52 of their 124 attempts from three, shooting a solid 41.9% from beyond the arc.
#1 Kevin Durant
As a team, the current Brooklyn Nets have not faced such a situation like a Game 7 before, which is normal for a team in its first year. However, the offensive leader of the team is a two-time Finals MVP, and having Kevin Durant would really mean a lot for Steve Nash's gameplan heading into Game 7.
Durant has had a couple of rough shooting nights in this series, but he's been fantastic for the Brooklyn Nets.
He is averaging 33.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game against the Milwaukee Bucks so far. Moreover, KD's 49-point triple-double (17 rebounds and 10 assists in 48 minutes) in Game 5 arguably kept the Brooklyn Nets' season alive. They now need him to do something similar on Saturday.
Also read: 5 reasons why Milwaukee Bucks can win Game 7 against Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals | 2021 NBA Playoffs
