Game 1 - Chris Paul Goes for it All

After missing the playoffs for a decade, the Suns showed progress with an 8-0 showing in the bubble last summer. However, they still missed the playoffs. A trade for veteran point guard Chris Paul seemed like a shrewd transaction that would not only assure a playoff spot but possibly a second round appearance.

Instead, Paul was the perfect fit. Phoenix's homegrown players developed nicely. Head Coach Monty Williams was the right voice. The Suns shot out of the gate a remained a surprise contender throughout the regular season.

Still, we all waited for the clock to strike midnight. They pushed past the banged up defending champion Lakers in the first round. They stormed by the banged up Denver Nuggets, last season's Western Conference runner-up, in the second round. They survived the banged up Clippers in the Conference Finals. Yes, a little luck helped, as Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, and Kawhi Leonard spent time on the bench of their respective series. But with their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1993, the Suns seemed to bring back team basketball to the NBA

The Bucks had been written off before the season. They would finish near the top of the Eastern Conference standings in the regular season, but come playoffs, they would choke just as they had done the last several seasons.

Two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had another stellar year, but his declining free throw shooting became a story. Adding a superb defender and scorer in Jrue Holiday was a nice pickup, but he didn't seem like the type of player that could expunge their misery of past loses.

After sweeping the Heat, the team that surprisingly sent home the Bucks last season, Milwaukee faced the heavily favored Nets. James Harden played some hurt and Kyrie Irving bowed out due to injury, but the Bucks utilized team play to defeat Brooklyn, which by the end, had become the Kevin Durant show.

The Bucks outlasted a game Hawks team in the Conference Finals to make their first NBA Finals since 1974. But in Game 4, Giannis suffered a hyper-extended knee, an injury that could've been much worse. He was willing to play in Game 1 of the Finals, but was he ready.

Antetokounmpo came out aggressive, even pushing back DeAndre Ayton on his way to the cup at one point. But the injury must have effective Giannis who tailed off a bit in the second half. He finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block on 6for 11 from the field (7-12 from the line). Those might seem like amazing numbers, but not for the Greek Freak, the best player in the world right now.

The Suns held a modest four run lead after the first without the benefit of a single point from Paul. Jae Corwder, their openly player with Finals experience, finished 0 for 8 in 33 minutes. Yet, the Suns don't rely on  only a couple of players. Their usual leading scorer, Devin Booker, would finish with 27.  Ayton added 22 points on 8 for 10 shooting and making all 6 of his free shots. He pulled down 19 boards as well. Mikal Bridges started the game strong and contributed 14.

Whenever it seemed as if the Suns would run away with the game, the Bucks answered back. They didn't allow the crowd or the moment to weigh them down. Khris Middleton, an All Star, was once labeled as a three and D guy. Now he led the Bucks in scoring with 29. Brook Lopez came into the league as an elite scorer with the Nets and he reverted to his old form with 17 points in 23 minutes.

But the Suns have more depth and they showed it in the second half. They took a 20 point lead. Back up point guard Cam Payne scored as many points as Milwaukee's star point guard Holiday on six fewer field goals although Holiday was an effective passer. Cam Johnson was the Suns' unsung hero. He played tough defense on Giannis and scored 10 of his own.

The Bucks fought back int he fourth and cut the lead to seven, but the Suns are able to kill rallies because of their balanced scoring. You can't just shut down Booker and think you've solved the Suns' offense.

Paul was on fire in the second half. He finished his first Finals game after 16 years in the league with 32 points on 12-19 shooting. He added 9 assists. The Bucks tried bigs on Paul early and Holiday late. Holiday, normally a great defender, couldn't hang with the slippery CP3.

The Bucks are hopping that Giannis will continue to get healthy and Holiday will play better. They normally have a good bench, but Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Jeff Teague, and Bryn Forbes struggled.

Phoenix, looking for their first title now holds a 1-0 lead with a 118-105 win.