NBA Finals: Free NBA Picks Today for Tuesday, July 6th, 2021

NBA Finals: Free NBA Picks Today for Tuesday, July 6th, 2021
Tue 6th July 2021

Here we are, the 2021 NBA Finals! Our NBA picks will have full coverage of the series and will bring you tonight’s winner!

The Phoenix Suns have made it through after defeating the Lakers in six, Nuggets in four and Clippers in six, while the Milwaukee Bucks swept the Heat, beat the Nets in seven and then the Hawks in six. 

The sides faced each other twice during the regular season, with Phoenix winning both, however they won by just one point each time in two intense, close matchups. Both sides have been through a heap just to make it to this point, but now they are here, who can make the most of it? 

Read on below as our NBA picks dissects every aspect of tonight’s Game One to bring you the best predictions and bets!

Milwaukee Bucks @ Phoenix Suns (Game 1) – 9pm EDT

The Phoenix Suns come into this clash fully healthy and rested, having not played since last Wednesday’s 130-103 win over the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks have had just two days off to regroup, recover, travel and prepare for tonight, having eliminated the Hawks on Saturday, winning 118-107. 

That was without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is stealing all of the headlines coming into this one as his status for tonight, and the series, is still unclear. Reports are listing him as doubtful, however he is doing everything in his power to get his knee right and be able to get on the court tonight. 

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However, given their recent form without him, the Bucks may be more inclined to wait until he is fully ready rather than rushing him through. Milwaukee just won back to back games by 11 points without him and had their stars and role players step up in his absence. The Bucks still have three former All Stars without Giannis in the lineup, Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. 

Lopez averaged 23 points, 6.5 boards and 3.5 blocks while shooting 18-24 on his two points field goals across the two games. Him being closer to the basket is much better for Milwaukee, something he only gets to do with Giannis out. Holiday, the Bucks’ big offseason acquisition, thrived with the ball in his hands more and floor better spread, putting up 26 points, 11 assists and 7.5 rebounds in the two wins.

However, while those two have been great, the real barometer for Milwaukee is Middleton. You never know what he is going to bring you on any given night but he seems to be playing at a consistent high level, especially with Giannis sidelined. With Giannis out of the lineup this season, Middleton averaged 25 points, 6.75 boards and 6.25 assists but those numbers climbed against the Hawks with averages of 29 points, 8.5 boards and 7.5 assists. 

While the Bucks have had players step up lately, had two impressive wins over Atlanta without Giannis and were 8-5 without Giannis this season, they were just 2-3 against teams above 0.500 without him, including the two Atlanta wins. During the regular season they went 0-3 without Giannis, playing two of those games with the rest of the roster in full swing. That is worrying, on the road, against a Phoenix side that is better than any team they have faced over that span and during the playoffs. 

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Add to the fact that, albeit both games being extremely close, Milwaukee went 0-2 against the Suns during the regular season, with Giannis playing for both of them. Phoenix had the edge there and has also seemed to have figured it out on both ends of the floor during the playoffs. There are both a potent offense that can score in bunches but are also a top two defensive team in the playoffs. 

They come in with momentum thanks to their Game Six win over LA, which belonged to Chris Paul, where the playmaker became the scorer. Paul finished with a season high and playoff career high 41 points, shooting 66.7% from the field and 7-8 from deep, while adding eight assists, three steals and committing no turnovers. It was one of the best performances in playoff history, and that sort of edge will allow Paul to take over tonight’s clash and impose his will. 

With averages of 18.1 points. 8.7 assists and 1.4 steals, Paul hasn’t even been Phoenix’s best player, with Devin Booker announcing himself as a bonafide star during these playoffs. In his first taste of the postseason, Booker has averaged 27 points, 6.4 boards and 4.75 assists, dominating the offensive end with his impressive shot making ability. 

The third member of Phoenix’s big three, and most surprising big performer has been Deandre Ayton. The introduction of Paul has unlocked Ayton’s game completely, with his playoff averages of 16.2 points on 70.1% shooting and 11.75 boards has been remarkable. He has recorded a double double in 11 of 16 games, thriving off the pick and roll offense that both Paul and Booker use so often. 

While we can analyse how each team, and their players, have gone so far, all that matters is what is going to happen. This is going to be an excellent contest between two very good sides and it will be interesting to see how both Monty Williams and Mike Budenholzer make adjustments and react to adjustments throughout each game. Given the lack of experience on both sides, the coaches are going to have a massive impact on this series. Both are exceptional but Williams has an incredible ability to design plays and create defensive schemes, especially out of a timeout, that may give Phoenix the edge tonight. 

Phoenix have three very capable defenders in Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Cam Johnson, who have combined to average 29.25 points and 6.5 threes per game, to throw at Middleton tonight. This will disrupt his ability to score as freely as he has but also allow Booker to rest on the defensive end, leaving all of his energy for his brilliant offense. The tussle between Holiday and Paul will be both chippy and exciting, with their playmaking being a vital factor for each sides’ likelihood of winning. 

Giannis being doubtful clearly gives the Suns the edge, but given they are at home, we like them to win anyway. Phoenix is 3-0 in Game Ones so far this postseason while Milwaukee is just 1-2, losing in Brooklyn and at home to Atlanta. Expect the Suns to come out hard from the jump and make the most of their raucous crowd cheering them on. 

NBA Pick – Phoenix Suns (-270)
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Total Points Pick – Unlock Premium Picks

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel

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Tim is a keen follower of all American sports, in particular the NBA and NFL. He has followed both sports for over a decade and would happily sit down and watch every game, regardless of who is playing! No matter the sport, whether it be NFL and NBA or even MLB, NHL, UFC and all sports, Tim covers it from every angle, staying in the loop to bring you the most up-to-date information and the best picks and predictions on the market.