The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks will lock horns in what could ultimately prove to be the most compelling series of the 2021 playoffs. In fact, many insiders believe the winner of this matchup will go on to win the championship, and understandably so.
Both teams took care of business in the first round, as the Nets disposed of the Celtics in five games and the Bucks swept Miami in a shockingly lopsided series.
The Bucks are likely feeling confident heading into this series after they took two of three from the Nets in the regular season, but it’s worth noting that Brooklyn’s big three wasn’t at full strength in either of those matchups
If Milwaukee stands any chance at pulling off the upset, they will have to slow down Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving to the best of their ability. Unlike most teams in the NBA, they actually have the required manpower to make life difficult for the Nets’ superstar trio.
That got us thinking: with Game 1 tipping off on Saturday night, what are some vital matchups fans should keep an eye on in this series?
3. James Harden vs PJ Tucker
Could we see a matchup of former Rockets teammates? Well, if you consider that the Bucks’ two premium wing defenders (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday) will likely be tasked with other assignments on that end of the floor, we just might.
Tucker has proven to be an absolute brick wall of a defender who’s capable of defending all five positions. With the Rockets, he became a hero on NBA Twitter for guarding opposing team’s centers in the playoffs (and pretty effectively at that) in their small-ball lineup.
While Tucker will avoid that ridiculous challenge vs the Nets, he’ll likely have the unfortunate responsibility of defending Harden, one of the best offensive players the sport has ever seen who really kicked it into high gear after a passive Game 1 showing vs Boston.
James Harden could go to battle against former teammate PJ Tucker.
Most fans in Brooklyn believe Harden is the most essential piece to the team’s championship hopes and it’s easy to see why. With the nine-time All-Star out of the lineup — he didn’t arrive until the middle of the season and missed over a month with a hamstring injury — the Nets were a lousy 19-17…compared to a ridiculous 29-7 with him starting.
In other words, if The Beard is cooking, Brooklyn wins. However, he won’t have it easy against his former teammate, who’s one of the most relentless defenders the league has to offer. Don’t be surprised if the winner of Harden vs Tucker is a potential turning point in this series.
2. Kyrie Irving vs Jrue Holiday
We know the regular season doesn’t normally mean anything compared to playoff basketball, but the Bucks treated their final two matchups against the Nets like a playoff game, and both of those games saw Jrue Holiday defend Kyrie Irving.
It goes without saying Holiday is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league and he gave Irving serious fits in the team’s final meeting on May 2. In that game, Holiday limited Irving to just 20 points on 8-of-21 shooting, including 2-of-8 from three in 37 minutes.
When you consider that Irving did whatever he wanted in Round 1 — he averaged 24.8 points with .494/.389/.923 shooting splits vs Boston — it might take some time for him to adjust to Milwaukee’s (and Holiday’s) suffocating defense.
Kyrie Irving vs Jrue Holiday will be must-see television.
Taking that into account, you have to think Holiday’s primary assignment on defense will be to shadow Irving. Though we’d argue that Durant and Harden are more important to the Nets’ success than the All-Star point guard, Irving chipping in about 25 points per game at an efficient rate would really make Brooklyn impossible to beat in this series.
Because of that, Kyrie vs Jrue is a matchup to keep close tabs on.
1. Kevin Durant vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
It remains to be seen if Durant will guard Giannis Antetokounmpo. At this stage in his career, he might not be nimble or strong enough to contain the two-time reigning MVP.
With Jeff Green expected to miss at least Game 1 with a strained plantar fascia, we’ll assume the Nets are going to throw a mixed bag at Antetokounmpo, with the likes of Durant, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin taking turns to slow him down.
You might laugh at the idea of Jordan, who didn’t see the floor vs the Celtics, guarding Giannis, but he was actually the Nets’ most effective defender against him during the regular season in terms of allowing the fewest points per possession.
The Nets better have a game plan to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo.
To say Antetokounmpo has found success against Brooklyn this year would be an understatement. In their three meetings this season, he averaged 39.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 48.9% shooting, including 38.5% (!) from three.
It’s duly noted that Harden wasn’t available for the team’s final two regular season matchups, so maybe the Nets are able to overwhelm the Bucks offensively. However, assuming Giannis continues his stellar play, this series may very well be decided on Brooklyn’s ability (or lack thereof), to make life difficult for him.
Nets vs Bucks: 3 reasons Milwaukee momentum shouldn’t worry BK
The Bucks have some teeth, and Brooklyn must be very careful in this very even series. However, the Nets have some advantages.