CGTN Sports Talk: What did Bucks do wrong to lose G1 of NBA Finals?

CGTN Sports Talk EP77 NBA Finals Game 1.mp3

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The Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the Phoenix Suns on the road on Tuesday. In fact, they lost Game 1 of every series in the postseason so far.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who many assumed would sit on Tuesday's game due to injury, played in the game and scored a double-double of 20 points and 17 rebounds. However, that did not seem to help the Bucks much.

Neither did multiple decisions coach Mike Budenholzer made on defense. He had P.J. Tucker, not Jrue Holiday, defend Chris Paul, switched Brook Lopez (and Bobby Portis) to cover Paul (and Devin Booker), and turned back closing in around the rim in the second half, all part of the reasons behind the loss in G1.

What can Budenholzer do to make a change in Game 2 on Thursday?

Giannis Antetokounmpo (C) of the Milwaukee Bucks is surrounded by defenders of the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., July 6, 2021. /CFP

Brook Lopez (L) of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena, July 6, 2021. /CFP

Host: Li Xiang

Guest: Matthew Watson

Cover designer: Feng Yuan

Chief editor: Chen Ran

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei