Thread by @stevejones20

You know what, let's watch some Suns/Bucks Game 2.

Thought it was interesting the Suns came out with Spain P&R to start. You see the Bucks focus was having whoever was guarding the ball handler fight over and navigate the screen. Middleton holds to help, Bridges slips out, Giannis there to help and sheesh.

Another adjustment was the ball pressure from Milwaukee's defense. Jrue picked up CP3 earlier (similar to ATL series). This is just good effort from Holiday to just not get screened and keep everyone at home. You see the idea is keep Brook back/help comes from strongside wing.

An adjustment from the Bucks offensively: clear out the strong side wing and take away Phoenix's ability to help from there. G1 Ayton was in a drop but their wings were able to stunt and recover. That right wing is empty, Jrue has more space, gets right to his pullup.

Bucks went to keeping Brook in a drop but using the strong side wing to help in the midrange area. Idea is to take away the roll, take away the space and recover. Problem comes here as PJ is chasing, Giannis overcommits to the drive and it's a kick to Crowder for 3.

Giannis was on one you don't need me to tell you that but two dribbles into a spin move into a dunk vs. a big is crazy.

Better look at the idea behind Milwaukee's defense here. Brook is in a drop but his main role is to stick with Ayton on the roll and take that away. The hope is Jrue can stick with CP3 and you see Giannis give help on the drive. Ends up committing on the pull-up.

Bucks still mixed switching in *with* the drop, you see Giannis/Tucker switch the first screen. When Ayton comes up Brook stays in his drop. Suns quietly laying the foundation though as Bridges rises from the corner to wing, Tucker has a decision to make. Booker opts for pullup.

Giannis switches on to CP3, Ayton comes up to set another screen. And this is where it felt like Phoenix was finding the bend in Milwaukee's defense. CP3 sets the screen up, attacks the space of the drop and now either Brook/Middleton has to commit. Middleton holds, opens 3 up.

What's been clear this whole playoff run is Phoenix has the discipline and the ability to execute offensively. They just keep putting pressure on you to defend. Once you feel like you can live with something they get to it in a different way or throw something else at you.

Ayton sets a step up for CP3. Lopez dropping back, Jrue crowds help, Giannis helps at the elbow and recovers, PJ gets back in front. Good defense. Now you have to sustain. Crowder comes up and slips, help comes, open 3 for Bridges.

This is just a miss from Devin Booker but I add this to show that the Suns were still able to get to what they wanted offensively. Now they empty out the wing to take way the help and you see the space Booker has to operate with. Adjustment on the fly.

Love the effort from Mikal Bridges on defense. Bucks haven't been able to find a pressure point in that Suns starting lineup. Middleton screens, Bridges switches and works to contain and contest.

Game 1 was a lot about scheme for the Bucks, Game 2 felt like defending *after* the initial play. Double drag, Bucks switch the first screen, Lopez in a drop on second, Holiday at the elbow. Defend it well. Now it goes back to Booker, he drives, defense overcommits and it's a 3.

Look at how hard Middleton is having to work for his baskets vs. Bridges right now. He can and will hit these but it has to loosen up to balance it.

Part of the issue with pressuring Chris Paul is he's just crafty. Accepts it, walks you to a spot just to get to where he wants to go. Jrue is right with him, he rejects the screen and again look at the space. Brook in a drop, that's a tough stunt for Middleton. Easy pull up.

It was interesting the Bucks decided to trap Cam Payne off the bat. You see what it opened up. Cam Johnson by himself on the weakside. Connaughton the only weakside defender. He shows help, Johnson rises towards the wing, skip for an open 3.

You would think the Suns bench lineup would give Milwaukee some mismatches to attack but the Suns team defense helps protect them. Get Payne on Middleton, get the post up but look at the help. Teague is one pass away, Johnson shows early help and then gets a strip on the drive.

This was a wild sequence. Tip your cap to Bridges defensively. Bucks clear the side to run P&R but PJ stays at the dunker which allows CP3 to hold. Bridges able to get a steal, hell of a play by Holiday but good effort by PHX to stick with it.

The spacing and lineups are going to be interesting for Milwaukee. I just don't know if they have the right two way lineup to win *this* series.

Bucks run Wedge Roll with Giannis/Middleton with the whole left side empty. This is good but look at Phoenix's defense. Connaughton flows to strong side wing, CP3 immediately helps as Middleton comes off and Ayton stays back. PC hits the 3 but it's clear they will live with it.

How much of this series changes if Khris Middleton gets back to hitting this shot?

Deandre Ayton's screening flies under the radar. Makes sure he gets a hit, rolls. When it's time to slip gets a hit and gets the inside lane to roll.

On the fly little things that Phoenix does. We saw Milwaukee stick with Lopez in a drop with help coming from the wing defender. Watch Devin Booker set a little flare for Bridges. What that does is occupy the nail and loosen that automatic help. CP3 finds his spot and hits it.

Bucks are going to have to put Chris Paul in action vs. Giannis and hope that gets the Suns attention. Bridges switches off Middleton before he screens for Giannis. Has the match up vs. CP3, Ayton immediately shows help. Kick to Middleton who *has* to shoot the 1st one.

Giannis in at the 5 for Milwaukee. PJ Tucker is on Booker. This seems like it should be a switch. Ends up with two on the ball. Great effort from Holiday on the weakside to be there on the catch but also it probably shouldn't have come to that.

Suns doing a good job of paying attention to Giannis without bending their defense because of Giannis. Has it at the top, 3 defenders built a wall. Screens for Jrue, Ayton stays in a drop so Giannis will roll right into him. Booker gives help at the nail. Post fade key counter.

The Suns have just gotten a mix of every shot they need to keep putting doubt in Milwaukee's defense. Bucks switch Giannis on to Devin Booker here and he hits a tough stepback but they have been so timely in the first two games at getting to everything.

Going to be on the Bucks to attack the pressure points of the Suns defense. Run Pistol here, Suns switch. When Middleton comes off you see Ayton stays in a drop and Bridges helps at the nail. Quick kick to Holiday who hits the 3. Use your Big 3 in those spots and attack.

Suns not just attacking the Bucks scheme, they keep mixing in tough shots on top of it. Booker comes off Ayton, Lopez dropping, Jrue gives a stunt, Tucker gets back in front. Well executed. Booker responds with *this* shot.

Another adjustment from the Suns. Milwaukee keeping Lopez in a drop, help coming from the strong side wing. Notice they put Booker in that right wing so the help comes off him. Paul comes off, sees 3 bodies, sees Jrue help, kicks to Booker for 3.

I'd like to see Brook Lopez mixed in more offensively for the Bucks especially on the interior. He's just a spacer right now which again takes pressure off the Suns defense. Bucks have to find that balance.

PJ Tucker did a good job battling Devin Booker in the start of that 3rd quarter. Suns go to their Elbow action, Tucker navigates the screens, keeps it in front and contests the shot. Bucks just have to keep battling and stay solid.

Like the decisiveness from Giannis here. Sees Bridges on him in transition, calls for the ball, goes right to the post and gets a jump hook.

Bucks found some seasoning and this may be what it takes. Middleton screens for Giannis, Bridges now in a show. Giannis attacks, Ayton catches the drive and Giannis finishes. The question is can they turn those into Phoenix sending *more* help and opening plays up.

Middleton screens for Giannis again here. Crowder on Giannis, Bridges able to show and recover. What happens after is what's interesting. Bridges showing early help at the nail, he commits to help on the spin. That opens the kick to Middleton for 3. Bucks going to need that.

Bucks did a better job defending but struggled to sustain. Switch the first P&R, switch the handoff. 5 on the clock and Middleton has Booker 1v1, good possession. Booker drives, Connaughton overhelps which forces Jrue to hold on Ayton. Open 3 for Bridges.

Giving up dribble penetration with your small lineup is tough.

It's interesting that the Suns had Crowder on Giannis, he screens for both Middleton and Jrue on this possession and Phoenix *stays* in a drop. Feels significant.

Suns just keeping making the Bucks pay for any sort of breakdown. Payne comes off the screen, Giannis is sticking with him to contain but that puts two on the ball. Lopez helps on Ayton's roll, Payne keeps probing and finds Craig open for 3. They find the seams.

Someone tell Milwaukee this is good action and they should run this with Middleton on the weakside instead of Connaughton.

Suns go to Spain P&R, Bucks do a good job scrambling to take the set away. Jrue steps up to stunt at CP3 driving, Teague able to recover. Lopez switches on to Booker, Jrue takes Ayton rolling. The reward is of course a stepback 3 from Devin Booker.

I don't know how the hell Giannis got this block and I feel like I've said that a few times in the first two games.

Suns go back to Spain P&R and notice this time Chris Paul stays on the left side of the floor. Doesn't try and get back right. Jrue still tries to help on the drive but that basically puts 3 on the ball in a sense. Lopez trying to navigate the screen, Ayton open on the roll.

Suns get back to Spain P&R but notice how they flow into it. Booker starts on the strong side wing, cuts into position and slips. Bucks are small so Giannis able to switch onto CP3. That leaves Jrue on Ayton and he's in front but that doesn't change the size, great lob and finish