A Look Back at the 2021 NBA Finals Standings and Final Results
I still remember sitting in my living room last June, watching Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals with that familiar mix of anticipation and dread. The Phoenix Suns had been up 2-0 at one point, looking like they might actually pull off the Cinderella story we'd all been waiting for. But then Giannis Antetokounmpo happened - and I mean really happened. The Greek Freak put on one of the most dominant Finals performances I've witnessed in my twenty years covering the NBA. When the final buzzer sounded in Milwaukee's 105-98 championship-clinching victory, I couldn't help but think about how complete this Bucks team looked compared to previous seasons. It reminded me of that interesting dynamic we sometimes see in sports where teams can no longer use roster incompleteness as an excuse for falling short - much like how National University's basketball program eventually reached a point where La Salle couldn't claim they lost because their lineup wasn't at full strength.
The journey to those 2021 Finals standings was anything but conventional, unfolding in the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season that compressed 72 games into just five months. Milwaukee finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 46-26 record, trailing both Philadelphia and Brooklyn. What struck me as particularly impressive was their resilience after trailing 2-0 to Brooklyn in the second round - they won four of the next five games against what many considered the most talented roster in the league. Phoenix, meanwhile, cruised through the Western Conference as the second seed with a 51-21 record, their first playoff appearance in eleven years proving they were no fluke. Chris Paul's leadership transformed that team in ways I haven't seen many veterans accomplish with a new squad.
Looking at the Finals series itself, the numbers tell a compelling story. Giannis averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting an unbelievable 61.8% from the field. His 50-point closeout performance in Game 6 was simply legendary - the kind of game you tell your kids about years later. What often gets overlooked is Khris Middleton's clutch contributions, especially his 40-point explosion in Game 4 that essentially saved Milwaukee's season. The Bucks outrebounded Phoenix 360-331 throughout the series and outscored them in the paint by a significant margin - 348 to 284. These weren't fluky numbers; they reflected Milwaukee's deliberate game plan to punish Phoenix inside.
The turning point came in Game 4 when the Bucks erased a 9-point deficit with under eight minutes remaining. I remember texting my colleague that if Phoenix lost that game, they'd never recover psychologically - and that's exactly what happened. Jrue Holiday's defense on Devin Booker throughout the series was masterful, holding the Suns' star to just 40% shooting in the fourth quarters. Milwaukee's supporting cast - Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton - each had moments where they stepped up exactly when needed. This wasn't a team relying on one superstar; it was a complete roster fulfilling specific roles to perfection.
From my perspective, what made Milwaukee's championship so satisfying was how it validated their organizational patience. They'd come close before, falling to Toronto in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, and there was significant pressure to blow up the core. Instead, they doubled down by acquiring Holiday, a move I initially questioned but now recognize as brilliant. The 2021 Finals demonstrated that sometimes championship teams aren't built overnight - they're refined through near-misses and strategic adjustments. Phoenix, while falling short, proved their resurgence was legitimate, setting up what I believe will be continued Western Conference contention in coming years.
The financial implications were substantial too - Milwaukee's championship generated approximately $30-35 million in additional revenue through playoff shares, merchandise, and projected ticket increases. But beyond the numbers, this championship meant everything to a city that hadn't celebrated an NBA title in fifty years. Watching the parade footage, with fans stretching for blocks, reminded me why sports matter beyond the standings and statistics.
Reflecting on that series now, I'm convinced we witnessed a changing of the guard in terms of NBA supremacy. LeBron's era isn't over, but Giannis announced his arrival as the league's next transcendent superstar. The completeness of Milwaukee's roster construction - from their superstar to role players - created a template other franchises are now trying to emulate. As we look toward future seasons, the 2021 Finals will stand as a reminder that in basketball, as in life, the most satisfying victories often come after previous disappointments, when teams have no excuses left and must simply deliver.