So much has happened in the second-round series between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks: a transcendent individual performance, some inexplicably ugly offense, two terrible injuries, several nail-biters, a profoundly brutal blowout, an extraordinary comeback and everything in between.
James Harden is an enormous variable here, but even if he’s not moving any better than he did in the last two games, I anticipate the Nets being sharp.
Ward-Henninger’s take: When I originally picked the Nets in 7, it was because they have the player I trust most down the stretch in a close game — Kevin Durant.
To be honest, I didn’t think the Bucks got that great of shots in game 6, they just made some tough ones.
Maloney’s take: With Kyrie Irving out and James Harden hobbled, the Bucks are the better team.
Plus, James Harden looked a bit better in his second game back than he did in his first game back, so he might look even better in Game 7.
Who does that favor? The team that rebounds better, which is the Bucks, who are plus-29 on the glass in this series, and the team that can generate more easy baskets in transition, which is again the Bucks, who outscored the Nets 26-4 on fast breaks in Game 6.
Wimbish’s take: The Bucks would be the obvious pick given the injuries the Nets are dealing with, but I don’t know that I fully trust Milwaukee, even after the explosive performances from its star players in Game 6.