Ultimate Guide to 2021 NBA Finals Standings and Championship Results

Looking back at the 2021 NBA Finals, I still get chills remembering how the Milwaukee Bucks clinched that championship against the Phoenix Suns. It wasn’t just another title—it felt like a statement, especially after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s legendary 50-point closeout performance. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve seen plenty of Finals, but this one stood out not just for the on-court brilliance, but for the storylines surrounding team readiness and roster depth. Which brings me to an interesting parallel from college basketball—that La Salle vs. NU scenario, where La Salle couldn’t use an "incomplete lineup" as an excuse for a loss. In the NBA, we saw something similar: Phoenix entered the series fully healthy, yet Milwaukee’s resilience and adaptability proved decisive.

When the Suns took a 2-0 lead, I’ll admit, I thought it was over. Chris Paul was playing out of his mind, and Devin Booker’s mid-range game was simply unstoppable. But then, the Bucks flipped the script. They adjusted defensively, Jrue Holiday started hounding Paul full-court, and Giannis… well, Giannis did things we haven’t seen since Shaq. The turning point, in my view, was Game 4. Milwaukee won 109-103, and from that moment, you could feel the momentum shift. It’s funny—people often talk about "what if" scenarios in sports, like injuries or missing players. But here, both teams were at full strength. There were no asterisks, no caveats. Just pure competition.

Let’s talk numbers for a second. Giannis averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the series—absolutely monstrous stats. He shot 61.8% from the field in the clincher, which is just silly efficiency for a Finals game. Meanwhile, Khris Middleton dropped 29 points in Game 4, and his clutch shooting was a huge reason the Bucks stayed alive. On the Suns’ side, Booker put up 40 points in Game 5, but it wasn’t enough. The Bucks’ defense tightened when it mattered, holding Phoenix to under 100 points in both Games 5 and 6.

I’ve always believed that championships are won not just by talent, but by mentality. The Bucks had that underdog energy, even though they were the higher seed in the East. They played with a kind of desperation you don’t often see from a team that’s been to the Conference Finals before. And let’s not forget the coaching—Mike Budenholzer finally silenced his critics with some brilliant adjustments, especially in how he used Brook Lopez in drop coverage to neutralize Phoenix’s pick-and-roll.

Now, circling back to that La Salle reference—it’s a reminder that in sports, excuses only go so far. Phoenix was healthy, they had their chances, but Milwaukee was simply better when it counted. As a fan, I appreciate that. There’s something pure about a series where both teams are at full strength, and the outcome is determined solely by execution and heart.

In the end, the Bucks winning in six games felt right. It wasn’t a sweep, it wasn’t a fluke—it was a hard-fought battle that showcased the best of what the NBA has to offer. Giannis’s free throw improvement throughout the playoffs was a subplot in itself, and his 17-of-19 performance from the line in Game 6 was the culmination of that growth. For the Suns, it was a tough pill to swallow, but they’ll be back. Chris Paul’s leadership alone ensures that.

So, what’s the takeaway from the 2021 NBA Finals? For me, it’s that championships are earned, not given. No excuses, no shortcuts. Just two teams leaving it all on the floor, and one rising above. And honestly, as a basketball purist, I wouldn’t have it any other way.