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I remember watching the 2021 NBA Finals with that peculiar feeling of déjà vu - it reminded me so much of that classic NU vs La Salle rivalry where teams often complained about incomplete lineups affecting outcomes. This time around, nobody could use that excuse. The Milwaukee Bucks entered the championship series with their full arsenal, and what unfolded over those six games became one of the most compelling NBA narratives in recent memory.

The journey to the Finals itself was fascinating. The Phoenix Suns, led by Chris Paul's veteran brilliance, had dominated the Western Conference with a 51-21 regular season record. They swept the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals and handled the LA Clippers in six games. Meanwhile, Milwaukee navigated a tougher Eastern Conference path with a 46-26 record, overcoming Kevin Durant's historic performance against the Brooklyn Nets in a thrilling seven-game series before defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six. Both teams arrived at the championship stage fully healthy and prepared - no asterisks, no excuses about missing players.

When the series opened in Phoenix on July 6th, the Suns came out blazing with a 118-105 victory. Devin Booker looked unstoppable, dropping 27 points while Chris Paul orchestrated the offense with 32 points and 9 assists. I recall thinking Milwaukee might be in trouble, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo still working his way back from that hyperextended knee he suffered in the Hawks series. But Game 2 told a different story - the Bucks adjusted, tightened their defense, and evened the series with a 108-118 victory in Phoenix. That's when I started noticing the subtle shifts that would define this series.

The atmosphere in Milwaukee for Game 3 was electric - you could feel the energy through the television screen. Giannis delivered one of those legendary performances we'll be talking about for years, putting up 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 120-100 rout. What impressed me most wasn't just the stat line but how he dominated physically while playing 38 minutes just two weeks after an injury that many thought would end his season. The Bucks took a 2-1 series lead, and suddenly, the pressure shifted back to Phoenix.

Game 4 provided the dramatic turning point. With 0.3 seconds left and the score tied at 109-109, I watched in disbelief as Jrue Holiday stripped the ball from Devin Booker and found Giannis for an alley-oop that became the game-winning play. The Bucks won 109-103, taking a commanding 3-1 lead back to Phoenix. That sequence perfectly encapsulated Milwaukee's defensive identity - they forced 17 turnovers that game and converted them into 22 points.

The Suns fought back valiantly in Game 5 with a 119-123 victory, extending the series and sending it back to Milwaukee. Devin Booker's 40-point performance was nothing short of spectacular, but what stood out to me was how the Bucks responded to adversity. They never panicked, never lost composure, even when facing elimination on their home court.

When we arrived at Game 6 on July 20th, the stage was set for basketball history. The Bucks closed out the series with a 105-98 victory that felt both inevitable and extraordinary. Giannis finished with 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks - one of the greatest close-out performances in Finals history. His free throw shooting, which had been criticized throughout his career, was remarkably efficient at 17-for-19. Meanwhile, Khris Middleton added 17 points despite shooting struggles, and Jrue Holiday's defense throughout the series was simply masterful.

Looking back, what made this championship so meaningful was how both teams arrived at their full potential. Unlike that NU-La Salle scenario where incomplete lineups created lingering questions, the 2021 NBA Finals gave us two complete teams battling at their absolute best. The Bucks' victory felt earned in every sense - they improved as the series progressed, made crucial adjustments, and their stars delivered when it mattered most.

The statistics tell part of the story - Giannis averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists for the series while shooting 61.8% from the field. But numbers can't capture the emotional weight of Milwaukee's first championship in 50 years, or the redemption arc for a team that had fallen short in previous playoff runs. For Phoenix, the disappointment was palpable, but they lost to a better team playing at its peak - no excuses, no what-ifs about injuries or missing players.

What stays with me most is how this series demonstrated the beauty of sports at its purest - two complete teams leaving everything on the court, with the better team emerging victorious. The Bucks earned every bit of that championship through resilience, tactical brilliance, and superstar performances when they mattered most. It's the kind of victory that ages well in basketball history, untainted by questions about what might have been if circumstances were different.