Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a performance for the ages last night in leading his Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Championship in 50 years as they defeated the Phoenix Suns in game 6, 105-98.

Giannis, taking Milwaukee fans back to 1971 when Lew Alcindor, soon to be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Big O, Oscar Robertson, when they led the franchise to its first and only Lawrence O’Brien Trophy until last night.

Giannis poured in 50 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots, and in an incredible turnaround due to his work at it, he was 17 of 19 from the free throw line. Just remarkable. Giannis was awarded the Bill Russell MVP Finals Trophy. It was as spectacular a performance in a close out game as I’ve ever seen. As good as Michael Jordan in my opinion, in anybody’s opinion who watched the game. The 26 year old native from Athens, Greece was un-guardable, and the Suns led the league in points allowed on defense, so they were a pretty solid defensive team. It was extraordinary.

And he certainly had some help. Jrue Holiday, who came in as a free agent this season from the New Orleans Pelicans, scored only 12 points, but pulled down 9 boards and added 11 assists. And the 31 year old from L.A. is one of the best defensive players you’ll ever see in basketball. Just clutch steal after clutch steal. Devin Booker, the Suns sharpshooter from the University of Kentucky, posted a couple of 40 point games in this series, but with Holliday guarding him, he was 8-of-22 from the field, and 0-for-7 from the 3 point range. He ended up with 19 points, but they were hard earned and he missed a lot of shots. Holliday was spectacular in the postseason. Khris Middleton, the 29 year old who played at Texas A&M converted big shot after big shot and scored 17 last night, including a late mid range shot that was crucial to the victory. He made clutch shot after clutch shot throughout the playoffs. He and Giannis came into the Bucks together, and this was their 8th season together in Milwaukee. There’s been a lot of heartache for both of guys, but they kept on working and believing and it paid off.

Bobby Portis, the 26 year old who played collegiately at Arkansas, was a key factor in the Bucks winning last night and in the series. He had 16 points with crucial bucket after crucial bucket. He was tremendous in helping his team win it all.

Coach Mike Buddenholzer was facing a lot of scrutiny when the playoffs started. Many were saying he would get fired if the Bucks didn’t do well. Whether that meant making it to the Finals is unknown, but I would say so. He did a terrific job coaching the team in the postseason. His team faced a 2-0 deficit to Brooklyn in the conference semis and came back and won in 6 games. Brooklyn with Kevin Durant, James Hardin and Kyrie Irving. Irving was hurt during the series, but it was still a very good team and a tremendous comeback. They had to defeat a highly talented Atlanta Hawks team in games 5 and 6 without Giannis, who hyperextended his knee in game 4 ,and they did. They just kept getting better and better every series and by the end of the Hawks series they looked like the best team in the NBA.

The Vegas people and gamblers were betting on the Suns, by a pretty substantial margin. But Giannis and the Bucks were not going to be denied. It’s very hard to repeat in any sport, so they just need to enjoy this victory for a while, and then lock in come September and see if they can repeat. It’s not unprecedented and with Giannis and the players around him, it’s attainable. That was one of the first things Giannis said last night, let’s do it again. The Tampa Bay Lightning just did it in hockey and the Tampa Bay Bucs bring Tim Brady and all 21 other starters back to their 2021 team, which is unheard of and extraordinary, so they’ve got a shot to win back to back Super Bowls this one coming up in Super Bowl 56 to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, a 5 billon dollar state of the art football mausoleum. The Bucs and Brady won Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The LA Dodgers are loaded, so we’ll see about them. the competition is fierce in MLB this season.

The Bucks, if they can keep their nucleus together, certainly have the material to repeat. And they are going to keep their group together. Was really refreshing to have a different 2 teams playing for the NBA Championship and the series was phenomenal. Good job NBA, like college football and the NFL, for pulling it off in a beyond challenging year. Quite a worthy champion in Giannis and the Bucks.

Prediction for the 3M Open

The defending champion is former Alabama player Michael Thompson, who put on a putting clinic last year in landing the title in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Twin Cities course is a par 71 and tips at 7,431 yards. The greens are bentgrass and they will be stimping at 12 1/2 feet. The rough will be 3 1/2 inches.

Weather, Hot. High 89 Thursday, 96 Friday, 92 Saturday, 95 Sunday. So it’ll be a battle of attrition at TPC Twin Cities. Wind 9-12 throughout the weekend, but no rain.

TV, Thursday-Friday, 1:30-5:30 PM CT, Golf Channel. Saturday-Sunday, 12-2 PM CT Golf Channel, 2-5 PM CT, CBS.

Odds

Dustin Johnson, 15-2, Louis Oosthuizen, 15-1, Tony Finau, 16-1, Patrick Reed, 19-1, Sergio Garcia, 29-1, Matthew Wolff, 20-1, Bubba, 31-1,. Rickie Fowler, 44-1. Dylan Fritteli, 44-1, Maverick McNeely, 44-1.

Coilin Morikawa was iron at the 149th Open Championship last Sunday in winning his 2nd major championship in less than a year after his victory at the PGA Championship last August at Harding Park in San Francisco. His ball striking was superb and his putting Sunday even better. He was not going to be denied. At 24 years old, the Cal-Berkeley economics major graduate, has the golfing world captivated with his phenomenal ability to close in majors, at least in these 2 so far. There doesn’t look like there’s much stopping Morikawa from winning more majors. How many? I’d put him at 6 or 7 before he’s done. Maybe 9 or 10. He’s that good if he doesn’t lose focus.

Winner this week

I’m going to take the 36 year old from Seattle, Washington by way of Baylor School in Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University. He has 2 top 5’s in a row. He didn’t play in the Open last week but competed in the Barbasol in Kentucky and was one shot short of making the playoff which Seamus Power won. So, I’ll take him to get over the top and earn his first victory on tour.

Luke List

Darkhorse

Give me the 27 year old from Mountain Brook, Alabama by way of the University of Alabama. He was a Monday qualifier. His uncle, Bama Golf, believes in him and so do I. I’ll take,

Tom “T Love” Lovelady

Winner at the Amundi-Evian Championship

The fourth major on the Women’s Tour, the LPGA. Patty Tavatanakit won the first, the ANA Inspiration in early April in California. Yuka Sasso won the U.S, Women’s Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, and Nelly Korda won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. The fifth major will be the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Aug. 19th-22nd. The defending champion there is Sophia Popov. Temperatures will be a little warmer in Evian les-Baines, France with highs in the 80’s and some rain possible Saturday and Sunday, Wind 5-6 MPH each day, so minimal. The Evian Resort Club course is 6,523 yards and a par 71. Really nice course.

TV, Thursday, 4-6 AM CT, Golf Channel, 8:30-10:30 AM CT, Golf Channel. Friday, 4-6 AM CT, Golf Channel, 8:30-10:30 AM CT, Golf Channel. Saturday, 4:30-7:30 AM CT, Golf Channel. 7:30-10 AM CT CNBC. Sunday, 4:30-7:30 AM CT, Golf Channel, 7:30-10 AM CT CNBC.

I’ll take the defending champion from 2019, the major was not held last year due to COVID. The 26 year old from Seoul South Korea. She’s won 3 times already this year with her latest victory at the Volunteers of America Classic in Houston on July 1-4. There are some excellent players with Jessica and Nelly Korda, hard to pick against Nelly, and the Jutanugarn sisters, Ariya and big sister Moriya. They just won a 2 team event last week on tour. Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang aren’t playing as they are getting ready to compete in the Olympics two weeks from yesterday in Japan for the United States. But Brook Henderson, Lydia Ko and many other stellar players are playing.

But i’ll take the South Korean.

Jin-young Ko

Tomorrow

Saban

Friday

Harsin

I’ll have the other coaches and their teams in my team profiles for 2021 in the upcoming 5 weeks leading up to kickoff.