BY DAVID THORPE
Since I started covering the Finals in 2007, the Finals have always begun with clarity about how good the teams were, and what they would do. The only real surprises have been LeBron’s meltdown in 2010, the Spurs playing the best basketball in NBA history in 2013, and the Warriors running out of gas in 2016.
This year we know less than ever. The oddest NBA “full” season on record has found its match: two teams capable of being mediocre or magnificent. The Bucks and Suns beat injured teams and are beat up themselves. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Paul missed multiple games due to injury and health and safety protocols. The Bucks’ Donte DiVincenzo and Suns’ Cameron Johnson have missed games too, DiVincenzo since early in Game 3 against the Heat in round one back in May.
And—more on this in a moment—we don’t know when Giannis Antetokounmpo will be truly back.
Injured stars have been the theme of the postseason. The NBA’s best players missed multiple games against these te…
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