NBA
Budenholzer Proves He is a High-Level Coach With His Job on the Line
After two seasons cut short, Budenholzer proved he is a high-level coach with his job on the line, bringing Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA Finals
USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks are Finals-bound after their road victory in Game 6 over the Atlanta Hawks. Khris Middleton led the charge with 32 points, and Jrue Holiday tacked on 27 more. These guys stepped up in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmnpo to lead their team to the franchise’s first Finals appearance since 1974. MIL will square off against Phoenix with hopes of claiming their second-ever championship trophy.
BUDENHOLZER PROVED HE IS A HIGH-LEVEL COACH WITH HIS JOB ON THE LINE
COLORS KEY | FULL BUCKS OUTLOOK
The 2018-19 NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer came into this season with high expectations and was on the hot seat due to coming up short with a talented roster in previous seasons. On Saturday night, Budenholzer and the Bucks finally got over the hump and reached the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1974.
Coach Bud came up big in Game 6, slowing down the Hawks’ late push, and giving Jeff Teague more minutes against a team in an arena for which he was an All-Star previously. Teague was extremely efficient, going three for three from beyond the arc, scoring 11 points in only 12 minutes. Budenholzer also made the adjustment for bigs to switch on screens instead of dropping back which gave Atlanta open shots in Games 1-4.
It’s decisions like this that have helped Milwaukee finally reach the Finals with this star-studded squad, and Budenholzer proved the doubters wrong, showing that he is indeed a top-tier coach in this league and the right man to coach one of this generation’s greatest players.
Khris, Jrue come up HUGE in Game 6!
🦌 @Khris22m: 32 PTS (23 in 3Q), 7 AST, 3 STL
🦌 @Jrue_Holiday11: 27 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST, 4 STL, 2 BLK
The @Bucks advance to the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV for the first time since 1974! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/yuqnelZI1j
— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2021
✨ @pconnaughton (13 PTS, 8 REB, 2 STL) and @Teague0 (11 PTS, 3-3 3PM) provide the @Bucks bench spark in Game 6! #ThatsGame #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV tips Tuesday at 9 PM ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/G6rHun4lfo
— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2021
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