The 2021 NBA Finals will be between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Game 1 takes place on Tuesday, July 6 out in the desert. This is Chris Paul's first Finals appearance of his career, making this a special moment for the 16-year veteran. For the Bucks, this is the first Finals appearance for the franchise since 1974.

This is a great matchup between star-studded rosters that are excellent on both ends of the floor. The Suns have a superior perimeter attack, while the Bucks dominate down low. Phoenix has made a run with Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton leading the way. Meanwhile, the Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jrue Holiday.

At the end of the day, only one team will be the 2021 NBA champion. This should be a close series, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo comes back soon from his knee injury.

However, the Suns have been red-hot throughout the postseason and look primed to win it all.

1. The Suns are healthier

Phoenix has a healthy roster right now. Booker did suffer a broken nose last series, but he didn't miss any games and should be totally good for the Finals. Paul dealt with a shoulder injury earlier in the playoffs and missed some time due to COVID-19, but his Game 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers showed that he's back to normal. Additionally, Deandre Ayton has been a force down low, allowing the Suns to compete with the best big men in the league.

Antetokounmpo suffered a knee injury during the Bucks' series against the Atlanta Hawks. There is no official word on his return yet, but the organization seems confident he'll come back at some point. Even so, any more time the Bucks star misses is a massive advantage for Phoenix, even if it's just Game 1. Milwaukee played well without Giannis but was facing a Hawks team dealing with injuries themselves. Look for the Suns to take advantage of a hobbled Giannis, as it could prove to be the difference in this series.

2. The 3-point advantage

Both the Suns and Bucks were excellent from beyond the arc in the regular season, with Phoenix shooting 37.8% from deep and Milwaukee a bit higher at 38.9%. However, the playoffs have been a different story.

While the Suns have maintained a stellar 37.3% mark from 3 in the postseason, the Bucks are at a mere 31.1% from 3-point range. For whatever reason, Milwaukee has had huge issues knocking down the 3-ball.

Perhaps the Bucks find their stroke again in the NBA Finals, but for now, this efficiency is an advantage for Phoenix. Chris Paul and Devin Booker form an excellent backcourt duo that can make it rain from deep, and they do a nice job of picking their spots. Milwaukee fires up more 3-point attempts, but efficiency is key.

3. Free throws

Neither team takes that many free throws. In fact, these two teams rank at the bottom of the playoffs in terms of attempts per game.

However, the Suns have a major advantage in efficiency at 86.2% to just 71.3% for the Bucks, largely in part due to Giannis' struggles. Assuming Antetokounmpo does return, his free-throw shooting could become a major storyline in a close, hard-fought series. You can be sure that he'll hear it from the crowd when he's taking forever to shoot them.

Meanwhile, Phoenix can count on Paul and Booker burying free throws in close games. This could wind up swinging the series and the championship.