The second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs will feature an incredibly tasty series matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving.

In a much more ideal world, this wouldn't just be a meeting in the conference semifinals but in the grandest stage of them all –the NBA Finals. Nevertheless, this is going to be one heck of a series we wish would last for years.

The odds to win the series have already been released, with the Nets being a slight favorite to advance to the next round. It's understandable, though, considering the Nets have the homecourt advantage, the better regular-season record, and outnumber the Bucks in terms of legitimate superstars, 3-1.

Via David Payne Purdum of ESPN:

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All that being said, the Bucks won the regular-season series against the Nets, 2-1. They lost the first meeting way back in January in Brooklyn, then won back-to-back at home against the Nets early last May.

Giannis Antetokoumpo can choose to forget about betting odds or the fact that his Bucks are viewed as the underdogs in the series OR he can treat this as gasoline being poured into his burning desire to be the team that will take out the superstar-laden Nets squad.

The Bucks should be well-rested going into the second round after sweeping the Miami Heat in four games. The Nets took a little longer in taking care of their business against the Boston Celtics but should be all good to go to war opposite Milwaukee.

Game 1 of the Bucks-Nets series will be on Saturday in Brooklyn.