Rapid Preview: What to Know Before NBA Finals Game 3

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10 Key Storylines

1. The series heads back to Milwaukee, a place where the Bucks have played at a significantly higher level throughout the season

2. Chris Paul looked tired at the end of Game 2 after being defended by Jrue Holiday for extended minutes. Keep an eye out for his activity in the later parts of the game

3. Speaking of Holiday, he simply needs to be better on the offensive end. He missed a lot of shots in Game 2

4. Khris Middleton was off for Milwaukee last game. Knowing his career tendencies, he'll most likely be game tonight. Just don't expect it the next game if he does

5. Phoenix's supporting cast has been so much better than Milwaukee's through two games. The famous saying among basketball analysts is "role players play better at home". It's time for Bryn Forbes, PJ Tucker, and Pat Connaughton to put together a cohesive, positive performance for the Bucks tonight

6. It's hard to say this about a coach that took his team to the Finals, but Mike Budenholzer's seat is still warm. At the very least, he needs this game to keep voices outside of the Bucks' organization from loudly calling for his job

7. The famous/infamous "Suns in 4" fan's legacy is at stake tonight. If the Suns pull out this road win, the likelihood of a sweep (and virtual immortality for the fan) increases to at least 50%, in my opinion

8. Phoenix has caught a bit of the injury bug in the past two games. Forward Dario Saric was lost for the season with an ACL tear in Game 1, and versatile defender Torrey Craig left Game 2 after a collision involving his knee (no structural damage, thankfully). The Suns might be missing two big depth pieces in their frontcourt, putting the onus on Deandre Ayton to stay out of foul trouble

9. The NBA Finals ratings for the early games were fairly dismal. Keep an eye out to see if that topic is mentioned during the broadcast or on social media

10. Finally, Giannis Antetokounmpo was so good in Game 2. Let's see if his knee injury is a complete thing of the past

Prediction

Bucks win by around 10. Sorry, Suns fan

So I Went to Fazoli's for the First Time

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Where/When I Went

I went to the location on Dial Drive in Council Bluffs, IA (a mecca of Italian food) on the afternoon of July 11th, 2021.

What Brought Me There

As mentioned in the title, I had never been to Fazoli's before today. I had driven by this particular location several times, but never really felt the desire to look further into a restaurant like Fazoli's because Olive Garden usually fills the Italian-food void for me. However, my wife came home from working one day last week and relayed that one of her coworkers frequents Fazoli's regularly, and I had to ask why that might be.

0.4 seconds after hearing the words "unlimited breadsticks", I knew I needed to check this place out.

What was Good

One of the primary selling points of Fazoli's is its relative affordability for an Italian restaurant. A typical pasta dish costs about $7 plus or minus 2 dollars depending on the size and toppings included. Each entree purchased at the store includes the unlimited breadsticks, which were indeed unlimited.

My wife and I were served four initially, and when I returned to the front, I was served a plate of no less than eight breadsticks. While we could have pushed the limits, a dozen breadsticks between two people is as close to unlimited as I want to get. I found the breadsticks to be a smidge too salty and buttery, but not enough to make them unenjoyable. I would slot them below their Olive Garden counterparts if I were ranking them, but the gap is by no means expansive.

We were surprised to find out that Fazoli's does have multiple lunch specials if you arrive before 4 p.m. The limited-time special they are currently having allowed me to try a lunch portion of the fettuccine alfredo and the lasagna with meat sauce, respectively in addition to a drink and breadsticks for $6. There is also a $5 lunch menu that allows you to have a small pasta dish, breadsticks, and a drink.

For a fast-food restaurant, I did find the staff at this location to be very helpful and friendly whenever we needed anything. Props to them for this!

What was good, succinctly: The Value, The Breadsticks, Staff Friendliness

What was Less-Than-Good

For a restaurant that emphasizes speed-of-service, I was a little underwhelmed in that category. We weren't waiting an outrageous amount of time, but it wasn't rapid service either. The ambience at our location was similar to a McDonald's that hasn't been renovated recently. It was not unclean, just somewhat tacky.

Food-wise, the fettuccine was a little disappointing. The sauce was vaguely alfredo: thin and not overly flavorful. The noodles and sauce were a little cool, which really detracted from the experience. My lasagna was better, but nothing to write home about. The sauce had a good consistency, but the flavor was average at best. The portion sizes were adequate, but not eye-opening.

What was Less-Than Good, Succinctly: Pasta Flavor/Temperature, Restaurant Atmosphere, Speed of Service

Buy or Not: Menu Items

Essentially, would I recommend this dish to someone going to Fazoli's?

• Fettuccine Alfredo: Not

• Lasagna: Buy

• Spicy Tomato (my wife's): Buy

• Breadsticks: Buy

Best Dish: Honestly, the Spicy Tomato Pasta was the best dish that I tried

Final Verdict/Would I Go Again?

I wouldn't say I was wowed by my first trip to Fazoli's, but great value gives restaurants a very long leash for me. The breadsticks alone carry the value of whatever you might pay for your entree, and there are solid if unspectacular options for pasta to round out your meal. I got enough out of the trip to warrant a return, but I wouldn't expect a meal that rivals anything close to gourmet. Fazoli's is all about the affordability, and for some, that'll be enough. I happen to be one of those people, and perhaps something else on the menu will settle in as a go-to option in the future.

Verdict: Go if you want cheap, acceptable Italian food with ample breadsticks to fill up on. It's a pretty ideal option for families with kids, honestly. Just maybe not for an upscale date or meeting.

The Best Thing I Saw on Social Media Today

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Football season is still months away, but I was blessed with the opportunity to have an insider's view on one of football's finest working on his game this morning. Ravens offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler was filmed by up and coming sports reporter Sara Zeitler doing pass-blocking reps in a somewhat unlikely place:

Clearly, Kevin Zeitler (clad in a pair of Air Jordan 3: Chicago sneakers nonetheless) thought it was appropriate to demonstrate the proper technique he uses to keep Lamar Jackson clean in the pocket each play before an inevitable incomplete pass. His footwork is impressive given the fact that no hospital room in the world has much space to work with, and he finished his reps with minimal pressure getting through from the laundry hamper rushing from the right.

I find it so wholesome that he took time out of his day to travel to a random hospital and put on such a clinic for front-line workers and a sports reporter who, by her own admission, was laboring at her job. His impact on Ms. Zeitler's day was obvious, as the emoji she shared in her tweet demonstrates how she was brought to tears by his efforts.

We need more athletes like this to take time to make the lives of not only our healthcare workers, but also upcoming sports reporters better. Kevin Zeitler gave a young, upstart media member with no outside connection to him a viral scoop that most reporters would be salivating over. I'm almost crying at the genuine compassion myself right now.

Keep up the hard work, Kevin!

You've certainly got one new fan right here.