Rapid Preview: What to Know Before NBA Finals Game 4

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Ten Key Storylines

1. The Bucks dominated in their return to Fiserv Forum in Game 3 to the tune of a 120-100 win. Giannis was still great, but his supporting cast also elevated their games considerably. The saying about role players to home held true in Game 3, let's see about Game 4.

2. Speaking of Giannis, he has already entered elite territory with his production in these Finals. He has stolen Chris Paul's spot on the pedestal as the premier player in the series, and another monstrous game tonight might even put him on the inside track for Finals MVP even if the Bucks falter in the series.

3. We need to have a conversation about Devin Booker. Yes, he had 31 points in Game 2, but he wasn't even overly efficient in that game either. He hasn't looked fully right since his broken nose, but this team needs him to play at a higher level. People mentioning him as a "superstar" are just wrong at this point. He needs to string together a few strong games to win more people (me included) over to that side of the argument. Boo your TV with me tonight if you hear Mark Jackson call him a "superstar" again.

4. It was only one game, but I feel like the Suns are in a dangerous spot tonight. The Bucks have figured out that if Deandre Ayton accumulates fouls quickly, the Bucks will win. With no Dario Saric behind him (not that Saric is a world-beater by any means), the Suns need Ayton to play smart this game and the rest of the series.

5. Khris Middleton was solid if unspectacular in Game 3. I think he explodes for 25+ in front of the Milwaukee crowd in Game 4.

6. Cam Payne has been "Chicago Bulls Cam Payne" for about 6 straight games. That's....not good. Phoenix can be limited offensively if Booker isn't doing his thing, so they need Payne to recapture his form from early in the playoffs if they want to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

7. Despite the raucous environment outside in the Deer District, the inside of Fiserv Forum was exceedingly average in Game 3. We need a better effort from the Bucks fans tonight.

8. Ratings Tracker: Game 1 proved to be the most anemic from a ratings perspective relative to the others. My theory for that being the case centers around the uncertainty that Giannis was going to play, though I've been somewhat surprised that nobody I know of brought that idea up at the time. They are still down considerably from 2019, but the Bucks' win on Sunday may bring some more interest to the series going forward.

9. In my opinion, Chris Paul needs this game for his legacy more than any other player on the court tonight. Be ready for him to bring his best.

10. Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer looks to have figured some things out over the course of the series, and he had a decidedly better performance than Monty Williams in Game 3. Williams ended up benching Devin Booker for the final 13 minutes of play (granted, it was a blowout), so one has to question the status of their player-coach relationship in Game 3. It may be nothing. Booker had a poor night, and there don't seem to be any lingering issues brought to the public's attention. Keep an eye out for that storyline popping up in the broadcast, though.

Prediction

Bucks take Game 3 by single digits; Suns take the series in 7