Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls (Bucks WIN 4-1)

[KIRAG]

I wonder if Billy Donovan used the "tanking aka resting" of the Bucks major players to get the Bulls as motivation to his team

[th87]

If Lonzo was playing, I would give the Bulls a W in a game. Otherwise, Milwaukee is too stacked. DeRozan can carry them, but it wouldn't be enough. LaVine could be exposed in this series.

Taking the Bucks in a sweep.

LaVine's been playing injured since mid-January, but yeah "exposed."

Can't get anymore embarassing then getting swept by your own rival.

Don't think Bucks or Bulls fans really consider it a rivalry. We hate the Pistons and Knicks, the Bucks are kinda likeable actually except for the time Giannis went crazy and decked Mike Dunleavy over a missed foul call.

Funny way to spell repeated throat punches.

[bearadonisdna]

since the all star break :the bulls have been a bottom 7 team by record.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 3 team in ppg.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 2 team in rpg.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 2 team in apg.
hi bulls fans.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-teams-record-since-all-star-break

Hows things going now? still gonna blame the defense or what ?
The whole board called me troll even though i openly rooted for them to win and matchups and rotations on a game to game basis.

[Naero]

The I-94 rivalry returns to the NBA for the first time since 2015. Not in May, as it was once shaping up to be, but in another 3-6 first-round match-up—most of the Interstate Highway traffic headed towards Milwaukee this time around.

The Bulls—who were continuously a top-three seed out East until these Bucks leap-frogged them on March 6th—have foundered with their 8-15 post-ASB record. It’s been a tale of two halves, the second of which they’ve sorely missed Lonzo Ball (22-13 with him) in.

Injuries have certainly hampered Chicago, but a healthier roster probably wouldn’t have been a panacea for all their woes. They have consistently struggled against tougher competition, posting a 16-26 record (9-8 with their starting Point Guard) against playoff teams. It doesn’t help that their current opponent handed out four of those losses in a sweep of their regular-season series.

The Bucks have had their own struggles, and injuries aren’t completely excusatory for them, either. Ranking 24th and 20th in third-quarter and second-half net margins, respectively, consistency hasn’t quite been their watchword this season; just a few of those letup losses alone possibly made the difference between the first seed and the third seed.

They might not be liable to a first-round upset, but how they fare this series may still be predictive of their title defense. They shouldn’t feel as if they have a bye in this match-up, which they seemingly tanked for in the finale, if they’re to validate their current Vegas odds as Eastern Conference favorites.

The Bulls can still get hot against us if they tap into their three-point shooting, which ranks fourth in the league, accuracy-wise, and the Bucks will need to iron out their middling defense beyond the arc (ranked nineteenth). It’ll also be interesting to see how we scheme against Chicago’s P&R interplay (ranked fifth in screen assists) with the recently reintegrated Brook Lopez, who’s been notorious for his deep-drop coverage. If the Bulls continue underemphasizing the long ball (ranking dead-last in 3PA), however, the Bucks’ paint defense alone may be too much for DeRozan’s mid-range mastery to overcome.

Even if Chicago puts their best offense forward, what answer do they have for Giannis on the other end? It takes a concerted effort to neutralize the reigning Finals MVP (e.g., the Heat’s and 2019 Raptor’s Giannis-wall schemes), yet I don’t think there’s an individual on the Bulls with the stature and prowess to guard him.

The defending champions need to prove they have another gear for the playoffs as they did last year, and how comfortably (or laboriously) they take care of their business here may be a barometer for their quest to repeat. They may show some red flags in that regard, but none of them should be fatal for the here and now.

These Bulls might have a bright future, but title contention isn’t realistically in their cards this year; they’ve only shown flashes, and those are only enough to cop a token win or two and some moral victories at most.

Bottom-line prediction: Bucks in five.

[The High Cyde]

This a sweep sweep

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

since the all star break :the bulls have been a bottom 7 team by record.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 3 team in ppg.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 2 team in rpg.
hi bulls fans
A bottom 2 team in apg.
hi bulls fans.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-teams-record-since-all-star-break

Hows things going now? still gonna blame the defense or what ?
The whole board called me troll even though i openly rooted for them to win and matchups and rotations on a game to game basis.

Yeah - their season has gotten derailed by injuries. It’s not a fluke if you’re the #1 seed AFTER the all-star break. They likely were overachieving, but the wheels started falling off when: Lavine, Caruso, Williams, DJJ, and Ball missed significant time. That’s 3 starters and a 6th man, including our top 4 defensive players.

If you want to say they weren’t real contenders, fine. But they’re obviously not actually as bad as they have been playing towards the end of the year.

[Wolfgang630]

I’m ready for that ass whooping

[DroseReturnChi]

These Bulls might have a bright future, but title contention isn’t realistically in their cards this year; they’ve only shown flashes, and those are only enough to cop a token win or two and some moral victories at most.

Bottom-line prediction: Bucks in five.

this is just false news. i wouldnt mind if the bulls had like 5 rookies learning playoff exp even if getting swept but their majority of the core are all washed up. what benefit does it give to vuc, derozan playoff experience when they are retiring soon? you had to reach playoffs with lauri, carter, and wagner and grow as a unit like cleveland is doing. im just shocked the bulls gm went agsint every move possible against me i will credit them if they can even steal a game or even 2. at least they can fake as a fa destination to woo giannis hehe. if im a gm i would rather be the kings and tank for 2 decades to find a doncic/lebron rather than constructing first round exit treadmill teams.

[Statlanta]

These Bulls might have a bright future, but title contention isn’t realistically in their cards this year; they’ve only shown flashes, and those are only enough to cop a token win or two and some moral victories at most.

Bottom-line prediction: Bucks in five.

this is just false news. i wouldnt mind if the bulls had like 5 rookies learning playoff exp even if getting swept but their majority of the core are all washed up. what benefit does it give to vuc, derozan playoff experience when they are retiring soon?

Lauri, Carter Jr. and Wagner are all sitting at home like you and me. You take the good solid borderline All-Star FA more times than not rather then hoping and praying guys like Zion, Fultz, and Simmons fix their personal and professional issues. Remember those guys were the surefire thing at their time too(#1 picks)

[SA37]

I like the Bucks in 5.

The Bucks are just too complete, although I think 2 of the 5 games will be decided by under 5 points while 3 will be decided by 10 or more.

[Ugly Duckling]

man after such a good offseason and start, we have to face the almighty giannis in the first rd. smh

[Tempe]

Excited to watch Giannis dominate this matchup. He and the Bucks own the Bulls the last few seasons. Hoping that Khris and Jrue can get going offensively as well to get in flow for another long playoff run.


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[ImSlower]

I mean, at *some* point the Bulls are going to break Giannis' streak against us, right? Why not Easter Sunday!

Welcome back to Bulls discussion Bear Adonis and DRose Return!

[xAIRNESSx]

Kind of neat that this is a regional series.

Wonder what the Bucks are doing to prevent Chicago fans from buying up tickets.

[Wolfgang630]

I’m only looking forward to this series because of Giannis lol

[Bruin]

Looking forward to see how Demar looks in the playoffs this year

[Mk0]

Kind of neat that this is a regional series.

Wonder what the Bucks are doing to prevent Chicago fans from buying up tickets.

I like that the East matchups are all division based

Miami-Atlanta
Boston-Brooklyn
Milwaukee-Chicago
Philly-Toronto

[Mk0]

I need Vucevic to get his head out of his ass for this to be a game. He has been dreadful for a couple of weeks now and it has sucked.

[SeniorWalker]

I grew up in the chi and I hate the Bulls and root against them. Was a fan years ago but I just don't like the franchise anymore. I know they've made changes recently, but I moved away from Chicago so have no reason to root for them anymore anyway.

[Bruin]

cant get a worse start for the Bulls