MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 20: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to an officials call during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 20, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
On Wednesday night, the Chicago Bulls won a pivotable game over the Milwaukee Bucks, tying the series at one game apiece. Securing a win in the first two games on the road is pivotable, as 92.9% of teams who gain a 2-0 lead go on to win the series.
Can the Chicago Bulls pull off the upset over the Milwaukee Bucks?
This game was the second of the series to come down to the wire, and both teams threw haymakers as the battle in Milwaukee waged on. Without Khris Middleton for much of the fourth quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez did much of the damage for the Bucks. The Bulls’ Big 3, however, was there to counter every bucket as they propelled Chicago to a win.
After an uncharacteristic performance in Game 1, DeMar DeRozan let the media know “no way in hell I shoot 6-for-25 again.” On Wednesday, DeMar delivered on his promise, as he went off for 41 points on over 50% shooting from the field. This was an all-time performance by one of the premier scorers in the league.
Despite this, the margin of victory for Chicago was only four points, and as mentioned, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton down the stretch. The Bulls may have tied the series, however, there is still a long way ahead for Chicago. In this article, I will be taking a look at the first two games and analyzing the case for and against a Bulls upset in the first round.
Chicago Bulls won a pivotable game over the Milwaukee Bucks, tying the series at one game apiece. Securing a win in the first two games on the road is pivotable, as 92.9% of teams who gain a 2-0 lead go on to win the series.</p>
<h2>Can the Chicago Bulls pull off the upset over the Milwaukee Bucks?</h2>
<p>This game was the second of the series to come down to the wire, and both teams threw haymakers as the battle in Milwaukee waged on. Without Khris Middleton for much of the fourth quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez did much of the damage for the Bucks. The Bulls’ Big 3, however, was there to counter every bucket as they propelled Chicago to a win.</p>
<p>After an uncharacteristic performance in Game 1, DeMar DeRozan let the media know “no way in hell I shoot 6-for-25 again.” On Wednesday, DeMar delivered on his promise, as he went off for 41 points on over 50% shooting from the field. This was an all-time performance by one of the premier scorers in the league.</p>
<p>Despite this, the margin of victory for Chicago was only four points, and as mentioned, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton down the stretch. The Bulls may have tied the series, however, there is still a long way ahead for Chicago. In this article, I will be taking a look at the first two games and analyzing the case for and against a Bulls upset in the first round.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Case For </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_444383" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-444383" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1392029755-1.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1392029755-1.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1392029755-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 17: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over Brook Lopez #11 and Jevon Carter #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Why the Chicago Bulls can pull off an upset over the Milwaukee Bucks</h2>
<p>The Bulls have shown in both games thus far that they can hang tight with Milwaukee, and that this series will not be easy as many predicted. Now they will head back to Chicago tied 1-1 with the defending champions with an excellent opportunity to put some major pressure on the Bucks in Game 3.</p>
<p>After rewatching Game 2, I picked up on a few major ways in which the Bulls are punishing the Bucks’ defense. In the second game, the Bucks used a consistent pick and pop with Nikola Vucevic, which put some major strain on Bucks big man Brook Lopez. Because of his lack of mobility, Lopez often plays in drop coverage.</p>
<p>In a traditional pick & roll, this may work due to the Bulls’ lack of size. However, because of Vucevic’s ability to shoot the three-ball, the Bulls can create loads of space by deploying a pick and pop against Lopez.</p>
<div class="fansided-video sendtonews"><div class="s2nPlayer k-VRFXBi9VVL-1936627-4471" data-type="float"></div>
<script type="text/javascript" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"https://embed.sendtonews.com/player3/embedcode.js?SC=VRFXBi9VVL-1936627-4471&sound=click&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right%22 data-type="s2nScript">
</script>
</div>
<p>In this play, for example, watch as Vucevic comes to set a screen for Alex Caruso. As Brook Lopez responds by dropping back, it triggers Vucevic to pop back out to the three-point line. To defend against this shot, Giannis is forced to bring help from the opposite wing. This shifting clears out a wide-open lane for Patrick Williams to cut to the basket for an easy dunk.</p>
<p>Actions like this will be very difficult to defend with Lopez on the floor, especially when DeMar DeRozan is the ball handler. Due to the injury of Bobby Portis, I expect Chicago to continue to exploit the Bucks’ defense with the pick and pop set.</p>
<p>When the Bulls get three impressive performances from their Big 3 (DeRozan, LaVine, and Vuc) they will be very difficult to beat. Wednesday night, we saw the three-headed monster take over at times during the game.</p>
<p>Milwaukee is very talented defensively, however, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"https://www.nba.com/news/bucks-khris-middleton-knee-injury-status-playoffs-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">without Khris Middleton</a>, they lose a key wing defender and will have their hands full with Chicago. As mentioned with Lopez, the Bulls provide some matchup issues for Milwaukee. If they put Jrue Holiday on him, Zach LaVine becomes a problem, and if you use Giannis against him, the defense near the rim suffers.</p>
<p>The offensive strategy from Chicago appears to be working, especially in Game 2, but will it be enough for them to win three more games? The Bulls’ defense doesn’t have to shut down the Bucks to have a chance in this series, they just need to defend enough that their impressive offense can carry them to wins.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Case Against </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_444382" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-444382" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1392673352-1.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1392673352-1.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1392673352-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 20, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Why the Chicago Bulls can’t pull off an upset over the Milwaukee Bucks</h2>
<p>The Bucks have certainly yet to play their best basketball in this series. Despite some Giannis heroics, they were unable to secure a win Wednesday on their home floor. Now, with the series knotted at 1-1, they set their sights on winning big in Chicago Friday night. Despite some of their struggles, there is still a lot of reason to be confident in the Bucks in this series.</p>
<p>Chicago faces a major problem in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo (more than most teams, even). The Bulls have thrown a number of defenders at Giannis, and they have effectively kept him out of the paint or off of the glass.</p>
<p>In a move that is still very confusing to me, Giannis did not check back into the game until 7:15 left in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. Once checked in, he played incredibly well and got layups with virtually no resistance. However, with just over half the quarter left to save the Bucks, it wasn’t enough.</p>
<p>Moving forward, I anticipate coach Budenholzer to adjust his rotations to allow Giannis to record more minutes in the fourth, especially if Khris Middleton misses the next few games. If given more time, I can easily see Giannis bulldozing Chicago in the fourth quarter going forward.</p>
<p>Thus far in the series, the Bucks’ usual shooters have been struggling as well. It could be a shooting slump or the Bulls’ defense, but eventually, water tends to find its level. If shooters like Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, and Wesley Matthews find their stroke, the Bulls could be in some serious trouble.</p>
<p>While the loss of Khris Middleton is very significant, the Bucks still have the by and large best player in the series, and it seems like a matter of time before Giannis takes hold of the series on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The Bucks played poorly in Game 2, lost two important players due to injuries, made coaching mistakes, and more. Despite all of this, however, they only lost by four, and if only they were able to secure a rebound late in the game, they easily could have won.</p>
<p>Frankly, this worries me if I’m a Bulls fan. There is no guarantee DeMar DeRozan will be able to turn in three more 40+ point games, and I would be shocked if the Bucks continue to shoot as poorly as they have thus far.</p>
<p>The Bulls have proved to be a worthy opponent, and they will certainly continue to fight each game. However, when it comes to their chances to beat the Bucks in the series, I’m skeptical.</p>
<p>Given all the information I have, my official prediction is a <em><strong>Bucks series victory in six games.</strong></em></p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Official predictions for all three 2022 All-NBA Teams" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/13/predictions-all-nba-teams/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/22/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks-upset/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/13/predictions-all-nba-teams/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Official predictions for all three 2022 All-NBA Teams </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">
