At first glance, it may sound like advising the Chicago Bulls, who are much shorter than the Milwaukee Bucks, to attack the paint is bad advice. However, there are times when going against conventional wisdom can work in one’s favor.
If Chicago stays out of the interior due to fear of Milwaukee’s big men, they are playing right into their opponent’s hands. In order to negate the advantage, they must attack it and turn the Bucks’ strength into a weakness.
Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are two of the best slashers in the NBA. If they apply pressure off the dribble, it will force the defense to collapse and Milwaukee will have to scramble. Although kicking the ball outside to players who may be open as a result of the scramble is one option, an even better option is to attack the rim and draw fouls.
Brook Lopez has been a solid rim protector over the last four seasons. LaVine and DeRozan should force him to go the extra mile, as trying to block two of the best finishers in the league will be no easy task.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serge Ibaka, and Bobby Portis are all known to anchor Milwaukee’s defense from time to time. Forcing these three to work hard on defense will wear them down for the offensive end. In the case of Antetokounmpo, that means slowing down Milwaukee’s leading scorer.
Chicago should also focus on giving Nikola Vučević the ball on the block and allowing him to use his post moves. He is Chicago’s best back-to-the-basket player. Failing to get him involved would be a huge mistake. Vučević has the ability to score and he’s also a good free-throw shooter. That makes him a very important weapon in this series.
Chicago Bulls must dictate the pace during their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.</p>
<p>Last summer, the NBA rumor mill was abuzz about the potential landing spot of several big-name players. Some of the names were free agents, capable of signing with whichever ball club suited their needs both financially and otherwise. Other names were disgruntled players whose desire to relocate were among the worst-kept secrets in sports. One of the players destined to find a new home was DeMar DeRozan.</p>
<p>There are lots of rumors surrounding the circumstances that led to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/17/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks/2/"https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-acquire-demar-derozan#:~:text=Body-,The%20Chicago%20Bulls%20have%20acquired%20DeMar%20DeRozan%20from%20the%20San,as%20part%20of%20the%20deal." target="_blank" rel="noopener">DeRozan signing with Chicago</a>, but the fact is, he’s fit the team like a glove ever since his arrival. His pairing with Zach LaVine has gone surprisingly well.</p>
<p>They both proved to be unselfish, team-first guys, and each of them was selected to the All-Star team. In addition to DeRozan, Chicago also picked up wily veterans like Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Javonte Green. These players, along with Nikola Vučević and Ayo Dosunmu, created a formidable core that led the team to the top spot in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<h2>The Chicago Bulls are major underdogs heading into their playoff matchup against the heavily favored defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.</h2>
<p>Unfortunately, life in the NBA can be just as unpredictable as weather in the Windy City. Lonzo Ball went down with a mid-season injury and is yet to return. Alex Caruso suffered a torn ligament in his wrist, missed significant time, and hasn’t quite regained his shooting touch. Ayo Dosunmu hit the rookie wall and Zach LaVine suffered several nagging injuries that caused him to miss games. In the midst of all this, the team fell from number one in the conference to number six.</p>
<p>However, the regular season is now in the rearview mirror and the team must focus on the task at hand. While the franchise is happy to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017, they must not get complacent.</p>
<p>They have a chance to do something special: win a playoff series and knock off the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks in the process. Let’s take a closer look at the strategies the Bulls must utilize if they are going to pull off the biggest upset of the season.</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/2022/04/17/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Key #1 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-442641 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/17/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks/2/"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%2F1366164885.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366164885.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366164885-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 21: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of a game at Fiserv Forum on January 21, 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>
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<h2>3 keys for Chicago Bulls to win series against Milwaukee Bucks: Attack the Paint</h2>
<p>At first glance, it may sound like advising the Chicago Bulls, who are much shorter than the Milwaukee Bucks, to attack the paint is bad advice. However, there are times when going against conventional wisdom can work in one’s favor.</p>
<p>If Chicago stays out of the interior due to fear of Milwaukee’s big men, they are playing right into their opponent’s hands. In order to negate the advantage, they must attack it and turn the Bucks’ strength into a weakness.</p>
<p>Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are two of the best slashers in the NBA. If they apply pressure off the dribble, it will force the defense to collapse and Milwaukee will have to scramble. Although kicking the ball outside to players who may be open as a result of the scramble is one option, an even better option is to attack the rim and draw fouls.</p>
<p>Brook Lopez has been a solid rim protector over the last four seasons. LaVine and DeRozan should force him to go the extra mile, as trying to block two of the best finishers in the league will be no easy task.</p>
<p>Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serge Ibaka, and Bobby Portis are all known to anchor Milwaukee’s defense from time to time. Forcing these three to work hard on defense will wear them down for the offensive end. In the case of Antetokounmpo, that means slowing down Milwaukee’s leading scorer.</p>
<p>Chicago should also focus on giving Nikola Vučević the ball on the block and allowing him to use his post moves. He is Chicago’s best back-to-the-basket player. Failing to get him involved would be a huge mistake. Vučević has the ability to score and he’s also a good free-throw shooter. That makes him a very important weapon in this series.</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/2022/04/17/chicago-bulls-milwaukee-bucks/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Key #2 </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Official predictions for all three 2022 All-NBA Teams </a> </div>
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