The Milwaukee Bucks are a team that is well aware of the impact that the three-Point line can have on the outcome of a game or series. Last postseason, Kevin Durant came infamously close to ending their season when he knocked down a long two-pointer that sent the game to overtime.
If Durant’s foot were one inch further away from the basket, the Brooklyn Nets would have advanced to the next round. Instead, Milwaukee found a way to win a hard-fought Game 7 on the road. In the modern NBA, the three-pointer can literally make or break a team’s destiny.
The Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee’s first-round opponent, is a team that is capable of changing the momentum of the game from the three-point line. Less than a month into his rookie season, combo guard Coby White put on a performance to remember.
It was November of 2019 and no one knew what to expect from the upstart team with a roster full of young talent. In a home game against the New York Knicks, White caught fire. He hit seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone and pushed the team to a come-from-behind victory. Ever since that day, scouting reports about White have stated “the next one is going in!”
Although his injury history has made White somewhat of an up-and-down player the last two seasons, he is not the only Chicago Bull capable of getting hot from beyond the arc. Zach LaVine’s three-point shooting prowess has become so well known that he was invited to participate in the long-distance shootout at this year’s All-Star break.
Rookie standout Ayo Dosunmu was able to connect on 37.6 percent of his three-oint attempts this season. These three sharpshooters are a constant threat to knock down three-pointers and change the outcome of a game.
Milwaukee Bucks cannot relax during their first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls.</p>
<p>Last summer, with the help of the Deer District, the team from the Badger State won its first NBA championship in 50 years. However, the euphoria of finally winning a title soon wore off, and the business of basketball kicked in. Integral veteran forward PJ Tucker signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent not long after the citywide parade. Reliable guards Bryn Forbes and Jeff Teague left via free agency as well.</p>
<h2>The Milwaukee Bucks must maintain a sense of urgency during their first-round playoff series. If they get complacent, the Chicago Bulls will capitalize.</h2>
<p>With the loss of these dependable veterans came a few new pieces. Grayson Allen, a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/keys-milwaukee-bucks-chicago-bulls/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/23/nba-twitter-grayson-allen-alex-caruso/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talented but unpredictable</a> guard was acquired through an offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. George Hill, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/keys-milwaukee-bucks-chicago-bulls/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/24/milwaukee-bucks-george-hill-glue-guy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the ultimate glue guy,</a> was brought back into the fold. And former NBA champion Serge Ibaka was acquired via <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/keys-milwaukee-bucks-chicago-bulls/2/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33260382/sacramento-kings-acquire-donte-divincenzo-part-four-team-trade-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a trade-deadline deal</a>.</p>
<p>These high-IQ players are the perfect compliments to Milwaukee’s Big Three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. However, in the world of pro basketball, there’s no such thing as a guarantee.</p>
<p>Although the Bucks have homecourt advantage in their first-round series against the Bulls, they are facing a team that has proven to be dangerous for a lot of reasons. Before the All-Star break, the Bulls occupied the number one spot in the Eastern Conference, and many pundits feel they are a lot better than their overall record. Let’s take a closer look at the key factors the Bucks must keep in mind in order to emerge victorious against their first-round opponent.</p>
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