The first encounter was particularly defensive and choppy. The second was of the same kind, though more pleasant to follow. Both teams played a very even first quarter.
The Bulls showed a more attacking and efficient face, with a DeMar DeRozan – Zach LaVine – Nikola Vucevic trio in excellent shape. On the other side, Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing what he can, but the defending champions suffer from the waste in their play and are 14 points ahead at halftime (49-63).
The recovery is even worse and the gap widens to 18 points. Admittedly, Khris Middleton is better in the game after a missed first period, but the Bucks are unable to accelerate. The “Greek Freak” exhausts the Bulls’ defense with his mistakes, but even after a 15-2 at the end of the third quarter, Milwaukee is still trailing (80-87).
In the latter act, DeMar DeRozan takes care of everything. He chains the baskets halfway through the distance, then Zach LaVine and the others join him in the important moments. Chicago resists, swallows two offensive rebounds in a row in the last seconds and eventually wins 110-114.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The balance of power in Chicago† We’re only going to talk about DeMar DeRozan, of course, and rightly so, but also the rear was assisted by a much more effective collective. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic had their moment to shine when Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams were invaluable. The back carried the ball too much at times, but the Bulls never completely forgot to spin the ball. It was crucial and some important baskets were scored after well-seen passes to provide very open shots.
– Too much garbage in Bucks game. The numerous errors caused by Giannis Antetokounmpo allowed the Bucks to stay in the game, but they also symbolized the difficulties of setting the pace, tying the baskets together. Too many loose balls (10 in the first period), too much slow action, too much dribble or hasty shots. As in Game 1, the Bulls were able to break the machine, this time maintaining their lead.
– Khris Middleton’s injury. Big worry for the Bucks since the All-Star winger twisted his left knee at the start of the 4th quarter. Mike Budenholzer has confirmed he has suffered at least one sprain, and the MRI taken on Thursday will reveal more about the severity of his injury.
TOPS/FLOPS
DeMar DeRozan. Obviously, Chicago’s backside was brilliant, with 41 points on 16/31 to shoot. All the defenders, even Antetokounmpo, tried to hinder him at medium range, but impossible to slow him down. In the closing seconds, it was he who scored after two offensive rebounds in a row to confirm Chicago’s victory. This is a career record for him in the play-offs, achieved in a very high-level game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek played with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists. He harassed the defense, elbowing his physique and making lots of passes on the free-throw line. Present in defense and rebound, he doesn’t have much to blame himself in this part.
Chris Middleton. The winger missed his start to the game, with a flat first half (three points). In the third quarter he was much better and Milwaukee’s good passage coincides with his. Except when he left his partners, slap in the knee†
The Buck’s bank† With a total of 8 points, the defending champions’ substitutes did not count. Bobby Portis was quickly punched in the face and headed for the locker room, when Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton put nothing in it (2/10 in the shoot, between them). On the other hand, Mike Budenholzer needs to get more out of his bench to support the 2019 and 2020 MVP and bend the Bulls, not much helped by their bench either.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 3: in Chicago, Friday, April 22 (2:30 p.m., Friday evening through Saturday in France).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
