2024-10-27 02:00:04
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 25: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls drives around Giannis … [+]
The Milwaukee Bucks’ home opener against the Chicago Bulls felt like watching a balloon slowly lose air. They started with energy, flying around the court and bringing the kind of defensive intensity you’d expect during a home opener. During the first half, it looked like the Bucks might overwhelm Chicago with sheer effort and enthusiasm.
Then, the Bulls started hitting tough threes—again and again—and the Bucks’ energy slowly drained. Defensive rotations that were sharp in the first half became slower over the final 24 minutes, and the urgency faded with each made jumper.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Milwaukee was completely flat, falling 133-122 to drop to 1-1 on the season. Chicago, meanwhile, buried a jaw-dropping 21 threes, the third-most in Bulls franchise history.
This wasn’t just about Chicago getting hot. Milwaukee had their moments, trading buckets with the Bulls and heading into halftime with a slim 64-63 lead.
For a while, they kept pace by matching Chicago shot for shot. But as the game wore on, the Bucks’ attention to detail—and their defensive spirit—gradually evaporated.
Chicago’s relentless dribble penetration sent Milwaukee’s defense scrambling. Every time the Bucks overhelped on a drive, the Bulls found an open shooter waiting on the perimeter.
When they weren’t dribbling into the lane, they were cutting into it. Milwaukee conceded half a dozen backcuts that led directly to shots at the rim or wide-open threes.
Then came the mental lapses.
With 6:34 left in the third quarter, after a made basket, the Bulls inbounded the ball to Josh Giddey, who casually dribbled up the right side. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic strolled to his left, showing little urgency.
Brook Lopez inexplicably positioned himself at the left elbow, far from his assignment, Vucevic. Sensing the opportunity, LaVine set a simple down screen, freeing Vucevic for an uncontested three. Seven seconds later, as Lopez hopelessly pointed to his teammate to cover up for his mistake, the ball splashed through the net, with the Bucks offering no resistance.
It was a perfect encapsulation of Milwaukee’s unraveling. What started as a team fired up to defend their home court ended with a group that looked as if they expected to win just by showing up. The starters looked perplexed as their bench cleared in the final minutes.
Doc Rivers has stressed the need to wipe out these kinds of mental lapses, but this effort looked all too familiar—reminiscent of last season’s struggles.
Gone are the days when Milwaukee could coast through games against lesser opponents. The league has caught up, and the Bulls reminded them the hard way that going through the motions won’t be enough.
If the Bucks want to live up to their championship aspirations, they need to treat every opponent with respect and bring effort on both ends for all four quarters.
Friday night’s performance should serve as a wake-up call. The Bucks have the talent to contend, but without consistent focus and intensity, they risk nights like this—embarrassed on their home floor by a team they should have handled with ease.
