How the Chicago Bulls can end Milwaukee’s season

In game one, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic combined to shoot 21-for-71 (29.6%). The Bulls lost by seven points. This seems nearly impossible. The defense and rebounding were so good that the Bulls were a couple shots that normally go in away from stealing two away games to start this series.

The defense slipped slightly in game two as Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday made more of an impression on the box score, but not enough to outpace the Bulls’ big three when they get going. The three vets bounced back from an abysmal first game to turn in the fifth game this season in which the Bulls big three each shot 50% or better. They’re now 4-1 in those games.

DeRozan was electric in game two. He scored his playoff career-high 41 points on 16-for-31 shooting. LaVine turned in his first 20-point playoff game, draining 3-of-4 three’s. Vucevic followed up his 9-for-27 game one performance, which consisted of 2-for-10 three-point shooting, with a much more efficient 10-for-18 and 4-for-8 three’s.

The Bulls are now 26-12 when at least two of the big three shoot 50% or better, but only 20-19 when a single one or none of the three shoot that well. As the playoffs continue, the Bulls will continue to need solid offensive performances from their best scorers, regardless of the level of defense thrown at them. They managed to step up in game two and steal a win in Milwaukee.

Now, the series makes its way down the road to the United Center, where the Bulls have been hard to defeat this season. The Bulls proved they were made of more than some gave them credit for, but they’re still major underdogs this series. There’s lots more to prove and lots more basketball to be played. Do the Bulls give in to Milwaukee’s experience and drop the next three games, or can they continue to make this a dogfight?