Welcome back to the postseason, Derrick Rose! The former MVP marked his first playoff game since tearing his ACL against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012 with a sensational performance to lead the Bulls to a big Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The question now is if Rose can be able to sustain that level of play in consecutive games. We’ll find out soon enough as they go at it again for Game 2 on Monday. Read on below for our preview of that game.
No. 1 overall seed Golden State will also be looking to go up 2-0 in their series on Monday. Check out our Game 2 preview of the Warriors vs. Pelicans.
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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 – April 18, 7:00 PM ET, Milwaukee Bucks 91 at Chicago Bulls 103
Game 2 – April 20, 8:00 PM ET, Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls – view all NBA lines
Game 3 – April 23, 8:00 PM ET, Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks
Game 4 – April 25, 5:30 PM ET, Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks
Game 5* – April 27, TBD, Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
Game 6* – April 30, TBD, Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks
Game 7* – May 2, TBD, Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
*If necessary
Betting on the Milwaukee Bucks
The young Bucks were firing blanks from all over the place in their Game 1 loss to the Bulls. Milwaukee shot just 39 percent from the field, 25 percent from three and 65 percent from the free throw line as they struggled to get much offense going against Chicago’s playoff-tested defense.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Second-year players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams were particularly unimpressive in their playoff debut. Both shot 4-of-13 from the field for 21 total points. Meanwhile, OJ Mayo went just 1-of-7 for six points off the bench.
The Bucks will have their problems scoring the basketball. They were the sixth-worst team in terms of offensive efficiency this season. Antetokounmpo, Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton (18 points in Game 1), their top three scorers this season, are capable of big games, but none of them are go-to guys that can carry an offense for stretches.
The Bucks’ best chance of evening up the series lies on the other end of the floor. Milwaukee gave up 104 points to a slow-paced Bulls team, and allowed 12 three-pointers in Game 1. But the Bucks were second only to the Golden State Warriors in defensive efficiency during the regular season, and have the ability to turn Game 2 into a much lower scoring affair.
The under has gone 5-2 in the Bucks’ last seven meetings against the Bulls.
Betting on the Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose offered a glimpse of just how good the Chicago Bulls could be if he’s playing somewhere close to his 2011 self. In his sixth game back since returning from a meniscus tear, Rose looked like the Rose of old with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting and seven assists in just 27 minutes as the Bulls took Game 1, 103-91.
Rose’s running mate, Jimmy Butler, also had a spectacular game with a team-high 25 points as the Bulls offense clicked to the tune of 30 assists in 38 made field goals. Not to be outdone by the backcourt, the Bulls’ All-Star frontcourt of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah also did their part with 24 rebounds and four blocks. The Bulls outrebounded the Bucks, 52-41.
It remains to be seen if Rose can replicate such a performance with just one day in between games, but the Bulls possess enough weapons on offense to score even against a stingy Bucks defense. Gasol likely won’t shoot 5-of-17 like he did in Game 1, while Brooks (13 points in Game 1), Gibson and Mirotic are reliable off the bench.
The Bulls had a slight drop off in terms of defensive efficiency this year, but they have time and again shut down Milwaukee’s subpar offense. They’ve held the Bucks to 86 points per game in five meetings this season.
The Bulls are 4-0 (straight-up and against the spread) in their last four home games against the Bucks.
Writer’s Prediction
Rose doesn’t play as well, but the Bulls are still able to bully the young Bucks for a 91-84 Game 2 win. Create a betting account now and make your play on all of the NBA’s exciting playoff matchups.
