Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls: Instant Game Analysis

The Chicago Bulls came out flat yet again against the Milwaukee Bucks, ultimately dropping the game 95-69.

Next: New Season, Same Bulls

Here we go again.

On Friday night, the Chicago Bulls lost once again to the Milwaukee Bucks thanks to a lack of energy and poor overall play. Not to take anything away from Milwaukee, but the Bulls shouldn’t lose to their Midwest rival twice in a row.

All of this goes to show how the Bulls–although still a playoff caliber team–will have a tough time making it anywhere this season. Here are some notes from tonight’s frustrating loss.

First Quarter

Robin Lopez started off hot finishing the quarter with 6 points and 5 rebounds (4 on the offensive glass), but the rest of the team played really poorly. As a team, Chicago finished the quarter shooting only 22.2 percent from the field.

The Bulls came out with the same flat energy (“the fifth quarter stamina,” as Stacy King calls it) that spells doom against very energizing teams like the Bucks.

Led by Giannis Antetokounpo, who had 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists, the Bucks had a 34-15 lead after the first.

Second Quarter

The second quarter was more or less the same misery. Except this time it was the bench that showcased a lack of offensive capabilities and defense (the starters too, don’t worry! That was at the end, though).

Let it be noted as this point that Nikola Mirotic continued to see no playing time. In his place, Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine, Doug McDermott and Cristiano Felicio combined for an abysmal 2-for-12 shooting and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.

Now, I’d be lying if I said the Bucks weren’t playing awesome through the first half – they shot 54.5 percent from the field, had Golden State levels of crisp ball movement, and multiple vicious dunks by Antetokoumpo – but part of the reason they had such confidence and success was due to the Bulls lack of defense.

With blown coverages, poor switching and just four turnovers forced, the Bulls allowed Milwaukee to feast.

The score at the half was 56-37 in Milwaukee’s favor.

Third Quarter

If you haven’t guessed yet, this game turned into a blowout.

Truthfully, the Bulls didn’t do anything well: no ball movement, no effort, and, as I touched on above, no energy.

The entire quarter felt like Chicago was just hoisting up contested three pointers. At 3:27 left in the quarter, the Bulls had only managed to score seven points.

Seven.

The exciting plays (all of them, in fact), came from the Bucks. A few nifty dunks by Antetokoumpo and Jabari Parker, and even Tony Snell hit two threes in a row.

Where was that Snell in Chicago? At the end of the quarter, the Bulls were shooting 23 percent for the game and were down 18, 74-52.

Fourth Quarter

Despite the blowout, Fred Hoiberg decided that no playing time would be given to Jerian Grant or Mirotic until the last couple minutes. The bench did a fine job to start off the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to make the fans cheer or bring the Bulls close enough to actually have a chance.

The benches came in around the six-minute mark, but it wasn’t exciting. Chicago did nothing but allow back cut after back cut.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

• The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
• Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
• Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
• Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
• When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know

In the end, the Bucks won 95 -69, completing a blowout in convincing fashion.

Overall, it was yet another awful showing for the Bulls. They’ll need to find their rhythm quickly; before the losses begin to pile up and send them out of the playoff race.