Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks: Game outlook for final encounter

By Ryne Prinz

Dec 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball around Chicago Bulls guard/forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at United Center. The Bucks won 116-96. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball around Chicago Bulls guard/forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at United Center. The Bucks won 116-96. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) drives on Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry (3) during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) drives on Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry (3) during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Jimmy Butler has struggled against Milwaukee all season

With Dwyane Wade out for the rest of the season, Jimmy Butler will shoulder more of the load offensively, but he hasn’t been able to score well against the Bucks this season.

Butler has only scored 18 points per game against Milwaukee this season, including a seven-point performance where he shot 21.4 percent from the floor. It’s hard to blame Jimmy for any of the Bulls’ failures this season, given he’s been a top-10 player in spite of how bad they’ve been.

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Milwaukee is a tough matchup, particularly for Jimmy. They have multiple long wings, whether it’s Giannis, Snell or Middleton, to throw at him offensively. And he often times guards Antetokounmpo, a difficult guard no matter who you are.

Other Bulls have sparked up as of late. Nikola Mirotic and Paul Zipser have played pretty well as spot-up shooters, and Joffrey Lauvergne has been an important big with Felicio out. But outside of those three, there’s not many options for Chicago scoring-wise.

If things seem bleak going into this game, it’s because they are. Jimmy can put up 30 points and the Bulls can still manage to find a way to lose. But it’s nearly impossible for Chicago to win when Jimmy plays poorly.

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