Chicago Bulls: 3 keys to stopping Bucks ahead of Friday night’s matchup
1. Build The Wall
The most success garnered when defending Antetokounmpo came in the 2019 playoffs. The Bucks lost four straight to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors. The Raptors “built a wall” that forced Antetokounmpo to shoot over length in the middle of the paint, not allowing him looks right at the basket.
They put Kawhi Leonard on Antetokounmpo, and when he got downhill Leonard and another defender, typically a versatile post player, would trap Giannis once he began showing verticality.
This concept is similar to blitzing guards in the pick and roll, only instead of trapping up top, the trap comes in the paint area on a drive.
Antetokounmpo had a hard time with this scheme because it forced him to make proper reads and maintain control as he drove downhill. He fouled out of one game, picking up two charges trying to go through the “wall.” He also racked up turnovers trying to make last-minute kick outs.
This worked for the Raptors because they had size and mobility from their small forward to their center that season. The Bull have similar versatility.
Tony Bradley, Tristan Thompson and Nikola Vucevic have the height to create the wall with Derrick Jones Jr. as the primary defender. If the Bulls are successful in trapping Giannis, they will be in good shape to grab a much-needed win over a quality team.
