Three wins. Three losses. Three wins? This trend could certainly continue after last night's victory over the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks. The Chicago Bulls' next two contests are against the lowly Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, who have combined to win a mere 12 games thus far.
Before we look onward, it'd be remiss not to mention Chicago's impressive defeat of Milwaukee. The Bulls scored 116 points against a quality Bucks defense, allowing only 101.6 points per game over its last five contests. Chicago shot 47.4 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Nikola Vucevic etched his name in the record books, scoring 23 points and cashing in on three triples while adding 13 boards and five assists on the night. Coby White contributed 22 points, and Zach LaVine scored 15, but the Bulls' best performance was Josh Giddey's in his first game after returning from an ankle injury.
Josh Giddey is hailed as Chicago's "MVP" by Doc Rivers
The 22-year-old guard scored 23 points, brought down 15 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. It was Giddey's second triple-double of the young season. In addition to the fantastic all-around performance, Giddey received high praise from Milwaukee's Head Coach Doc Rivers.
Doc Rivers: "I thought their most valuable player all game was Josh Giddey. Even before he made 3s. He didn't even have to make a 3. He just pushed the ball up the floor, got into the paint and just created havoc. He dominated and controlled the entire game."
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 29, 2024
Rivers' praise of Giddey is a testament to the former lottery pick's stellar impact. Chicago struggled mightily without the 6-foot-8 guard in the lineup, losing three games and scoring less than 100 points in two of four contests. Upon return, Giddey led the Bulls in plus/minus and controlled the pace of the game. Rivers anointed Giddey as Chicago's "most valuable player" in the victory over the Bucks.
It's been an uneven season for the fourth-year pro. Giddey is averaging a career-low 12.3 points per game and continues to struggle from beyond the arc, converting on just 32.7 percent of his 3.8 three-point attempts per game. However, he continues to receive praise from long-tenured coaches. Chicago Head Coach Billy Donovan recently referred to Giddey as an "important piece" after commending the Aussie's improved defense.
Despite Giddey's solid, well-rounded statistical production, his impact goes beyond the box score. His passing shows up, averaging a career-high 7.0 assists, but his ability to push the ball up the court, look ahead, and make next-level reads is often overlooked.
Giddey's defense is only getting better
Furthermore, Giddey's defense is much improved, as Donovan pointed out. The 22-year-old averages a career-high 1.0 steals while blocking 0.5 shots per game. Giddey also leads the Bulls in loose balls recovered and ranks third on the team in deflections at 1.8 per game. Similar to his offensive impact, Giddey's defense impact doesn't always show up in the box score. He's an intelligent team defender.
I have been a vocal critic of Josh Giddey's defense. He's proving me wrong. Had some nice plays at the end of a Bulls win over the Bucks that deserve attention. https://t.co/hkVjBmvoch pic.twitter.com/pHTwWRlf2m
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) December 29, 2024
Against Milwaukee, Giddey did a fine job of playing help defense and switching on picks and off-ball screens. Most importantly, the combo guard may have found his niche on the defensive end. He defended the 6-foot-8 Khris Middleton well, especially down the stretch. While Middleton isn't an athletic downhill player, he makes a living getting to his spots and scoring over defenders in the mid-range. At 6-foot-8, lacking agility himself, Giddey played Middleton well, forcing a turnover and only allowing the three-time All-Star to score two points when matched up against one another.
While Giddey's opponents have typically shot better when defended by the fourth-year guard, he's made real strides as of late, primarily due to an increased effort level. Giddey's concerted effort to remain cognizant on the defensive end echoes a sentiment Donovan shared a month ago. Chicago's Head Coach lamented to Giddey that he needed to "be locked in on D" if he wished to close games.
Donovan's promise was upheld as Giddey entered the game for Lonzo Ball with less than four minutes to go. Donovan's trust in the young guard paid off. Giddey helped Chicago comeback from a 104-102 deficit to defeat the Bucks by five. He notched five points, four rebounds, and an assist in the last three minutes and 49 seconds of action.
It's been quite the turnaround for the impending restricted free agent. Entering the New Year, Giddey will likely be handed more responsibility as several of the Bulls' key contributors are expected to be dealt by the February 6 trade deadline.