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The Chicago Bulls fought hard on Sunday night in their series opener against the Milwaukee Bucks but ultimately came up short in a 93-86 loss. After taking the lead late, they let the defending champions claw their way right back into the contest in disappointing fashion. To be honest, it was far from a solid performance for the Bulls, who shot under 20% from three-point land and 32% from the field while their superstar duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine severely struggled. Nikola Vucevic wasn't much better, either. The only way they can prevent a clean sweep is if their All-Stars step up in a big way and give Milwaukee a run for their money. Despite the Bucks stinking it up other than Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bulls simply couldn't snatch a win here in what will be seen as a clear missed opportunity.
That being said, here are 3 Bulls to blame for the Game 1 loss.
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan is usually the reason Chicago wins games. But in this case, it was the complete opposite. The veteran was downright atrocious on Sunday, posting a stat line of 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in 42 minutes of action. That might not seem bad to some, but for a player who averaged nearly 28 points per game during the regular season, it was unacceptable. The Bulls star also shot just 6 for 25 from the field, despite having numerous clean looks from mid-range, and didn't make a basket in the fourth quarter until the 2:11 mark. Sure, the Bucks defense did a decent job of stifling him, but these are shots that DeRozan typically makes. The fact that the Bulls were still in this game without DeMar showing out is certainly a positive sign. He needs to bounce back with authority in Game 2 and take over like we've seen so many times already.
Zach LaVine
It was his playoff debut, so maybe there were some jitters. But, LaVine also failed to get it going offensively, scoring only 18 points in 36 minutes. His efficiency from everywhere was atrocious, going 6 for 19 from the field and 20 for 10 from beyond the arc. There is no doubt this is going to be a very difficult series for the Bulls when you have the type of defenders like Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews, and Giannis, among others, on the other side. But, the only way Chicago will have a fighting chance is if LaVine also steps up alongside DeRozan. If he was nervous at all, Lavine has to respond in a big way in Game 2 and set the tone from the get-go, whether it's getting to the cup and finishing above the rim or draining triples.
Nikola Vucevic
Vooch actually led the Bulls with 24 points, 17 rebounds, and three assists in this contest, but he barely hit a shot, going 9 for 27 overall. The Bulls big man also had a massive opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth quarter with an easy layup and failed to do so. While he did have a big third quarter and ultimately finished with a respectable stat line, Vucevic couldn't contain the Greek Freak or Brook Lopez, and when you miss that many shots on the offensive end, it's never going to be a recipe for success. Vooch has something to prove in Game 2 in the Bulls frontcourt.
