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The Chicago Bulls kept things close in Game 1 despite disappointing performances from their stars. They now turn toward a must-win Game 2 Wednesday night in Milwaukee. It'll be a tall task, but they've proved their worth in the first meeting.
The six seed will need better performances from their stars. In the meantime, let's move into our Game 2 bold predictions for the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago Bulls Game 2 Bold Predictions
3. Zach LaVine scores 30+
LaVine has never been afraid of the bright lights in his career. He won back-to-back dunk contests in 2015 and 2016 and the pressure of the Windy City hasn't seemed to bother him one bit. The playoffs are a different animal, but he's now gotten Game 1 out of the way and knows what to expect. Along with DeMar DeRozan, LaVine struggled mightily. He ended with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while going 6/19 from the field and 2/10 from 3.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday guarded multiple players in the first game, but he made things difficult for LaVine. With that being said, LaVine has become exceptional at hitting difficult, contested shots. He's one of the league's premier shooters and expect him to bounce back in Game 2. It will be reminiscent of his 30-point performance against the Bucks in early March.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo gets held to under 20 points
As reigning NBA MVP, Antetokounmpo can get what he wants whenever. He did just that in Game 1 of this series, scoring 27 points on 10/19 shooting. He came out of the gates hot, scoring nine points in the first 6 minutes. In the final three and a half quarters, Antetokounmpo scored just 18 points on 6/14 shooting. The Bulls and their coaching staff seemed to possibly figure something out.
A guy like him will never be stopped, but the Bulls managed to find a way to slow him down. To start, Chicago's frontcourt length bodes well for irritating the Bucks star. Patrick Williams came out of his college known for his length and defensive abilities. While center Nikola Vucevic isn't the most intimidating defensive presence, he presents the size to help avoid easy baskets as well. In factoring in all of this, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be held to under 25 points in Game 2.
1. Bulls keep it close
Now this may not be something people consider “bold”, but no one gave the Bulls a chance in this series. Additionally, the Bucks are currently 10-point favorites in Wednesday's Game 2. Facing the reigning NBA champions, the Bulls faced adversity better than anyone expected in Game 1. The Bucks' inefficiencies helped the comeback, but the Bulls deserve their credit too. Along with some defensive adjustments, they were able to weather the storm on the road.
For a few players, it was their first playoff experience. Coby White shined off the bench, providing 12 crucial points. But why is there reason for optimism for the Bulls? Well, their trio of LaVine, DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic went a combined 21/71, just 29.6%. That will not happen again, and the Bulls managed to keep it close through it all. For these reasons, along with the predictions listed above, the sixth-seeded Bulls will keep things close once again.
