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The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Milwaukee finished the season as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference at 51-31, while Chicago finished as the 6th seed at 46-36.
The Bucks are trying to repeat as champions, while the Bulls are making their first playoff appearance since 2017.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to another great season, putting himself in the MVP conversation. He averaged 29.9 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Antetokounmpo shot 55.3 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from downtown.
His impact on both ends of the floor is not to be understated. He can dominate on either side. The Bucks have done a phenomenal job surrounding him with players that fit well. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have been great complimentary stars.
Middleton had a solid campaign, averaging 20.1 points per game along with 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists. He shot 44.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent behind the arc.
Holiday also had a good season with his two-way play. He averaged 18.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. Holiday was efficient, shooting 50.1 percent from the field and a career-high 41.1 percent from three.
The impact of the big three will be essential against a solid Bulls roster. Zach LaVine has been the star of the franchise for a couple years, and they have finally surrounded him with a well-rounded roster. DeMar DeRozan has had a resurgence, leading to his first All-Star appearance since the 2017-18 season.
Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Nikola Vucevic have all been welcomed additions over the past two seasons. Ball is out for the season with an injury, but Caruso and Vucevic will play a key role for Chicago.
Milwaukee is the favorite in this series and should move on to the next round.
Why the Bucks will beat the Bulls in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs
3. Bucks have more depth
While rotations in the playoffs shorten, depth will be important to a team's success. Milwaukee has a roster with great depth, which compliments the big three well.
Bobby Portis and Grayson Allen have played their roles well. Portis averaged 14.6 points per game and 9.1 rebounds this season. He shot 47.9 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three. Portis is a stretch big that makes defenses pay when they leave him open.
Allen also had a good season, as he played great on both offense and defense. He averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from deep.
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Antetokounmpo forces defenses to send multiple defenders once he gets into the paint, which can leave Portis and Allen open.
The impact of the Bucks' depth should be evident throughout the series.
2. Bulls have no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the world and is difficult to stop. The only time a defense has been able to limit him is when they form a wall to stop him from getting into the paint.
Chicago doesn't have an elite defender to stop Antetokounmpo one-on-one. That makes their defensive scheme vital. The issue of double-teaming or sending a secondary defender is that it frees up shooters.
With elite three-point shooting around Giannis, the Bucks should have a dominant offensive showing.
1. Championship experience
Having championship experience gives teams a huge advantage in the playoff. The Bulls don't have a ton of playoff experience and have none as a team together.
Milwaukee has great chemistry, and they are coming off an NBA championship. The newly constructed Chicago roster will struggle to match the Bucks at every level on the court.
The Bucks should make quick work of the Bulls as they try to repeat as champions.
