Expect Vucevic to keep finding open spaces vs. Bucks
Storylines can change drastically from game to game in the NBA playoffs.
Something that worked well one night will be taken away the next night. Good players typically bounce back when they play poorly.
But one trend that figures to hold in this Bulls-Bucks series is Nikola Vucevic getting plenty of chances to make a difference for the Bulls.
We've already talked about how Milwaukee has led the NBA four years in a row in giving up 3-point baskets. But that trend is accelerated in the case of Vucevic now that Bucks center Brook Lopez is back on the floor after missing most of the regular season recovering from back surgery.
The Bulls faced Lopez in the playoffs way back in 2013 when he played for Brooklyn. Even back then, he was known as a player more likely to outscore an opposing center than shut him down defensively.
These days at 34, Lopez stepping outside the paint is sort of like an octopus out of water: He can do it, but is looking to retreat quickly to a safer space.
Vucevic exceeded his season-highs in Game 1 with 27 shots attempts and 10 three-point attempts. In fact, he took 20 or more shots just 10 times in the regular season.
Vucevic may not take that many shots in Game 2, but chances are, he's going to keep finding open spaces away from the rim.
The last Bulls-Bucks game of the regular season on April 5 was the night Vucevic went 3-for-19 at the field. So one could argue Milwaukee's strategy was to leave him open. But in the March 21 game at Fiserv Forum, Vucevic went 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
Overall, the production from Vucevic was very good in Game 1, with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Hitting 9 of 27 shots, including a couple bunnies, was less ideal, but a lot of players on both sides had inefficient scoring nights.
As we've seen all season, Vucevic likes getting some shots closer to the rim early in games and when that happens, it seems to improve his 3-point shooting. That's easier said than done since Milwaukee has two 7-footers lurking in the paint.
But Vucevic doesn't get many matchups like this one anymore, where he's younger and faster than Lopez. He scored a playoff career-high 35 points against the Bucks in the bubble, so he figures to be at the forefront of whatever success the Bulls can find in this series.
Here are some more observations heading into Game 2:
• The Bulls did a pretty good job of staying in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 1. No one's going to stop him from scoring, but being in the right spots will help Giannis end up with 5 fouls and 5 turnovers like he did in Game 1.
Jumping to help on Antetokounmpo inevitably leads to open 3-point shots. The Bulls were fortunate Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Pat Connaughton went a combined 3-for-17 from 3-point range in Game 1. If even one of those guys gets it going, the Bucks could pull away quickly.
• The Bulls can't complain about the shots they got in Game 1, they just couldn't connect. One theory is the Bulls have to expend so much energy to hang with the Bucks defensively, they're too tired to make shots.
That could be true, but if they're going to win games in this series, they'll need a more typical shooting performance from DeMar DeRozan. He bricked some clean looks on Sunday that were hitting net all season.
• Getting back to Vucevic, one part of his game that needs improvement is screening. He whiffed on a couple screen attempts on Sunday and got a couple of fouls (correct calls) for moving screens.
Watching NBA games all season, it becomes obvious how much a good screener can open up a team's offense. And some guys are allowed to get away with more than others when it comes to leaning into contact. But with Lopez already looking to creep back to the paint, better screens by Vucevic could help ignite the offense.
• Patrick Williams did a decent job on defense against Antetokounmpo. But I suspect coach Billy Donovan and his teammates will be on his case to be more aggressive. Williams took 3 shots and had 3 rebounds in 23 minutes. A lot of times when Alex Caruso guarded Antetokounmpo, Williams would stand and watch instead of joining the battle beneath the basket.
There was a play in the third quarter when the Bucks missed a shot and had players waiting under the basket, but Zach LaVine flew in from the perimeter and snatched away the rebound. That kind of effort is essential to the Bulls staying competitive. They actually won the offensive rebounds in Game 1, but not the second-chance points, thanks to Milwaukee having more shot-blockers.
Bulls a ratings winner:
According to TNT, Sunday's Game 1 of the Bulls-Bucks series averaged 4.8 million viewers, making it TNT's most watched first-round playoff game since 2018. It was also the most viewed show on cable Sunday.
That doesn't take into account Chicago-area viewers who watched on NBC Sports Chicago, which will air first-round games that are not on ABC.
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports