Milwaukee Bucks Need More from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Upset Chicago Bulls
The Milwaukee Bucks' first-round series with the Chicago Bulls was billed as a likely offensive struggle, and that sentiment held true in Saturday's 103-91 Game 1 loss—for one team, at least.
Milwaukee's 25th-ranked offense struggled to create in catch-and-shoot situations all night against the Bulls, converting on 39.3 percent of its attempts from the field and 25.0 percent from three.
Those issues were compounded by Giannis Antetokounmpo's inability to work into a comfortable rhythm, as he managed just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting. But if Milwaukee wants any chance of pulling an improbable upset, it'll need more from the Greek Freak.
A lot more.
While Antetokounmpo packs undeniable scoring potential into his 6'11'', 217-pound frame, he can't fall for the Bulls' trap and continually settle for mid-range jumpers.
Even if they're wide open.
According to SportVU player-tracking data, Antetokounmpo shot 2-of-8 on uncontested field goals (meaning a defender was more than 3.5 feet away) in Game 1, nearly all of which came from outside the paint. He also came up empty on all five of his jump shots.
Time and again, Chicago's defenders slid under screens or switched on pick-and-rolls instead of pushing up on the athletic specimen, which lulled him into a sense of false security with space to rise and fire.
As his shot chart indicates, getting complacent with what the Bulls defense gives him isn't part of the path to prosperity.
"He'll need to take advantage of the open looks he'll be getting from outside, and it also wouldn't hurt to settle for them less often one-on-one," Brew Hoop's Frank Madden wrote after Game 1.
Taking those irresistible open shots is an unavoidable part of his maturation process, but an 81-game regular-season sample proves Antetokounmpo is at his best working with a full head of steam around the rim.
His 50-foot dribble drive and strong finish against one of the league's better isolation defenders in Jimmy Butler served as proof:
He also used his length and strength to take Butler off the bounce midway through the first quarter for an impressive acrobatic finish in traffic.
Ultimately, it's all about degree of difficulty. The farther away Antetokounmpo is from the restricted area, the harder it is for his presence to be felt.
| Percentage of FGA | 50.6 | 17.8 | 6.7 | 19.2 | 5.6 |
| FG% From That Range | 64.6 | 28.8 | 42.3 | 39.3 | 15.9 |
The same held true for the Bucks as a team Saturday.
Early on, Milwaukee consistently found open looks as the ball moved around the perimeter, and opportunities to penetrate subsequently opened up. But when Chicago shut off the paint after halftime—when Milwaukee scored 40 points—it duped the Bucks into shooting long twos.
"The Bucks showed they can get to the rim, but at the same time settled way too often for jumpers," CBS Sports' Matt Moore wrote. "They had 10 jump shots in the first half according to Synergy Sports. They had 20 in the second half. They've got to get away from that. But there is some sense of hope for what Milwaukee can do offensively."
By head coach Jason Kidd's own admission, the Bucks aren't well-versed when it comes to scoring in droves, according to Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin—even if they did keep pace with a 29-point first quarter in Game 1:
To remedy a lack of potency, Milwaukee needs to try to break Chicago's defense with speed. Whether that means pushing the rock off misses or whipping the ball inside and out to send the Bulls' defenders scrambling, speed is imperative.
And Kidd's well aware, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Charles F. Gardner:
Nearly a quarter of Antetokounmpo's possessions this season came in transition, and he rattled off 1.14 points per possession in those instances, according to Synergy (via NBA.com). He thrives in the open floor with acres to operate, which is to be expected of a developmental project just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
In this case, what's best for Antetokounmpo is also best for the team.
Milwaukee finished the regular season ranked seventh in transition efficiency, per Synergy (via NBA.com), and its proficiency in that area was exemplified Saturday to the tune of a 15-12 fast-break scoring advantage.
Of course, dictating pace is easier said than done.
The Bulls ranked 23rd in possessions generated per 48 minutes during the regular season, and their unwavering focus is on executing deliberate half-court sets revolving around Butler, Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.
But with Milwaukee having a long defense that forced the NBA's most turnovers this season, turning things into a track meet isn't entirely unrealistic. The Bucks generated 19 turnovers in Game 1 and scored 25 points as a result of their disruptive tendencies.
Whether the Bucks are finding Giannis for outlets or letting him initiate sets to get the ball in his hands early and often, there are direct tactical routes to statistical success. And he can help by injecting his 7'3" wingspan into passing and driving lanes to kick-start runouts.
Moving forward, it will be on Milwaukee to manipulate the matchups and maximize all Antetokounmpo has to offer during his first taste of postseason life.
"It is a seven-game series," Antetokounmpo said, according to Fox Sports Wisconsin's Andrew Gruman. "It is not like the regular season. Every game matters right now, every possession matters. I'm going to play as tough as I can to try and help my team."
Antetokounmpo may be the future, but if the Bucks are going to pull off a first-round stunner, he'll need to emerge as the centerpiece of their present offerings.
All statistics are current as of April 19 and courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless noted otherwise.
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