Playoff Expectations Low, But Stakes Still High For Bulls
First-round matchup with Bucks paves way for proving ground for LaVine, White and Williams
As the Chicago Bulls prepare to give it the old college try against Milwaukee, the question isn’t can they upset the Bucks in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
It’s can they avoid being swept.
Or so the story goes.
And yet, even with next to no one expecting them to advance, the stakes remain high.
No, the Bucks aren’t the best match for a team preparing for its first trip to the post season in five years — as of this writing only the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans have worse odds of surviving their first-round opponents, according to The Ringer. But with their core of Giannis Antetokounmpo (27), Khris Middleton (30) and Jrue Holiday (31), the defending champs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, either.
How the Bulls fare in a best-of-seven series against arguably the biggest obstacle between them reaching their ultimate goal sooner rather than later will be telling.
Never mind them trying to beat Antetokounmpo as many times over the course of the next two weeks as they have in the past five seasons. Will the Bulls simply hang tough like they did in the first two meetings between these two teams, when they lost by a combined 10 points? Or, will they get buried under 20-plus-point deficits like they did in each of the last two meetings?
Of course, having Lonzo Ball, who was officially ruled out for the season April 6 and didn’t play a single game against the Bucks, would provide more clarity. But the answer will further inform Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley as to what their next moves should be as they continue fine-tuning this roster in the off season.
All of this is to say nothing of what could be won or lost for playoff newbies Zach LaVine, Coby White and Patrick Williams.
For LaVine, it’s about stamping himself as one of the six-best guards in the league. Even if, due to his ailing knee sinking any chance of him making an All-NBA team this season, it’s only in the court of public opinion for now.
“He has to have people leave that arena saying, ‘Man, that boy Zach LaVine, him, Donovan (Mitchell), Devin Booker, they’re all in the same stratosphere,” LaVine’s teammate Tristan Thompson told reporters Friday.
Even in the absence of an All-NBA selection and subsequent super-max deal, LaVine seems headed for a $210,540,000 re-up with the Bulls. On the other hand, White, who will be on the last year of his rookie contract next season, seems likely headed elsewhere. Either this summer or before next year’s trade deadline.
That is, unless White breaks out of his 11-for-40 shooting slump against the Bucks in a major way. While he’s taken baby steps toward being more than just a microwavable scoring option, his ability to put the ball in the basket is what’s supposed to separate him from every other player on the Bulls’ bench.
That he’s scored just four more points against the Bucks than Williams despite having played 64 more minutes underscores White’s struggles.
Of the aforementioned trio, Williams has the least to lose. But the 20-year-old former fourth-overall pick has everything to gain. Starting with the experience of matching up against the reigning Finals MVP under the brightest lights.
Now Williams won’t guard Antetokounmpo exclusively. Thompson, Alex Caruso and maybe even Derrick Jones Jr. or Javonte Green figure to take stabs at that assignment, too. But as the only player on the roster with the requisite combination of length, bulk and athleticism, whatever hope the Bulls have of slowing Antetokounmpo starts with Williams.
Like knocking off the Bucks, that’s going to take a Herculean effort—the Greek Freak has scored 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting with 13 assists and three turnovers in the 12 minutes he’s been matched against Williams since last season.
The Bulls having that much oomph left to give after collapsing through the regular-season finish line is doubtful.
What’s at stake, however, is not.