Coach Billy Donovan obviously didn’t have his players ready to go in this one as the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks destroyed the Bulls without Khris Middleton by a score of 111-81 in Game 3. Lots of boo birds in Chicago on this one… and rightfully so. A pathetic performance by the Bulls.
Perk with Scott van Pelt on Sports Center suggested the Bulls’ front office return all proceeds from ticket sales to the people who paid money to attend this game. I’m proud of Perk, every time I look, he’s either with SVP or Steven A on First Take.
This isn’t Oklahoma City as far as sports media softness. I would think the very direct scribes in Chicago will be pretty tough on the Bulls after this performance.
If you look around these NBA Playoffs, injuries just halfway through Round 1 are playing a significant role for teams to adjust to on the fly.
Dallas without Luka, but with Jalen Brunson. The Milwaukee Bucks now without clutch scorer Khris Middleton, but with Grayson Allen and Bobby Portis. Phoenix without Devin Booker for the next three weeks. Joel Embiid playing with an injured thumb. Atlanta without Clint Capela. Kyle Lowery possibly down with Miami. Denver without Jaamal Murray and Michael Porter.
This is when contenders have to be able to have quality role players fill the production gaps.
And on Friday night in Chicago, Grayson Allen of the Bucks was the best role player in the league in a road game no less with A 22-point performance which led the Bucks to a surprisingly easy romp over the Chicago Bulls.
Bobby Portis stepped up as well with a clutch 18-point night and there you have Khris Middleton’s production covered by two of his teammates.
Giannis had a quiet night with 18 points and a +36. But as Jeff van Gundy said on the ABC broadcast, “If you’re a real NBA basketball fan and you don’t love Giannis…there must be something wrong with you.”
It’s so nice not having to listen to the Thunder broadcasts anymore this season. It’s invigorating to hear the excellent work at ABC, ESPN, and TNT this time of the year. It makes the games so much more fun to follow when you don’t have to cringe every other comment.
I think what I’ll write about next is Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies rightfully benching Steven Adams and why it was easily the correct coaching move.
You know, I love both Steven and Andre Roberson, but at some point, you either have to learn to shoot a basketball or accept the fact you’re a very situational role player with limitations in the NBA.
I love physicality and energy, but this was easily the dumbest play of the night as Jaxon Hayes killed his own team by getting ejected in the first half of a critical Game 3 versus the Phoenix Suns without Devin Booker.
Just an incredibly stupid play. It’s a good thing Charles Barkley wasn’t on the air Friday night, or he’d have Jaxon Hayes with the Minnesota Timberwolves headed to the USFL.
You can’t go out there and play like an unchained idiot.