Milwaukee Bucks Grades and Reactions to 91-82 Game 2 Loss to the Chicago Bulls

Apr 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo (00) dives for a loose ball against Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks (0) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Reactions: The Good

• The Buck’s defensive intensity in the first quarter was special. They forced the Bulls into missed shots, 6-24 shooting, blocked shots, turnovers both foolish and earned, and 0-5 shooting from Derrick Rose, while surrendering just eleven points. Unsurprisingly they weren’t able to sustain that level of intensity the entire game; but there has been no finer twelve minutes of defense from the Bucks this season.

• Two of the biggest keys to this series are rebounding and ball security. The Bucks were half-way there Monday night, turning the ball over just four times. That’s it. They’ve had four turnover minutes this season, so it was nice to see them handle the ball with extreme care.

• Milwaukee didn’t reach the free throw line as often as the Bulls (27-17), but they sure made better use of their trips than the Bulls. The Bucks shot 14-17 from the stripe, while the Bulls just hit 17-27. Or, 82.4 percent to 63 percent. There were plenty of Bucks’ attempts at the rim that were altered by hammering Bulls’ players. That’s on the refs. The takeaway from that is the Bucks are attacking and the calls should be a little more balanced in the Bradley Center.

This one could be equally effective in the “Negatives” section, depending on your stance. For me it’s great to see Bucks’ players standing up to a taller foe. Look, Henson didn’t

have

to lord over Aaron Brooks the way he did–but by that same token Brooks had no business blindsiding Henson with illegal defense. Henson’s reaction isn’t justified, but it’s understandable. It’s also indicative of the Bucks’ collective attitudes this series and shows how much they’ve already burrowed into the Bulls’ nerves, turning the Bulls’ tough personas into a breeding ground of irritation and hustle plays.

Next: Reactions: The Bad