BTBP Roundtable #10: All Or Nothing For The Bucks

Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Derrick Rose (1) and center Joakim Noah (13) walks off the court after the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Bulls 92-90 in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Do you expect the Bulls to come back re-energized, like a wounded animal, or have the Bucks genuinely shaken their confidence?

AMcG: I honestly think that Chicago have been caught off-guard by the Bucks’ resilience. They’ve spoken about it in the press even, and although I think that they’ll be better tonight, if Milwaukee starts fast I think enough seeds of doubt have been planted already.

TW: I expected them to be re-energized last game in front of their home crowd. After I saw how they looked in that game, it seems like the Bucks have all the momentum in this series. They aren’t feeling any pressure because they weren’t even expected to make it this far, while Chicago was expected to sweep the Bucks and are getting perilously close to letting Milwaukee tie up this series. So no, I don’t see them coming out with more energy in this game than they had in Game 5.

JT: I think it’s a little of both. Another day’s rest will certainly help the Bulls, but the Bucks are making them work hard for every bucket and it drains them, especially when they came into the series with key players not at 100 percent. However, I think the Bulls will look to set the tone right away, which would be new for them since they have started the last couple of games very sluggish. The Bucks will certainly be up to the challenge.

BA: I expect them to come back re-energized, but more of that is the extra day of rest. We’ve seen the articles and stats, Rose is a completely separate player on 2 days rest compared to 0-1 and he’s proven that so far this series. I think that’s the most important factor in this game.

JH: The Bucks have them rattled–no doubt about that. That gives the Bucks a golden opportunity to shatter the Bull’s wills early in the game. Chicago didn’t want game five. They certainly didn’t want game six. They’ve been giving their strongest efforts the last two games and it still wasn’t enough. Expect Chicago to assert themselves early; but if the Bucks can seize control in the first quarter this one could resemble game five.

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