Game In Review: Bucks @ Bulls

Starting Lineups

Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Rashad Vaughn, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe

Chicago Bulls: E,Twaun Moore, Jimmy Butler, Tony Snell, Nikola Mirotic, Joakim Noah

Pre-season kicked off for the Milwaukee Bucks on the road against familiar foes on Tuesday night. As Milwaukee visited the United Center to square off against the Chicago Bulls, the game showcased the perfect mixture of rust and jaw-dropping potential to keep everyone excited for the months ahead.

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Oct 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) shoots the ball against Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) during the first quarter at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Bucks looked understandably rusty after a long summer break, although not anywhere near as cold as the Bulls appeared shooting the basketball out of the traps.

Milwaukee aren’t becoming one of the league’s most exciting young teams for nothing though, and they had the decency to remind everybody with some staggeringly good bursts of basketball throughout the night.

Although the first quarter was at times a little disjointed for both teams, Milwaukee worked their way into the game as a team with a whole host of players contributing in a variety of ways.

Michael Carter-Williams may have been struggling from the off picking up three personal fouls in the first two minutes of play, but the same can’t be said for many of his teammates.

Touted as a team who will struggle with spacing this season, the Bucks decided to toy with people’s perceptions with a flurry of smooth early jump shots from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Rashad Vaughn.

It wasn’t just the offensive end of the floor where things were clicking either, as Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Greg Monroe all showed top class anticipation to steal the ball away in the passing lanes.

Speaking of Monroe, the Bucks marquee signing was busy putting his defenders in a cement mixer down low. The big man’s spin moves made Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis look stupid on the way to a pair of easy buckets.

While the Bucks were stifling Chicago, particularly on the perimeter where they held the Bulls to only 1-14 from three-point range in the first 16 minutes, the Bucks put their foot down with some highlight plays before half time.

Firstly Khris Middleton renewed acquaintances with Jimmy Butler by putting him on a poster.

That was shortly followed up by an incredible series of moves from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak forced Nikola Mirotic into respecting and biting on his shot, before driving at Joakim Noah with the intention of dunking, and then making a mid-air adjustment to lay it in off of his fingertip.

The Bucks came out for the second half with a significantly changed lineup, and with the starters sitting on the bench, no longer even dressed to play. This was the sensible approach, as by leaving the game in the hands of their younger players, Milwaukee got a look at what they were capable of, while not taking any risks with their key personnel.

If you were to ask what that taught the Bucks, the answer is that Jason Kidd got some concrete evidence that Rashad Vaughn and Damien Inglis are ready to play.

Vaughn was drafted for his shooting and his stroke was silky smooth throughout his time on the court. Most importantly though, he showed a fearlessness and a confidence that was also echoed in the shots, drives, and even the outlet passes of fellow rookie Inglis too.

The young Frenchman’s shot didn’t look quite as polished, but he was active, enthusiastic, and compared to Summer League, a much healthier player.

Vaughn continued to make big shots in the fourth quarter, and paced the Bucks in scoring with 20 points. Milwaukee took their foot off the gas a little in that final period, and as a number of the camp invitees closed out the game, Chicago had enough in the tank to coast through for an ultimately comfortable win.

Next up for the Bucks, they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Final. 105. 24. 95. 89

Next: Win In 6 Podcast #23: John Henson Extension, Alternate Designs

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