The Bucks simply refuse to go away. Their starting backcourt of Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton led the way with 22 and 21 points respectively in 38 minutes apiece. They also forced the Bulls into many bad shots and just played tough defense throughout. The Bulls are not a team that thrives on lights-out shooting, so the Bucks were only too glad to force the issue.
Far too many Bulls were unreliable. Don't let Jimmy Butler's 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists fool you. He shot 5-of-21 from the field. Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell each played over 20 minutes and had no points to show for it.
Derrick Rose gave the latest evidence that the Bulls live and die by him. He missed all seven of his three-point attempts and 5-of-20 overall. A game-high six turnovers only tightened the wrong type of spotlight around him. These last two contests are doing quite a bit to shake the confidence in even his most ardent defenders.
We're seeing what happens when a team doesn't receive key contributions from everybody. They're on the floor, but aren't helping out. Maybe it's because the defense isn't letting them. Or maybe they just don't have it in them for that day.
If they were distracted by the earlier news that Kevin Love will miss the next series and J.R. Smith is suspended for its first two games, that's their fault. Nobody should have one foot in one door and the other foot in another. They can tell us they're still focused on the current series, but they sure aren't showing it. You better be able to back up your words with the right actions.
Once again, it also comes from not taking the level of opponent seriously. By now, it feels I'm preaching to the choir, but I wouldn't keep bringing this up if the issue didn't keep arising. It's fine to play your best against the better teams, but if you can't beat those with less talent, it does little to inspire confidence in your fans, the media and quite possibly, yourselves. That's why it's fair to question where the Bulls are mentally at this and other times.
Right now, we've got a team with everything to gain in these playoffs and a team that's hungry to prove itself. Guess which one has been playing better these last two games. The Bulls were this type of playoff team before Tom Thibodeau took over. Now, they're giving the vibe of a veteran playoff team with no sense of urgency.
You certainly have to give Jason Kidd credit for being more than the Bucks or any NBA fan could have hoped for. He uses his old point-guard mindset to recognize weaknesses in his opponents and plan for his team accordingly. He knew exactly how to draw up the game-winning layup in Game 4 and implored his team to continue applying defensive pressure in Game 5. He has the stuff to be a longtime NBA coach.
Meanwhile, Thibodeau has his work cut out for him. What can he say or do to convince his team that they're one loss from an unexpected Game 7? The message is in that locker room and everywhere else, but how can that translate into better play? Someone needs to figure that out and fast.
I shouldn't be talking about this series still. I was getting ready to write my preview post for the next round. Instead, the Bulls have been seemingly unaware of how critical it is to get that last win required to get there. Before they can face a possibly weaker Cavaliers team, these Bucks need to be put in their place first.
Game 6 will be played in Milwaukee on Thursday, which creates a conflict in the Chicago sports landscape because that's the night the NFL Draft begins. The Bulls might finally finish off the Bucks, but they'll have to do it on the road and at a time when much of the city's attention will be elsewhere. Maybe winning while fewer people have their attention will be beneficial. Fewer people will put pressure on them, so they just need to pressure themselves to win.
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