Here is my knee-jerk reaction to Monday’s big Milwaukee Bucks victory over Chicago, 94-88, in the Eastern Conference first round of the playoffs.
The following status graced Facebook, and it’s been pretty well-received, even from a Bulls fan, who said it was good analysis – you be the judge.
“With must-see TV like the Packers-Seahawks NFC Championship, I made sure to DVD both the game and post-game show, in case it lasted longer than anticipated.
Tonight, I only DVR’d the actual Bucks-Bulls game, not the post-game, thinking there was ZERO CHANCE Milwaukee could win in Chicago.
It was 92-88 Bucks with 29 seconds left, and my DVR cut off.
I had to turn on NBA TV to check the score, and I still was shocked to see the Bulls didn’t miraculously beat the young Bucks.
Earlier today, with news Cleveland star Kevin Love will miss the next round vs the Milwaukee-Chicago winner, I prematurely crowned the Bulls Eastern Conference champs.
And why wouldn’t I declare this series over, with Chicago up 3-1 and having the luxury of 4 all-stars?
Well, the Bulls didn’t show up, and the Bucks played out of their minds.
While it seems Chicago is better and tonight was a fluke based on how ice cold Chicago was, I’m not so sure.
Milwaukee has strung together three straight phenomenal games and could easily be up 3-2.
Jimmy Butler isn’t Michael Jordan quite yet, and Derrick Rose is not 100 percent.
Meanwhile, the Bucks play wonderful team basketball, and their depth is impressive. They basically have two starting lineups that bring constant energy and attacking defense, and the Bulls can’t figure out how to score.
Even after the one win, this was a moral victory for Milwaukee, a team that wasn’t supposed to be here after trading its best player and a key injury to Jabari Parker.
But these Bucks are resilient, they scratch and claw, and their unwavering unselfishness on both ends keeps them competitive even during droughts.
The Bradley Center will be breaking decibel records Thursday, and the entire state of Wisconsin better wake up and get on board.
All of the pressure is still on Chicago, the heavy favorite.
The most dangerous team is one with nothing to lose.
FEAR THE DEER.”
Homer alive and well
It’s safe to say I was excited about my team, which was down 3-1 and on the brink of elimination when 23-year-old Michael Carter-Williams schooled Bulls former MVP Derrick Rose for 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
That may not happen for years for a player that young and in his first postseason.
Now, the real fun begins.
Milwaukee is returning to a place where there hasn’t meaningful basketball since 2010, the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Bulls fans are notorious for snatching up all of the Bucks’ fans seats, paying top dollar and shouting and being annoying as possible at these games.
I get it, it’s only a 90-minute drive, but the I-94 series can get out of hand.
Derrick Rose jerseys flood the stands, along with His Airness, AKA Michael Jordan.
Milwaukee tried to give a discount to Bucks fans for tickets for Thursday night’s 6 p.m. game.
That’s how crazy the Chicago fan base can be. They drive up and act like they own the state, just like the Cubs fans.
While the Cubs and Bears have been terrible of late, Chicago still holds hope in the House That Jordan Built.
The Bulls have four All-Stars in D-Rose, Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler, and the Bucks simply don’t have any.
Milwaukee just has a deep team of role players, guys that will do anything for the victory. The Bucks feed off each other, and they play true team basketball.
Keep in mind no team in NBA history has come back from an 0-3 hole to win a seven-game series, and the Bucks really aren’t that all-time, against-all-odds team. Only three teams have forced a game 7 after falling behind 3-0.
I don’t know if I can put these Bucks in the same company of those teams, but Milwaukee’s youth can actually be an advantage, as they are most likely to the historical significance.
Don’t be surprised if Carter-Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton go off for big games in front of the raucous Milwaukee crowd.
Chicago had two long days off, Tuesday and Wednesday, to recover and board the hour-and-a-half drive to Milwaukee.
Tom Thibodeau is a great coach for the Bulls, and he’ll have his players more energized than ever in these final games or games.
But it’s been really nice to watch the Bucks this season.
They’ve completely turned the franchise around and given us die-hard fans, who watched the Todd Days, Lee Mayberrys and Shawn Resperts of the world in the terrible late 1990s years.
Now, a plan is just about in place for a $1 billion new arena and downtown entertainment district, and one of the greatest basketball players ever, Jason Kidd, is running the show as the second-year coaching genius.
My bold prediction is that the Bulls will figure it out finally Thursday night for a 97-92 victory, as both teams have difficulty scoring at times.
Ultimately, Milwaukee trails 3-2 in the series, and those two wins are more than anyone could’ve expected from a team that had 15 wins and the NBA’s worst record a year ago.
Sometimes, all it takes is a player or two to fix everything.
With MCW, the Greek Freak, Henson and Middleton in tow, Milwaukee can finally focus its attention away from the hapless, historically-stinky Milwaukee Brewers (4-17 through Tuesday).
The Bucks have people buzzing about hoops again, and it feels really good.
Win or lose Thursday night, the Bucks are back in the hearts and minds of southeastern Wisconsin.
Own the future?
Nah, how about “Enjoy the present?”
Overachieving Milwaukee is fun to watch because it plays the game the right way, and with the healthy return of top draft pick Jabari Parker, the continued emergence of the Greek Freak and a gem of a find in free agency or the draft, the Bucks should be NBA title contenders in a few years for the first time in half a century.
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