Feb 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard
Derrick Rose(1) makes a jump shot against Milwaukee Bucks guard
Jerryd Bayless(19) in the second half during the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
(3) Chicago Bulls vs (6) Milwaukee Bucks
Key Matchups: Derrick Rose vs Michael Carter-Williams
Season Series: Bulls won 3-1
Bucks
No one expected the Milwaukee Bucks to make the playoffs this season. Much less after they lost rookie Jabari Parker for the entire season early in the year. Yet, somehow, even after trading their best player at the NBA trade deadline (Brandon Knight), the Bucks are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
I’m not sure if that says more about the conference itself, or more about the Milwaukee Bucks. Either way, that’s irrelevant at this point.
Interestingly enough, the Bucks are becoming somewhat of a trendy pick to pull the upset over Chicago. The Bulls have struggled all season long with consistency — and a lot of that has to do with injury — but Chicago, when healthy, is clearly the more talented team.
I’d be really shocked to see the young Bucks pull the upset off.
Bulls
When the Chicago Bulls are healthy, they can play with anyone in the NBA. But I feel like we’ve been saying that for the past two seasons, and they haven’t been healthy at any point during that stretch.
Although, what they’ve seen from Derrick Rose recently has to give them a shot in the arm. Rose is looking better and better with each minute that he’s played during the last two weeks. Despite recent knee soreness, which he isn’t worried about, Rose hasn’t had any setbacks and has looked great.
And once the playoffs begin, he won’t be on a minute restriction anymore, which should be good news for the Bulls. Chicago’s success in this postseason is going to be predicated on how effective Rose is, fair or not.
Rose and the Bulls will get one series to find themselves, before having to face off against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
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