After engineering a spectacular turnaround in his first season as the Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Jason Kidd is now ready to continue that journey with his young squad in the playoffs.
“That’s a winning season,” Coach Kidd said after his team ended the regular season at 41-41. “I think it’s a great start for our foundation and for this young group. It’s not very easy in this league to win. There are only 16 teams playing now—and we’re one of them.”
For Coach Kidd and the Bucks, the first round opponent is a familiar one: the Chicago Bulls. A straight shot on I-94, the United Center in Chicago is just 92 miles from the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee—and Jason knows the challenge that lies ahead for his team.
“Chicago is one of the best teams in this league,” Jason said. “They’re well coached. Thibs has them playing hard for 48 minutes. They’re experienced, they’ve been in the playoffs before. So we have our hands full.”
The Bulls had won seven straight games against the Bucks, including three this season, until the two neighboring rivals met on April 1. And in this meeting, Milwaukee came through with a big 95-91 win, giving the Bulls a reason for worry in this series, and laying a blueprint for victory in the coming days.
“It was one of the games that we competed for 48 minutes at a very high level, physically and mentally,” Jason said of that victory over Chicago. “We’re going to need to look back at what we did right in that game, but there were probably some mistakes we need to clean up too.”
SIZING UP CHICAGO
It’s no secret that the recipe for success in Milwaukee has been their collective effort and energy off the bench with a commitment to the defensive end of the floor.
Interestingly enough Chicago has a very similar build. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau hangs his hardhat and lunch pale on a stout defense that is smart and physical. Chicago’s defense is ranked ninth in the NBA this season, piggy-backed by a core that rebounds the ball extremely well, third best in the league.
Most Improved Player nominee Jimmy Butler has improved his scoring average from 13 points per game last year to 20 points this year with the same minutes per game average. The former Marquette standout has also made himself known as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, grabbing 5.8 rebounds and 1.75 steals per game.
Breaking down the Chicago defense and marking Butler aren’t the only things that Milwaukee needs to worry about.
The Milwaukee big-men have to check a two-time NBA Champion in Pau Gasol. The seven-foot Spaniard led the league in double-doubles this season with 54 and averages 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest. Not to mention a 49.4 percent shooting clip from the field. Coach Kidd knows how good Gasol is, especially after seeing Pau rip the Bucks for a career-high 46 points on Milwaukee in January.
“They’re a very physical team. They understand what it takes to win. Gasol has won championships,” Kidd said. “Gasol has played at a very high level, so he’s somebody we need to keep off the boards and not let him get easy looks.”
Lastly, one of the largest reasons why Chicago is so dangerous is because of 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose.
Although Rose has been in and out with various severe injuries for the past three seasons, the Chicago Bulls are an immediate championship contender when he steps on the floor. Rose has started and played in 51 games this season, in which the team has posted a 34-17 record.
THE MATCHUPS
Wing play will be pivotal in this series.
Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo will need to be firing on all cylinders if Milwaukee wants to make some noise, because other than Butler, Chicago does not have the length and size on the perimeter to matchup with Middleton and Giannis.
Middleton has stepped up since the Brandon Knight trade. Middleton averaged 16.8 points per game after Knight was sent to Phoenix in February and has provided a consistent presence on both ends of the court.
Along with Butler, Middleton’s name has been mentioned for the NBA’s Most Improved Award.
“I think both guys have had great years,” Coach Kidd said. “For (Butler and Middleton) to be mentioned in that breath, I think they both deserve it. I think you have two guys that are having great seasons. Hopefully Khris can continue the process of getting better each time he takes the floor.”
The point guard matchup in this series pits one of the league’s best-known stars in Rose against reigning Rookie of the Year and Milwaukee newcomer Michael Carter-Williams.
J-Kidd has played against Rose, and knows what kind of test the former MVP poses for his second-year point guard.
“Anything can happen,” Jason said. “When you look at the point guard position, two talented young guards. D-Rose is an MVP. He can control the game scoring the ball. This is a great test for Michael to learn from.”
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
This is the second season in a row that Coach Kidd has been the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. His Brooklyn Nets were the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and took down the third-seeded Toronto Raptors in seven games just last year.
Coach Kidd’s Bucks don’t have much playoff experience, though it’s not something he’s worried about.
“I’ve been a sixth seed a lot of times,” Jason said. “The beauty of the playoffs is you get seeded and it’s the first team to four (wins). When I played it was the first team to three. We have the opportunity to learn and grow as a team and a coaching staff together. You couldn’t be in a better situation.”
First game of the best-of-seven series will start Saturday on ESPN. Coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. CT.
