Coach Jason Kidd’s Milwaukee Bucks started their 2015 preseason on Tuesday night in much the same way they ended their 2014-15 season, with positive vibes flowing through the franchise despite defeat.
Just as Milwaukee’s postseason excursion last season bred plenty of positives for the organization, even though the team was ultimately ousted by the Chicago Bulls in a six-game first round series, so too did Tuesday’s exhibition opener, though it ended in a 105-95 loss to that same Chicago team.
Jason used a short 10-man rotation in the first half of the contest, and his new starting unit looked strong. In fact, that group grabbed a lead over the Bulls and held a 40-37 halftime advantage. With the reserves taking over in the second half, the game became a much wilder affair, and the Bucks eventually fell 105-95. However, the preseason result didn’t mean much to Coach Kidd, who came away more pleased than anything, especially with the way the team’s first unit performed over the first 24 minutes.
“We’ve concentrated on defense (in camp) and I thought those guys in the first half did a really good job. Offensively it will come. We had some turnovers, some charges where we have to recognize who is in front of us,” J-Kidd said. “But for the first preseason game I thought there was a lot of good stuff for us to build on.”
The Bucks’ starting five was anchored by the returning trio of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams, but two new faces joined them to round out the quintet, free agent acquisition Greg Monroe and rookie first round draft pick Rashad Vaughn.
Both newcomers were integrated into the starting lineup, and played big minutes early, while Vaughn was the only starter to play in the second half. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 draft ended up playing 35 minutes, the most of any player for either team, and made the most of his opportunity as he tallied a team-high 20 points off 8-of-14 shooting. Jason was happy with the UNLV product’s debut, but noted that he would like to see some defensive development going forward.
“He did great,” Coach Kidd said of Vaughn. “Defensively he still has a ways to go, but I thought his composure, his presence on the floor was great for a rookie.”
Jason was also impressed with the Milwaukee debut of Monroe. The former Detroit Pistons big man played 17 of the 24 first half minutes and tallied six points and four rebounds showcasing skills that indicated to Coach Kidd that he’ll have a fierce new weapon to put to work in the low block this season.
“It’s nice when you can throw it in and he can just hold and play and go solo,” Jason said. “If they’re not going to double, it’s on him to do what he’s done and that’s put the ball in the basket.”
Monroe wasn’t the only big signing the Bucks made this offseason however, just as important was the team’s decision to re-sign Middleton.
The versatile Texas A&M product brought much to the table for Milwaukee last season and stepped up in a big way to became a key cog in the Bucks’ machine down the stretch. His performance in the postseason, where he led the team in scoring, left J-Kidd fully aware of the potential Middleton possesses. But the 24-year-old swingman reiterated his value on Tuesday, connecting on 5-of-7 attempts from the field for 10 points in his 17 minutes of play.
The matchup between Middleton and Chicago’s All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler was the battle to watch over the course of the evening. Butler finished with a higher point tally, scoring 16 in the first half. But Middleton was equally exceptional, highlighted by a play midway through the second quarter, when he stole a pass from Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic. After the fine defensive play, Middleton raced the other way, and finished with a one-handed dunk over Butler, causing the Bucks to erupt off the bench.
“He’s a great player,” Middleton said of Butler. “In the back of my mind, he got me two times last year just blocking my shot, so I knew I had to go strong (for the dunk).When somebody embarrasses you like that in the playoffs, you’re going to remember it, especially when you’ve got your parents, your friends talking about it.”
The Bucks got contributions from their entire starting five in what was an excellent first half performance. In addition to four first half points from Vaughn, 10 from Middleton and six from Monroe, Milwaukee also got six points each from Carter-Williams and Antetokounmpo to round out the solid night for the starters.
In addition to his scoring punch, The Greek Freak provided seven rebounds, three steals and capped the evening with a stellar highlight. Time was winding down in the half when Antetokounmpo drove hard to his left and caused Mirotic to slip and fall on defense. With a clear path to the basket, Milwaukee’s budding young forward finished with a flourish at the rim to give his team a three-point lead at the half.
Giannis Antetokounmpo incredible slam dunk against Bulls RT @bballbreakdown: https://t.co/5UtTEbKiGf
— ThatNBALotteryPick (@ThatNBAPick) October 7, 2015
Although Milwaukee did provide a few offensive highlights, defense was the catalyst for their halftime lead. While the Bucks starters were in the game, they suffocated the Bulls, holding Chicago to just 28 percent shooting from the field in the first two quarters. On the other end, the Bucks pounded the paint to establish their first half lead. Of the team’s 40 points at the break, 26 came in the paint. That trend continued in the second half by Jason’s request. Milwaukee finished with a 42-32 advantage down low.
“That’s something I told the guys when I came in (the locker room), that the ball has to touch the paint,” Coach Kidd said. “That’s where our success was last year and that’s where it will be this year, and the open threes will present themselves.”
Vaughn led the second unit in the second half, scoring 16 of his 20 points after the break, including three buckets from beyond the arc on the night. But John Henson, Damon Inglis and Miles Plumlee were also key for the second unit. Henson and Plumlee kept things going down low, combining for 20 points, while Inglis nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
However, with many of the team’s lengthy athletes and tenacious defenders on the bench for the duration of the second half, the defense lagged. The Bulls hit 10 three-pointers in the final two quarters, all by reserves off their bench, including five by second-year forward Doug McDermott and two each by Jordan Crawford and Aaron Brooks. On the other end, none of the Bucks reserves connected from deep, which spelled the difference in that second half.
NEXT UP
After their first road trip of the season down to Chicago, the Bucks returned home, where they’ll play host for the first time this preseason on Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Milwaukee will welcome in another Central Division rival, Greg Monroe’s former team the Detroit Pistons for the Saturday night exhibition. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
