Breaking: The Chicago Bulls Will Not Be Winning the NBA Finals

It was fun while it lasted.

I pondered in a recent article that the Bulls might have the goods to win their series against Milwaukee following a momentous Game 2 victory as well as reports that Khris Middleton would be missing the remainder of the series with injury. With the series heading back to Chicago, spirits were high in the Bulls fanbase.

Yeah, nope.

Not only did the Bulls drop both games in the United Center, they were MASSIVELY outclassed from the opening tip in both games. It turns out that elite NBA defenses can prey on a team that doesn't move the ball well and has almost no interest in asserting itself in the paint. In all honesty, Nikola Vucevic should be getting more touches (not something I have been clamoring for this year), but I also doubt he would be able to swing these results significantly.

Patrick Williams had a horrendous Game 3. Zach LaVine is streaky, though I think his oscillating output is more due to poor offensive scheme as opposed to his own deficient performances. DeMar has been frustrated by Jrue Holiday and Milwaukee's strength and size.

Milwaukee has also benefited from Grayson Allen transforming from prime Grayson Allen into prime Klay Thompson, which was not something the Bulls were planning to account for.

All-in-all, this series is now unfolding the way most people who have been keeping tabs on the NBA expected. Milwaukee has the best player in the league, they have championship experience/confidence, and the Bulls are faltering down the stretch. I expect the Bucks to cruise through the clinching game tonight (Zach LaVine will be out for the game due to COVID protocols), setting up a titanic matchup with a championship-caliber Boston Celtics team in the second round.

The Bulls will be heading home defeated, but certainly in a better place as a franchise than any year in recent memory. They need to make numerous offseason moves (trade Vucevic and Coby White for DeAndre Ayton, please) to approach anything near contending for a championship, though.

We'll always have that Game 2 to remember.

Bull Down.