Bucks-Bulls preseason notes
In a preseason setting, you need to know what to look for. You’re not looking for who wins the game, or what lineups work well together. You’re more concerned on the individual level with how guys come in, what things they’re showing they have been working on, and how those things are working. So, the Bucks beat the Bulls 105–102, and Malik Beasley started ahead of MarJon Beauchamp and Pat Connaughton at the second spot, but with four of five starters sitting, the Bucks weren’t revealing any juicy rotation-related information with this lineup anyway.
What head coach Adrian Griffin said after the game, however, is different.
“He’s going to have to take the toughest assignments most nights,” Griffin said of Beasley. This tips off that Beasley is pencilled in as the fifth starter, where most expected Connaughton to fill that role, presumably just because he was the wing with the most equity invested with the Bucks’ core. Griffin saying this is probably less shrewd than what Bucks fans came to expect from Mike Budenholzer, who kept things close to the vest to the point of compulsion, even when reporters asked for confirmation of obvious lineup adjustments induced by injury. However, it’s also a way of messaging to the team through the media that Budenholzer didn’t utilize. The message to Beasley is that you’re the starter and your identity is going to be made on defense, the message to Connaughton is that your defense isn’t good enough, the message to Beauchamp is that you’re not consistent enough. It is a strategy (if Griffin intended to be so revelatory, which, let’s assume he did) that has pros and cons.
For what it’s worth, Pat Connaughton came out looking pissed off, in a good way. Both he and Crowder seemed highly engaged in their minutes, with Connaughton scoring 8 points and Crowder 10. This is how they can use the preseason: to show they are locked in and deserve to be on the floor. Crowder had more of a veteran’s disposition, but both players showed well. Beasley, in his role as starter, shot and shot and shot from three, hoisting 7 treys in 22 minutes and hitting 3 of them. Removing Grayson Allen from the equation seems to have created a competitive wing glut as you have four guys trying to show they deserve that fifth spot.
In the front court, the vibes were different. Brook Lopez’s use of the preseason is to get into game shape and get reps with the starters. Since most of the starters were out, Lopez downshifted into cardio mode, hoisting transition threes and generally going through the motions on offense. On defense, Lopez has much more to adjust for, but given his battery mates were resting, he seemed fairly ho-hum on that end of the floor too. Bobby Portis started and was rock solid. He didn’t bring the Bobby Portis energy that has become his signature, but after a summer playing decent minutes with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, he didn’t need to hype himself up to appear engaged and effective. The lack of starters meant Portis couldn’t get a real look at what his bench-centric lineups would look like either.
For Chicago, the starters played out the gate, with Coby White playing point guard ahead of Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Jevon Carter. White seemed to come in looking to be more of a pace-pushing point guard than what we’re used to seeing from him. Typically he has acted more like a two, moving off-ball, spacing the floor with spot-up shooting. He ran some pick-and-roll, made some playmaking efforts that were hit and miss, and got his shots up. He led all Bulls scorers with 14 points, adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 23 minutes; it was a more well-rounded effort than what we’re used to, presumably because he wants to start at point guard ahead of Dosunmu while allowing Caruso to operate with bench units.
I’m getting worried about Dosunmu in Chicago. After getting a go at the starting point guard spot last season, the Bulls had to bring in Patrick Beverley to stabilize the starting lineup. White had more usefulness in bench units because of his shooting, which Dosunmu has struggled with. In the preseason opener, Dosunmu seemed to force things on drives, though shooting 2-of-4 from three was a comfort. Alex Caruso played just seven minutes but was on-brand defensively, getting several deflections as well as a steal. Jevon Carter, facing his former team, showcased some pugnacious on-ball defense and hoisted four threes, hitting just one. He looked a lot like the version of himself that suited up for Milwaukee much of last year, only maybe coasting a little bit.
The Bulls’ other major offseason acquisition, Torrey Craig, another former Buck, brought some great energy off the bench in 19 minutes. Craig looks slimmed down and engaged as a veteran presence for the younger bench lineups, leading the charge on defense and snagging a few offensive rebounds, showing good activity on that end. Andre Drummond was an active rebounder as well, managing nine rebounds, three offensive, in 14 minutes.
Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeMar Derozan all started, and seemed to be focused on getting their legs. They each played 17 minutes, and LaVine and Derozan were quick to get shots up. That trio has a lot to prove this season, and didn’t delude itself into trying to prove anything in the preseason opener.
Patrick Williams was another bright spot for Chicago. He shot 3-of-6 from three and seemed to operate at generally a higher capacity for the Bulls both on offense and on defense. Williams is entering his fourth year and returning healthy off a healthy season for the first time. His development is one of the few levers that could alter the fate of this play-in-bound Bulls team, and he seemed to play smarter and more aggressive with relative ease, scoring 13 points in 22 minutes while recording a steal and a block.
In the second half, the Bucks and Bulls got extended looks at their deep benches. Andre Jackson Jr. had an encouraging debut, playing some high-level individual defense and throwing down a nasty tomahawk jam off an assist from Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who big-bodied his way to 14 points of his own. He was a leading +10 on the night and showed that he wants to do the Draymond Green things: push the pace in transition, handle the ball and tie together the offense in unexpected ways, while providing a versatile defensive presence. Beauchamp led all players in minutes and points, scoring 18 in 28. An interesting moment occurred in the first half. The Bulls ran an action designed to get LaVine cutting to the basket with Vucevic handling atop the key. Beauchamp seamlessly passed off his defender and switched onto LaVine deflecting the Vucevic pass out of bounds. Caught on the broadcast audio was Beauchamp turning to LaVine, saying “I’m not a rookie no more.” It shows he knows where he has to develop to make the progression the Bucks need him to make.
Lindell Wigginton, a two-way player who started at point guard with both Damian Lillard and recent signee Cam Payne out for Milwaukee, had a difficult night offensively but showed impressive grit. In 25 minutes, he shot 1–7 and 0–4 from three, but had 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block, with four turnovers. You kind of saw why the Bucks felt the need to bring in Payne and also why they want to invest in Wigginton with the two-way contract. TyTy Washington, another two-way player, shot 0–4 from 3 and 2–7 overall for just 6 points, but netted 7 assists.
The Bulls’ deep bench was revealing in a discouraging sense. Their two young prospect wings, Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips, shot a combined 2–9 in 21 combined minutes. And then the Bulls ran out about eight other guys who didn’t look like they belonged on an NBA floor.
To conclude, for the Bucks, I am excited about Beauchamp, Jackson Jr., Crowder, Connaughton, and Beasley. I am worried about deep point guard depth and deep frontcourt depth. Also, Robin Lopez looked cranky. For the Bulls, I am excited about Patrick Williams and Torrey Craig, intrigued by Coby White’s development, and am worried about Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry as well as perplexed by Jevon Carter.