Brew Hoop - Bucks vs. Bulls Gameday | Bucks fall to 0-5 with an ugly 105-84 loss to BullsMilwaukee Bucks News and Analysis Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47773/brewhoop_fave.png2013-10-21T22:04:58-05:00http://www.brewhoop.com/rss/stream/46290932013-10-21T22:04:58-05:002013-10-21T22:04:58-05:00Bulls cruise past Bucks 105-84
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<figcaption>Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It never got close again after the Bulls opened up an early lead in the first quarter.</p> <p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks-chicago-bulls-2013102104/">Box Score</a></p>
<p>Ugly.</p>
<p>Usually one word isn't a fair assessment of two-plus hours of continuous basketball action, but tonight fit snugly into that one word. Never leading in the game, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> struggled all night to get into a rhythm on either end of the court, eventually falling to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> 105-84, dropping Milwaukee's preseason record to 0-5. Derrick Rose continued his torrid preseason play with 24 points (6/10 fg, 10/11 ft, 2/5 threes) in just 27 minutes for the 6-0 Bulls, and he had plenty of help as six Bulls notched double figures and generally dominated from the opening tip. It didn't help that Milwaukee's inactive list included O.J. Mayo (personal reasons) in addition to the now-familiar names of Ersan Ilyasova (ankle), Ekpe Udoh (knee), and Carlos Delfino (foot), but it's unlikely any of them would have made a difference, and Chicago had their own slew of absences including starters Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah.</p>
<p>The Bucks have two more chances to notch their first preseason win before the regular season starts on the 30th: Wednesday against the Knicks in Green Bay and Saturday against the Raptors in the annual MACC Fund game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.</p>
<h5>Two areas of supreme ugly, statistically speaking:</h5>
<p>The Bucks, generally a pretty decent rebounding team, were bullied on the glass tonight, getting out-rebounded by the Bulls 52-31 (12-4 on the offensive glass). It got so bad at one point that I'm pretty sure I saw <span>Carlos Boozer</span> grab <span>John Henson</span> by the ankles and shake him in hopes that loose lunch money change would fall out. The Bucks went small with Khris Middleton starting at power forward, but the mismatches perhaps predictably all seemed to go Chicago's favor in the early going.</p>
<p>The Bucks shot 32-49 from the free throw line. 49 attempts is a staggering amount, so kudos in that regard. However, 65 percent from the stripe simply isn't going to cut it.</p>
<h5>Player Observations:</h5>
<p>The weird <span>Caron Butler</span> showed up tonight, again. He never really put his stamp on the game at all, knocking down only one shot in 22 minutes of burn. Butler is probably saving himself for the regular season where his role will be more enhanced. We hope so, at least.</p>
<p><span>Larry Sanders</span> had his best offensive performance of the night, putting up 12 points on 4-6 shooting. He also stayed out of foul trouble, but still appears to be a little more jumpy than he was last season when he was emerging as one of the league's best defenders. It's probably just a matter of Sanders trying too hard to live up to his new label, to be honest, but it's something to keep an eye on as the season gets going.</p>
<p>John Henson filled up the stat sheet again, compiling 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. If he can get that swooping lefty hook to get going and find a way to add a halfway decent jumper from the baseline or elbow, he's going to be tough to keep off of the court.</p>
<p><span>Gary Neal</span> and <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> returned to the lineup (Zaza for the first time this preseason), and put together respectable performances. Neal shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 3-4 threes in 29 (injury-free!) minutes. He did turn the ball over five times, but Neal was brought in to the Bucks to knock down shots. A solid day at the office for him. Pachulia looked less rusty than imagined in his limited debut, picking up eight points in 17 minutes. He even showed a nice little face-up jumper early in the game (See, John Henson? It is possible!)</p>
<p>I may be one of the few people who think that <span>Brandon Knight</span> (putting aside some ugly shooting lines in the first couple games) has been pretty decent this presason. That isn't to say he's locked in as the point <strike>god</strike> guard of the future or that he's well on his way to becoming completely reliable, but he's done a lot of good things in his limited time as the Bucks' main orchestrator.</p>
<p>Knight was effectively aggressive on offense tonight, particularly in getting out in transition and not being afraid to finish his attack though contact. He still needs to work on getting the other guys the ball where they need it to be effective, but Knight was able to get to most of his spots throughout the game. Defensively, his performance was a little harder to gauge because <span>Derrick Rose</span> is an unstoppable buzzsaw of divine basketball intervention. I don't want to put the cart before the horse here, but that Rose guy may be a decent player someday if he keeps that kind of play up.</p>
<p>As part of Larry Drew's promised small ball lineup, Khris Middleton started at power forward and was emblematic of the Bucks' inability to match the Bulls' size up front as Milwaukee's starters were unable to match Chicago's on either end early. Though he hit just 2/9 from the field, Middleton did convert all five of his free throws and added five boards and two dimes.</p>
<p>Last (but not decidedly not least), Giannis Antetokounmpo put together another modest line with his usual flashes of potential. His shot selection left something to be desired (1/5 fg), but he continues to get to the line more than anyone else on the roster (4/6 ft) and continues to play under more control than in his first two games--an open floor charge was his only turnover of the evening. Defensively he used his length to good effect (two blocks, two steals and six rebounds) while matching up plenty with the wily Mike Dunleavy and promising rookie Tony Snell, though he's still learning the finer points of battling through screens (among other things). Plenty of Giannis rebounding and looking to push the ball in the open court, and ample opportunity to do it with nearly 27 minutes of burn.</p>
<h4>More from Brew Hoop:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4855648/bucks-bulls-preseason-preview-derrick-rose-tv-radio?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Bucks vs. Bulls Preview | Bucks get reacquainted with Derrick Rose</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4863034/nba-preview-milwaukee-bucks-offense?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">NBA preview: Building the Milwaukee Bucks Offense</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4858214/bucks-offense-luke-ridnour-gary-neal?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Building the Bucks offense, pt. 4: Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour and pick-and-roll plays</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/19/4855886/bucks-exercise-team-options-for-brandon-knight-and-john-henson?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Bucks exercise team options for Brandon Knight and John Henson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/18/4853792/video-bucks-release-drake-hands-video-win-internet?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Video | Bucks release 'Drake Hands' video, win internet</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4864640/bulls-bucks-final-score-recap-derrick-roseInactiveUser10831872013-10-21T13:58:38-05:002013-10-21T13:58:38-05:00Bucks/Bulls Preview | First look at the new D-Rose
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>With a week off since their latest preseason loss in Memphis, the Bucks return to action in Chicago to take on some familiar faces.</p> <table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; border: 1px outset #aaaaaa; width: 620px; margin: 1em auto; padding: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><tbody style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">
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<th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="silver" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">2013 NBA Preseason</th>
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<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> <center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/579505/mil_medium.png" alt="Mil_medium" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></center> <center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">(0-4, 0-3 road)</b></center> </center></center></td>
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<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> <center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1316163/CHI.v1b392e9.png" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Chi" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1316163/CHI.v1b392e9_medium.png" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"></a></center> <center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">(5-0, 3-0 home)</b></center> </center></td>
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<td colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="silver" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">October 21, 2013</b></td>
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<td colspan="3" align="center" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">United Center | Chicago, IL</b></td>
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<td colspan="3" align="center" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">7:00 CT</b></td>
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<b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">No Local / WGN Chicago | 620 WTMJ / </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.us/broadband/alp_schedule.html">Audio League Pass</a>
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<th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="silver" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Probable Starters</b></th>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>Brandon Knight</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">PG</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>Derrick Rose</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>O.J. Mayo</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">SG</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>Mike Dunleavy</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>Caron Butler</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">SF</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Luol Deng</b></span></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>John Henson</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">PF</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><font color="#292929" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Carlos Boozer</b></span></font></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span>Larry Sanders</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">C</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b><span>Nazr Mohammed</span></b></td>
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<th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="silver" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">2012/13 Advanced Stats</b></th>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>94.7 (3rd)</span></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">Pace</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>89.9 (25th)</span></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>103.6 (22nd)</span></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">ORtg</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>103.5 (20th)</span></td>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>105.2 (12th)</span></td>
<th align="center" width="20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;">DRtg</th>
<td width="240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa; margin: 0px;"><span>101.5 (5th)<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></td>
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">On the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;">Bulls</a></b><span>: </span><a href="http://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1.6em;">Blog a Bull</a><span> | </span><a href="http://bullsbythehorns.com/" target="_blank" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1.6em;">By the Horns</a><span> | </span><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/bullsville" target="_blank" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1.6em;">Bullsville</a> | <b style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/bucks.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Bucks Game Notes</a> | </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/bulls.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b>Bulls Game Notes</b></a></p>
<p><b>Derrick Rose returns. </b>No player is being scrutinized more closely this preseason than Derrick Rose, and for good reason. A torn ACL suffered in the 2012 playoffs sidelined the former MVP for 18 long months before his return much-anticipated return two weeks ago, but he's looked anything but rusty since. Playing a team-high 32 minutes (Thibodeau!), Rose powered Chicago past Indiana on Friday with <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20131018/INDCHI/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore" target="_blank">32 points on just 15 shots</a> to go with nine assists, offering further evidence that <a href="http://www.blogabull.com/2013/10/21/4861900/derrick-rose-stats-preseason-chicago-bulls" target="_blank">he's more than ready</a> to lead the Bulls back into the NBA's elite. The only good news for <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a> fans? At least we don't have to watch <span>Brandon Jennings</span> attempt to guard him.</p>
<p><b>Bulls winning, Bucks losing</b>. Milwaukee and Chicago are separated by just 90 miles on the map, but they couldn't be further apart in the <i>all-important preseason standings</i> right now. Chicago is one of two undefeated teams remaining (the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets" class="sbn-auto-link">Pelicans</a> are 6-0) while the Bucks are the only team still looking for a win--which says different things about the respective clubs. For the Bulls it's all good: adding a healthy Rose and Brew Hoop favorite Mike Dunleavy to a team that made it to the second round of the playoffs should automatically have them contending in the East.</p>
<p>On the flip side, it's less clear how to interpret the Bucks' winless start. They had no business <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/13/4832694/recap-bucks-shrink-in-the-4th-fall-to-bobcats">blowing a huge fourth quarter lead </a>against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobcats</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/15/4843420/grizzlies-102-bucks-99-preseason-recap-knight-giannis-antetokounmpo-marc-gasol/in/4607617">led in the final minute in Memphis</a> last Tuesday, so they've had their chances to claim a win. And taking a step back, we've known all along that this would probably take some time. Growing pains are to expected for a team that was basically demolished and completely rebuilt over the summer, and a slew of injuries have only exacerbated the task for <span>Larry Drew</span> and company. That doesn't mean things will be easy when (if?) the Bucks get healthy and more used to playing with one another, but they at least figure to eas<i>ier</i>.</p>
<p><b>Injuries galore</b>. While Rose is finally healthy, key pieces for both teams are not (stop me if you've heard this before). <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blogabull.com/2013/10/21/4862380/bulls-injury-update-jimmy-butler-kirk-hinrich-out-bucks">The Bulls will be missing</a> All-star center <span>Joakim Noah</span> (groin), starting shooting guard <span>Jimmy Butler</span> (sore knee) and reserve guard <span>Kirk Hinrich</span> (concussion), while the Bucks remain without <span>Ersan Ilyasova</span> (ankle), <span>Carlos Delfino</span> (foot) and <span>Ekpe Udoh</span> (knee). Dunleavy is expected to start in Jimmy Butler's absence, though he hasn't quite warmed up in five preseason games to date (32% shooting). Something tells me he'll come around.</p>
<p><span>Zaza Pachulia</span> (Achilles) does expect to see some minutes this week after participating in five-on-five practices, and from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/video/2013/10/21/practice131021mov-3017184/">Jim Paschke's video preview</a> it sounds as though Drew wants to give him some limited run tonight. Larry Sanders (illness) missed practice on Friday but is expected to play after returning on Saturday, while <span>Gary Neal</span> (plantar fasciitis) returned to practice on Friday after missing the previous week.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Neal, this likely won't be the last we hear of his injury. Andrew Gruman reports that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/story/Bucks-Friday-Gary-Neal-returns-to-practi?blockID=952183&feedID=5066">Neal has been battling plantar fasciitis for "six or seven months,"</a> which is hardly an encouraging sign given the nature of plantar injuries. The injury was likely to blame for some of Neal's diminished production in San Antonio last year, and it's unclear what kind of impact it will have on him going forward. Maybe it gets better, maybe it limits his productivity, and maybe it will cost him games--it seems to be anyone's guess. For those scoring at home: Neal joins Delfino and Pachulia among summer signings who have been limited or prevented from playing altogether by preexisting injuries.</p>
<p><b>Go small</b>. Larry Drew has experimented with swingman <span>Khris Middleton</span> as a small ball power forward over the past week, leading both FS Wisconsin and the Journal-Sentinel to note the idea of Middleton as a potential backup power forward option with Ilyasova still on the shelf. Via Gruman:</p>
<blockquote>"I was shocked," Middleton said of his reaction when Drew approached him about playing power forward. "But I'm ready and I am trying to get prepared for it during practice. It's different from when I played it in college. It's just something that I have to work on. <br><br>"With four guys on the court that can spread it and shoot the ball and put it on the floor, it can help us a lot offensively. It would space the floor and make it easier for driving lanes and kick outs. It's just going to be an adjustment on the defensive side. There will be mismatches but if we play the right way and talk, we'll be fine."</blockquote>
<p>Middleton shouldn't be shocked for the same reason that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/12/4831012/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-podcast">we talked about the idea of Giannis seeing minutes at PF</a>. With Ilyasova and Udoh hurt, the Bucks don't really have any easy options there other than John Henson. Sanders could slide over to the four at times and Caron Butler could be another small-ball option, but the realist is that right now there are plenty of rotation minutes up for grabs at both forward spots.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9752786/bill-jalen-nba-preview-grantland-channel"><b>Grantland | The Bucks get their rank (#15!)</b></a><br> Who knew that Bill Simmons would end up as the ultimate Bucks optimist? Well, that's probably overstating it. Simmons isn't endorsing the Bucks' unwillingness to rebuild more overtly, but he sees them capable of gunning for the mid-40s in terms of wins this season. That strikes me as rather generous, especially given how little we know about how the Bucks' million new pieces will fit together and what we <i>do</i> know about the Bucks' already mounting injury woes. <br><br><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fNAAqF0UhJQ" height="315" width="420"></iframe></p>
<p>And for the record: I have no desire to see the Bucks pursue <span>Rudy Gay</span>, even if the price was the relatively modest sum of Caron Butler and Ekpe Udoh. If the Bucks are serious about developing Antetokounmpo--and improving in the long-term more generally--the last thing they need to do is bring in an over-priced wing who will automatically gobble up 30-35 minutes every night without making the team significantly better.</p>
<h4>More from Brew Hoop:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4863034/nba-preview-milwaukee-bucks-offense?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">NBA preview: Building the Milwaukee Bucks Offense</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4858214/bucks-offense-luke-ridnour-gary-neal?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Building the Bucks offense, pt. 4: Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour and pick-and-roll plays</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/19/4855886/bucks-exercise-team-options-for-brandon-knight-and-john-henson?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Bucks exercise team options for Brandon Knight and John Henson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/18/4853792/video-bucks-release-drake-hands-video-win-internet?utm_source=brewhoop&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Video | Bucks release 'Drake Hands' video, win internet</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/10/21/4855648/bucks-bulls-preseason-preview-derrick-rose-tv-radioFrank Madden