National Basketball Association

Milwaukee Bucks Preseason Preview: October 15 vs Chicago Bulls

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Milwaukee Bucks fourth preseason game is a rematch against the Chicago Bulls, this time in the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Milwaukee Bucks play almost an entirely Central Division schedule in the 2016-17 NBA Preseason. The only non-divisional game was against the Dallas Mavericks.

That divisional schedule includes a two-game series against the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks won the first match-up between the rivals in their first preseason game, and went 1-1 in their two following games.

The Bulls sit at 2-2 after starting the preseason 0-2. Their last win came against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that featured approximately zero players who will be in the Cavaliers’ actual rotation, with the possible exception of Kay Felder.

Milwaukee, unfortunately, will not match up with that weak Cleveland squad at all this preseason. After this game the Bucks have to travel to Detroit and play the Pistons, and then will return home for a rematch against the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks are still trying to figure out their center and shooting guard spots in the preseason, and answers haven’t emerged for either position yet. There is no great option for the Bucks to fill in for Khris Middleton right now.

Rashad Vaughn has, predictably, struggled all preseason. Malcolm Brogdon has looked okay, but as a point guard, not a two-guard. Jason Terry looked good in very limited minutes against the Pacers, but he’s 39 years old.

The Bucks tried going big, but lineups that feature all of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and either Mirza Teletovic or Thon Maker just don’t seem like they’d hold up defensively. Team all-length might have a shot just because of how disruptive and weird it’d look, but having Jabari and Teletovic or Thon next to each other is risky business on that end.

Michael Carter-Williams might be the best option to start at the two. He’s efficient cutting off of the ball, and he’s got the size and speed to guard NBA shooting guards. Seeing how he and Matthew Dellavedova play together will be interesting–hopefully the pair get some minutes together soon.

The center position is clouded, but with good options instead of suspect ones. Greg Monroe, John Henson and Miles Plumlee are all pretty good. Right now it feels like any of them could start, but Monroe might have the worst shot.

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Bigs with his low-post skills have become sixth men in today’s NBA due to the increased pressure to include spacing in offenses. That makes this competition a little weird–it’s almost as if Plumlee and Henson are fighting to start, and the loser will end up not seeing many minutes at all.

They could all rotate around, but that doesn’t seem like it’d make any of them very happy. A trade might be necessary for this unit sooner rather than later–none of these guys are going to want to sit around and not play.

Watching the Bucks attempt to figure out their shooting guard and center position will be the most exciting aspect of this game against the Bulls, and the next two. Watching Jabari dunk all over everybody and Teletovic chuck deep threes will be fun too, as will seeing whatever Thon does.

If you’re looking for real takeaways, though, the two positions up for grabs offer the most interesting tidbits. It’s about time fans got to see a Dellavedova/MCW backcourt in action with the starters.

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