Underdog Bucks say all pressure is on Bulls because 'we're still here'
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- Word of Kevin Love being out for the Eastern Conference semifinals spread quickly throughout the United Center prior to Monday's Game 5 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was asked how it would impact his team's second-round matchup. Several media outlets tweeted the Cavaliers forward would miss Cleveland's series with Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Bucks went out and surprised everybody by winning and forcing a Game 6, which will be played Thursday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
"Everyone's talking about their series with Cleveland," Bucks forward Jared Dudley said. "We're still here."
Before Chicago can worry about Cleveland, it must close out Milwaukee. That task is becoming more difficult as the series lingers on. The pressure lies squarely on the Bulls, a veteran team that carries much bigger goals than the young Bucks.
Milwaukee is able to take the nothing-to-lose mantra into its third consecutive elimination game.
"I think the momentum has shifted a little bit," Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams said. "We're still down and we know if we lose, it's go home. We're still playing with our backs against the wall."
History would be made if the Bucks find a way to win Thursday and again Saturday in Game 7. No NBA team has came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, while only three -- 1951 New York Knicks, 1994 Denver Nuggets, 2003 Portland Trail Blazers -- have forced a decisive game.
Six of this year's eight first-round series were 3-0 in favor of the higher seed. The Pelicans, Raptors and Celtics were swept, while the Bucks are the only team to survive to a Game 6. Portland became the 115th team unable to overcome a 3-0 hole by dropping Game 5 to Memphis on Wednesday.
"For us it was just about getting the first one," Dudley said. "You didn't want to get swept. You were at home and you didn't want your season to end like that. Once you got one it was, hey, can you steal one? Now that we are here I think we have a good opportunity. We are at home.
"I know the Bulls are going to make adjustments. The pressure is on them. We don't have any pressure. Nobody expected this from us in this series. Even though there's no pressure, we're real confident. This is our ninth time playing this team. Before it was, can you win? We've shown we can. It should be fun on Thursday."
The pressure to close the series is mounting in Chicago. With Love out and J.R. Smith suspended for the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, opportunity is in front of the Bulls to make a run deep into the playoffs.
Losing to an inexperienced Bucks team over which they were heavily favored would be a tough pill to swallow for the Bulls.
"Obviously we want to end the series," Bulls guard Jimmy Butler said. "We can't sit here and keep saying it. We want this to be our last game."
"No disrespect to the fans or y'all, but I think we know what we have to do. We obviously don't want to make history in the wrong way. I think we'll be fine."
With a roster filled with players with conference finals and finals experience, the Bucks expect the Bulls to come into Game 6 prepared to do what they can to prevent the series from lasting past Thursday.
"This is a team that's battle tested," Dudley said. "They've been to the Eastern Conference Finals. If we are not prepared, they could come out (Thursday) and win by double digits. If they did that, you wouldn't be surprised. We have to come with the right mindset and play desperate like we are down 0-3 ready to get swept to give ourselves a chance. If we give ourselves a chance, you never know. The pressure is on them. Maybe they get tight, maybe they miss a couple of shots."
Milwaukee failed to win back-to-back games last season. Just a year later, the Bucks have won consecutive playoff games without Jabari Parker. The rebuilding plan is already ahead of schedule, but interest in basketball in Milwaukee is galvanizing with each playoff win.
While there undoubtedly will be Bulls fans that make the trip up from Chicago on I-94, players expect more of a pro-Bucks crowd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Thursday for Game 6.
"I think people thought the series was done," Dudley said. "Once we got that road win there's now that belief that (winning the series) is a possibility. I think people in Milwaukee expect us to win this game. We're at home with a huge crowd. With that expectation, fans come out. It is big for the city."
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