4 stats that show the Bucks used the Bulls as a warm-up in their title defense

It’s not a surprise the Bucks beat the Bulls.

With a 116-100 win on Wednesday night, the defending champs — led by reigning Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo — have made the second round of the playoffs for the fourth straight season. In their first-ever playoff experience under Billy Donovan, the Bulls are likely still years away.

But to dispatch Chicago, four games to one in a best-of-seven series — with three of those wins decided by at least 16 points — is something else. It’s almost as if the Bucks used the Bulls for a warmup.

Milwaukee’s first-round beatdown is even more impressive with a closer look. Let’s run through a few key stats that illustrate why Antetokounmpo and the Bucks look primed for a repeat.

At 32, DeRozan had one of his finest years as a pro. The NBA’s fifth-leading scorer (27.9 points per game) during the regular season, DeRozan was basically automatic all year for Chicago.

Until he ran into the Playoff Mode Bucks:

One shot attempt in one quarter in a must-win, do-or-die game? That will never get it done.

Few teams can take away gifted superstars like DeRozan with such disciplined ease. The Bucks are definitely one of them.

As one of the bigger teams in this year’s playoff field, the Bucks generally bully most of the squads they play against. The Bulls were no exception, especially but not limited to Game 5:

Yes, you read that right. Early in the second quarter of Wednesday’s pivotal game, the Bucks had more points in the paint than the Bulls had overall. Oof.

The disparity grows larger over the entire series:

Talk about taking over the restricted area and making it your own.

It sounds like an obvious fact, but the hallmark of any good, title-worthy team is holding a lead. If you build up a seemingly insurmountable margin, you shouldn’t leave the back door open for a comeback.

Few are better at deadbolt locking that door for good than the Bucks:

A 20-plus point lead should be insurmountable, but it is the NBA. Crazy things can happen. Credit to Milwaukee’s killer instinct.

Many thought the Bucks were in trouble when Khris Middleton went down with a sprained MCL in Game 2 against the Bulls.

After all, Middleton is the unquestioned No. 2 to Antetokounmpo. Without his added scoring touch, Milwaukee won’t go very far — they’re just 84-93 all-time without him. But his absence didn’t matter against Chicago. Not one bit.

After Middleton went down and Milwaukee lost Game 2, they won the next three games (two in Chicago) by a combined 60 points to close the series. I’d say that’s pretty stellar.

The Bucks will need a healthy Middleton if they want to complete their repeat. But their domination of a playoff team without him showed they could still win under adverse circumstances in a pinch.

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