Bucks eager for Game 6, where 'anything can happen'

CHICAGO — If the Chicago Bulls thought an inexperienced Milwaukee Bucks team facing the prospect of elimination would enter the United Center intimidated or overwhelmed, they were sadly misinformed.

In what was supposed to be a close-out game for the Bulls ahead of a highly-anticipated second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee imposed its defensive identity yet again in a stifling 94-88 effort in Game 5 to tighten the series at 3-2.

The Bucks contained Chicago's backcourt that had averaged just shy of 50 points per game this postseason. And while Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler combined to shoot 10-of-41 for 33 points and expended their energies on fruitless offensive sequences, their lesser-heralded Milwaukee counterparts Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton poured in 43 points on 58% shooting.

"I think they just played harder than us on both ends of the floor," Butler said. "I'm supposed to be the prime-time defensive guy, and I haven't been guarding a soul. Been worried about offense too much. I need to change that quickly or it's going to be my fault."

Carter-Williams, despite landing awkwardly on Pau Gasol's foot and suffering a mild sprained ankle midway through the third, finished with 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, at times going against Butler, but mostly attacking Rose. All 10 of his field goals came from inside the paint, a defensive indictment on Rose if there ever was one.

"Shots that he hit, I tried not to foul," said Rose, who was attacked endlessly on screens. "I put my arms up and he kept banking them. It's the first game he hit that many shots."

Instead of folding as they did in Game 3 when they missed two potential game-winners before the Bulls' eventual double-overtime win, the Bucks seized on a listless, oddly passive effort. The only Bulls player who played with any sense of urgency was Joakim Noah, but even his 10-point, 13-rebound double-double couldn't inspire anything more than short-lived momentum swings.

After a 6-0 run cut the lead to 86-83 with 4:45 remaining, the Bulls had the series-clincher within reach, but Carter-Williams abruptly drained the last of his floaters to cease all momentum for the home crowd. Rose was blocked moments later as was the Bulls' chance at avoiding a Game 6. It was Milwaukee's eighth block of the fourth quarter, underscoring their imposing length near the hoop, which has given the Bulls fits all series.

"We haven't changed anything. Our whole thing is playing hard," Kidd said. "That is how we are built. Offensively and defensively, our first emphasis is playing hard. ... We talk defense. We don't really talk about the offensive end."

The Bucks' progression this series has been stunning. The first game the Bucks miscalculated, trying to keep pace with the Bulls' offense. Lesson learned in a 103-91 loss. Next they tried to rough up the Bulls with an ugly defensive battle, marking their introduction to playoff-level intensity. Again, the Bucks were put in their place against a veteran squad with a 91-82 loss.

But something flipped once the series moved to Milwaukee for Game 3. There's no question the team was buoyed by its fans and stoked by how close they came to stealing the third installment. Milwaukee missed two chances to win, once in regulation and then again in the first overtime. But the sentiment around the Bucks was more of progress than of a missed opportunity.

"You could look at it a bunch of different ways," Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy said. "They could be up 3-2 right now."

The reality is that the Bulls have the lead, and even after being outplayed by a team that was supposedly less talented, Chicago still remains confident.

Asked how concerned he was that the Bucks had earned the right to go back home, Butler intercepted a reporter's question.

"Not concerned," he said bluntly. "We're confident. We're a good team. I think we're going to show it in the next game. We continue to say it. We haven't done it, but I'm confident that we will."

The Bulls, however, aren't alone.

"It's getting to the point where anything can happen," Bucks center John Henson said. "We don't have anything to do this summer, so we're trying to stay here as long as we can."

Follow Michael Singer on Twitter @RealMikeSinger.

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