Milwaukee Bucks vs Chicago Bulls for the 2016 NBA Preseason: The Greek Freak Faces the Three Alphas at Windy City; Match Preview and TV Schedule Revealed
Good news for every basketball fan: the 2016-17 NBA season starts later this month, but as tradition goes, more games are in store for the basketball world before the season officially begins. One of them features another potential superteam, albeit an aging one. The young Milwaukee Bucks test their up-and-coming stars against the Three Alphas of the Chicago Bulls; Rajon Rondo, Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade.
The Three Alphas
The biggest story for Chicago is their acquisition of superstars who might be past their prime but can still put in work for a solid postseason run. Rondo takes his crafty passing and superb court vision to the Bulls, after just one year of a seemingly replenished career in Sacramento.
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An even more intriguing aspect of the team is Dwyane Wade, who changes jerseys for the first time in his 14 years with the Miami Heat. He still has a few good years left in him, though, and he looks to have a good group of guys in his hometown team.
Scoring would be easy if Wade can cut to the rim, and if Butler will be in his usual "Jimmy G Buckets" form. The Three Alphas are an issue in terms of outside shooting, though, but tremendous shooters Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott can patch that up.
Robin Lopez will have to perform his best inside, with the loss of Pau Gasol troubling in the paint. Perimeter defense is at the top of Butler's calling card, and Wade had always been one of the best in that aspect, but Rondo has to step up in that regard.
The Rise of the Greek Freak
The Bucks just resigned Giannis Antetokounmpo to a huge four-year deal, and NBA pundits are not surprised. The young and lengthy Greek Freak has a lot of solid years in front of him, with a potential All-Star season in store for Milwaukee.
Joining him this season is sophomore and another possible All-Star Jabari Parker, Michael Cartier-Williams and rookie phenom Thon Maker. They have also acquired sharpshooter Mirza Teletovic and Matthew Dellavedova of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Their defense, however, demands to be improved, as well as their turnover story. Their post work is in a shaky situation of late, as rumors suggest Greg Monroe is looking for a change of scenery. Ironically, the post-scoring bigman is embroiled in trade rumors with Chicago.
The game tips off on Monday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. CT at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Fans can tune in to NBA TV for the live coverage.
