NBA Preseason games are underway and the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls will test their new lineups as they clash at the United Center on Monday, Oct. 3.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
The Bucks are coming off a season that saw them get eliminated from the playoffs after acquiring center Greg Monroe in a big-money free-agency move last summer. Milwaukee was able to enter the postseason in 2014-2015 without Monroe, losing to the Bulls in the first round, 2-4, and expectations were high that the team will advance further in 2015-2016 with the addition of the former Georgetown standout.
I did not happen as Monroe proved to be an ill-fit to the squad's young core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Khris Middleton, especially from the defensive end. From a 41-41 record, the team finished with a 33-49 slate last season, 12th in the East, thereby disqualifying them from the playoffs.
Trade rumors linking Monroe to different teams abound in the current offseason as analysts believe that the Bucks see him as an expensive sixth man this coming season.
At the moment, Miles Plumlee is expected to start at the center spot with Monroe and rookie Thon Maker backing him up.
New signing Matthew Dellavedova is also projected to be the starting point guard ahead of Carter-Williams, who is also recently involved in several trade rumors. Veteran combo guard Jason Terry, also recently signed by Milwaukee, is the backup for both guard positions.
The biggest news for Milwaukee, though, is the absence of shooting guard Middleton who suffered a torn hamstring in training camp. He is expected to be sidelined for six months.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have had a significant roster overhaul in the summer as they welcomed the arrivals of NBA champions Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo in their backcourt. However, the team's frontcourt was depleted with loss of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah in free-agency.
Chicago also added center Robin Lopez and point guard Jerian Grant from the Derrick Rose trade with the Knicks. Lopez will reportedly be the starting center while Grant will play as backup to Rondo.
A player to watch for the Bulls is rookie Denzel Valentine, who was selected 14th overall last June. The 22-year-old former Michigan State standout had a great Summer League and is expected to continue his excellent in the preseason as well.
Prediction
Head coaches Jason Kidd and Fred Hoiberg are projected not to put their starters into full throttle in this game. They will play in limited minutes as both bench tacticians will experiment on different lineups and will also test their bench players. A win for the Bulls in the United Center is predicted.