The Bulls beat the Bucks, 103-91, in Game 1 of the series for a combined 194 points. There were 59 points scored during the first quarter. After that the teams settled down to average 45 points a quarter during the final three quarters. If the scoring pace for the last three periods of Game 1 follows form the combined total would be 180.




Of course the key question is will it? I believe it will.




Jason Kidd and Tom Thibodeau are defensive-minded coaches. These long-time division rivals know each other well. The under had cashed four straight times in this series until the Game 1 matchup.




The intensity level - already high - is going to be raised a level. Kidd was not happy about how that first quarter played out even though Milwaukee trailed just 30-29 following it. He said the pace was too fast and set a bad tone for his team.




The Bucks are not a big scoring team. They prefer a methodical pace. Their backcourt scoring is especially vulnerable after making the change from Brandon Knight to Michael Carter-Williams, a very low percentage shooter. He missed nine of 13 shots from the field in Game 1 bothered by Derrick Rose, an excellent defender.




Milwaukee held Pau Gasol to his lowest-scoring game since March 1. The Bucks double-teamed Gasol, who shot just 5-of-17 from the floor scoring 10 points. However, Rose played much better than expected in his first playoff game since tearing his ACL in a 2012 playoff game.




Rose scored 23 points while making three of seven shots from 3-point range. However, he shot only two free throws. I don't see Rose shooting as well in this Game 2 especially since 44 percent of his field goal attempts in Game 1 were launched from 3-point range. The Bucks are going to continue to double Gasol forcing Rose to spend a lot of time dribbling and then launching long, low-percentage shots.