CHICAGO — The Milwaukee Bucks utilized every chance they could in the days leading up to the team's first road playoff games in Chicago to boo Grayson Allen.
When Allen went onboard the squad van, he was booed. When he entered the foyer of their team hotel, he was booed. They also booed him during video sessions and throughout practice when Allen touched the ball.
So when Allen set back-to-back playoff career-highs in Games 3 and 4 to help Milwaukee take a commanding 3-1 series lead over Chicago this weekend, the Bucks bench revealed in booing him the entire time.
After scoring 27 points off the bench in the Bucks' 119-95 victory Sunday afternoon, Allen stated with a giggle, "They have so much fun doing it." "It's amusing, in my opinion. They've made it into a bit of a game. It also makes hearing it throughout the game a lot easier since they think it's hilarious."
Game 5 will take place in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
After hearing the reaction Allen received every time he touched the ball during the team's first game in Chicago in March, the Bucks began jeering him early this season. Allen became Chicago basketball fans' No. 1 public adversary when a flagrant foul on Bulls guard Alex Caruso during a game on Jan. 21 resulted in Caruso's fractured wrist, requiring him to miss two months.
Allen stated on Sunday that he tried to contact Caruso after the event to apologize, but the two never got in touch. The Bulls downplayed any residual hatred toward Allen in the lead-up to the series, but United Center supporters haven't forgotten about it, booing Allen every time he approached the scorer's table or touched the ball on offense this season.
Even though he's earned a reputation as a villain in Chicago, Allen said after Sunday's game that he doesn't get a kick out of it.
"It's not a natural fit for me," Allen explained. "I've gotten to the point where whenever I go out and play basketball, I simply tell myself to have fun with it. My personality is inherently averse to the spotlight, booing, and heckling. It's not anything I'm interested in. I'm not going to go look for it."
Allen's teammates haven't let it stop them from having a good time with it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks suggested Allen frame a shot from Game 3 in which the Bucks bench is booing Allen as he approaches the free throw line after a converted and-1.
"He's played terrific," Antetokounmpo said after the game, smiling. "Perhaps we'll get to boo him even more." "Maybe we have to boo him, Milwaukee supporters... no, we're not going to do that."
"I believe we just stayed with it when we booed him during the game and he really began hooping," said player Jrue Holiday.
Allen was much better on Sunday afternoon after leading all scorers with 22 points in Game 3 on Friday.
On Sunday, Allen finished 10-for-12 from the field, including 6-for-7 from 3-point range, to outscore Chicago's bench 27-17. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he became the first Bucks player to score 25 points and make six three-pointers in a playoff game in franchise history, and the first Bucks player to score at least 25 points off the bench since Tim Thomas in 2003. When he was the main defender, Allen also made plays on defense, earning three thefts and keeping Chicago to 3-of-8 shooting.
Allen bounced back after shooting 0-for-4 from three in the first two games of the series. With forward Khris Middleton out for the rest of the first-round series due to a damaged MCL in his left knee, his play this weekend helped the Bucks overcome his absence.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer described Allen as "kind of quiet, but confident." "I believe this is a confident group, one that recognizes a player who can assist them and values his competitiveness. He's just calm, no-nonsense, and he shows up to play. Our players, I believe, have a proclivity for that mindset. It's definitely a wonderful match."
The fans were rewarded with a weekend of uncompetitive basketball after waiting five years for a home playoff game. The Bulls were outscored 230-176 in their two home games, and they need to win on Wednesday to keep their season alive.
"You have to give [Allen] credit," remarked Zach LaVine of the Bulls. "He's knocking down shots...." Obviously, we are aware of the circumstances behind Caruso's injury. It's still basketball at the end of the day. We are aware of the situation. But we're not going to go out there and say, "That man can't defeat us." The Milwaukee Bucks are unable to defeat us, and he is a member of their squad. Currently, they are outperforming us as a whole.
"You can't just account for him. It's everybody."
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