Grayson Allen continues to torment Bulls in playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Grayson Allen changed the course of the Chicago Bulls' season on Jan. 21, when, with a flagrant foul, he fractured Alex Caruso's right wrist.
Three months later, the Bucks guard is now tormenting his cross-interstate rival in a different way: By slashing, shooting and stealing his way to impactful playoff performances in the absence of Khris Middleton. Performances that have pushed the Bulls to the brink of elimination.
And Allen is doing so in the face of vociferous boos from the United Center crowd, which will forever harbor ill will in his direction.
"I would still say that it's not naturally comfortable for me," Allen said after posting 27 points in Game 4 of the Bulls and Bucks' first-round series, which Milwaukee now leads 3-1. "My personality is naturally uncomfortable with the attention, the booing, the heckling. It's not something that I, like, feed off, like I'm not going out there searching for it. I just go out and have fun."
That's surprising, given that Allen has been no stranger to opposing-fan vitriol since his days at Duke. And that his play has only improved since entering hostile territory on Friday, when, with the series tied 1-1, Game 3 tipped.
In that contest, Allen posted a playoff career-high 22 points. In Game 4, he one-upped himself with 27 and wreaked defensive havoc to the tune of 3 steals. Across those games, he combined to shoot 11-for-14 from 3-point range, burning the back end of the Bulls' defensive rotations collapsing on the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan lamented lackadaisical closeouts on Allen's spot-up attempts. Zach LaVine broadened his perspective to the team.
"You gotta give him credit. He's hitting shots," LaVine said of Allen. "Obviously, we know what happened (referencing the Caruso incident). At the end of the day, it's basketball. We understand it. It's not like we're going out there and saying, 'That guy can't beat us.' The Milwaukee Bucks can't beat us. He's part of their team. Them as a whole is beating us right now. You can't just account for him. It's everybody."
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But Allen is doing particularly explosive damage, and worse, has become a rallying cry of the opponent. In each of the last two games, Allen's Bucks teammates have jokingly booed him from the bench after big plays, which Allen and Holiday each revealed to reporters after Game 4 originated behind the scenes.
"Walk on the bus, boo. In the hotel, boo. About to watch film, boo," Allen said. "All the time.
"They have so much fun doing that. I think it's funny. I think it's honestly hilarious. They kind of have turned it into a fun thing. It makes it hearing out there during the game a lot easier too because they think it's so funny."
It's an image that figures to make Bulls fans sick to their stomach. And yet, it may wind up one of the last images of the 2021-22 season.
As for closure on the Caruso incident? Allen was asked at the end of his postgame press conference if the two ever connected in the wake of the injury. Allen said he attempted to leave messages on Caruso's phone multiple times, while Caruso said in a recent podcast appearance the two never spoke.
"I tried two different ways, and then when I saw that I got another number from somebody and tried to reach out again," Allen said. "At that point it's not about me expecting a reply, it's just about me wanting to let him know. It's more something between me and him. So I don't expect a reply. I don't think he would even want to."
By now, both sides have shifted their focus to the future. But Allen's continued impact on the Bulls' present continues to twist the knife.