Monthly Archives: November 2009

Update: Bogut is back!

November 30, 2009

Ohhhhh DOCTOR!  That’s my favorite saying when big news happens.  I love it.  And some big news has happened in a positive way for the Milwaukee Bucks for once.  If you’re a long time fan, don’t you always get the feeling that things end up going worse than we initially expect for the Bucks with regard to injuries to their stars? Whether it’s Andrew Bogut or Michael Redd or even Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, it seems like they are always out longer than initially expected.

Things have finally changed.  From the Milwaukee Bucks:

After missing six games with a lower left leg strain and contusion, Andrew Bogut is scheduled to be activated and available to play in tonight’s game vs. Chicago.

This could not come any sooner.  Without Bogut, the Bucks have struggled to a 2-4 record, with wins coming against much weaker Charlotte and Memphis teams.  The Bucks have games against Chicago and Washington this week, two teams they could be battling for playoff births come March and April.  These aren’t must-win games necessarily, but they are nice games to have when you’re trying to stay ahead of these teams.

Certainly reason to be excited.

By Jeremy | Posted in Injury Reoprt | Tagged | Comments off

Game 16 preview: Bucks vs. Bulls

November 30, 2009

Before we get into today’s preview, what do the Bucks need to do about their recent defensive problems?

Chicago Bulls (Vinny Del Negro) 6-8

(Likely) Inactives: Jerome James, Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich

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Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 8-7

(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd

Date: 11/30/2009

Game time: 7:00 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Derrick Rose

If anyone is operating on the illusion that playing point guard in the NBA is easy, you can look to Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose for confirmation that that theory is flawed. Jennings has fallen on hard times since the media storm that’s encompassed him since his 55-point game.  Rose has struggled some in his second NBA season, likely due to an ankle injury and a suspect jump-shot.  He’s getting to the rim less and having to settle for more mid-range jump shots.  And as I said, he’s not particularly good at shooting mid-range or long distance jump shots, hitting just 40 percent of his 16-23 foot jumpers while pretty much completely foregoing the three (1-6 on the year).  Rose’s inability to shoot the three makes him a little easier to guard and Jennings confidence at home makes him more liable to have a big day offensively.  The Bulls don’t have a Dwight Howard roaming the paint to deter him inside.  Could be a nice day.

Advantage: Bucks  Read More »

By Jeremy | Posted in Game Previews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments off

Another home heartbreaker: Magic 100 – Bucks 98

November 29, 2009

Recap/Box Score

The Bucks biggest (16,128, nice job Milwaukee) and loudest crowd of the year was almost treated to what would have been the Bucks biggest upset of the season.  In fact, it hardly looked like an upset at all for the first two and a half quarters.  It was simply one team outplaying the other, if you had no idea which team’s record was better and which one had supposedly better players, you’d have no idea that the Magic were the reigning Eastern Conference champions and the Bucks were a plucky overachieving team picked to finish last by virtually everyone.  But those were the facts at hand and they eventually came to fruition as the Bucks were unable to hold off Orlando in a 100-98 home loss. Read More »

By Jeremy | Posted in Recaps | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments off

Game 15 preview: Bucks vs. Magic

November 28, 2009

Orlando Magic (Stan Van Gundy) 12-4

(Likely) Inactives: Jameer Nelson

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Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 8-6

(Likely) Inactives: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Joe Alexander and Andrew Bogut

Game time: 7:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Jason Williams

No one will be happier to be home than Brandon Jennings.  Jennings has struggled bad this year on the road, averaging 28.7 points and 6.1 assists on 57.9 percent shooting to just 16.4 points and 5.1 assists on the road at a mere 35 percent clip.  Williams doesn’t represent the same tough challenge Jennings has faced over his last three games in Tony Parker, Darren Collsion and Russell Westbrook either.  The combination of returning hom and facing a backup point guard should hopefully rejuvenate Jennings and allow him to regain his aggressiveness and scoring touch.  The Bucks dodge another starting point guard in this one, as Jameer Nelson is out for about a month after a knee injury.

Advantage: Bucks Read More »

By Jeremy | Posted in Game Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments off

To panic or not?: Thunder 108 – Bucks 90

November 28, 2009

It’s funny how a problem can seem like such a huge problem over a lengthy period of time like an entire summer and then can be pronounced fixed so soon into the season.  We all knew the Bucks would struggle to score this season, but then Brandon Jennings came around and turned it on early this year and the Bucks suddenly looked like they had more punch offensively than anyone expected.  Now we sit looking at five performances with shooting percentages of:

41.5, 45.8, 49.4, 39.6, 37.8

Some of that is okay.  Most of it isn’t.  Last season, when the Bucks shot less than 45 percent from the field, they went 9-30.  So it’s no surprise that the Bucks were hammered 108-90 Friday night on ESPN.  108-90 doesn’t even really do it justice.  The Bucks were SO brutal to start the third quarter, it’s hard to put in to words.  17-0 start by Oklahoma City.  An 0-13 start by the Bucks and all those offensive problems we suspected but had begun to forget about with the great Bucks start were back in the forefront of our minds. Read More »

By Jeremy | Posted in Recaps | Comments off