Daily Archives: November 16, 2009

Award number one: Jennings wins Player of the Week

November 16, 2009

After an incredible week capped off with a 55 point effort on Saturday, Brandon Jennings has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference player of the week.  This is not a rookie award, this is a WHOLE CONFERENCE award.

Again, Jennings has played 7 games.

The last Buck to win a player of the week award was Michael Redd (December 25, 2006 through January 1, 2007).

Saturday’s performance also marked Jennings becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50-plus points as he was 20 years and 52 days old and LeBron James was 20 years and 80 days old when he accomplished it on March 20, 2005. Jennings’ 45 second-half points were the most in a half since Kobe Bryant tallied 55 on January 22, 2006. By recording 30-plus points in consecutive games (he had 32 against Denver), Jennings is the first Bucks rookie since Glenn Robinson in 1995 to have back-to-back 30-plus point nights.

You may remember Glenn Robinson as a polished and proven rookie when he came into the league.  Bucks fans knew what they had in Big Dog.  We’re still learning about what we have in Brandon Jennings.  Is there anything more terrifying for the rest of the league than the fact that Jennings is just getting started?  This guy has a lot to learn and a ton of room to grow … and he’s already won a player of the week award and scored 55 points!

Jennings averaged 43.5 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in roughly 39 minutes per game in helping the Bucks to a 2-0 record. He shot 60% from the field, 90% from three point range and 87.5% from the line in two games.  60/90/87.5.  Those are numbers even Steve Nash dreams about (though to be fair, Nash probably put up similar percentages every few weeks in his MVP season’s.  So he does more than dream about them.  Still good numbers though).

By Jeremy | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments off

Game Eight Preview: Bucks vs. Mavericks

November 16, 2009

Dallas Mavericks (Rick Carlisle) 6-3

(Likely) Inactives: Josh Howard, Tim Thomas and Shawne Williams

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Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 5-2

(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Francisco Elson and Michael Redd

Game time: 7:00 (Cnt)

TV: NBA TV

Match-ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Jason Kidd

Scott Skiles said after Jennings’ incredible 55 point game one of the first things he told Jennings after the game was, “Congratulations.  Now go home, you get Jason Kidd on Monday.”  While it may sound terrifying to have to play against Jason Kidd, the reality at this point is much different.  Kidd is essentially a spot up shooter with a high basketball IQ and average defensive ability.  His foot speed as eroded to the point that if he guards Jennings at all before the last few possessions of the game I’ll be surprised.  Yes, Kidd can still ignite and lead a fast break with the best of them.  And he can still run the pick and roll or find Dirk in rhythm.  But his main purpose in the half court offense Dallas runs is to camp outside the three point arc and wait for Dirk to kick it out.  Kidd’s shooting six shots per game, with roughly four of them being three point attempts.  If a body is on him he won’t hurt the Bucks too bad in the half court.  But if the Bucks are missing shots and the Mavs can grab rebounds, Kidd can be a very valuable conductor of the fast break.  Sometimes offense is the most affective neutralizer a defense can have.

Advantage: Bucks Read More »

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