Recaps/Box Score

The most bizarre thing about the second half for the Bucks was that it took so long to happen.  I mean, we all know Michael Redd has been playing for appearances sake and with the hope that he’ll magically find his game and improve his trade value.  He certainly hasn’t been playing because he’s been doing so well, but everyone assumed the Bucks were stuck playing him, through thick and thin.   Then the Bucks-Bobcats first half happened.

It’s not often you’ll see a coach more at a loss for words and explanations than Kelvin Sampson was when he tried to explain what happened in the first half for the Milwaukee Bucks.  After looking off in the distance (possibly for someone who could figure out why the Bucks are playing so poorly) Sampson said something to the effect of, “Basketball is a simple game.  You just need to make your shots when you’re open.  We’re getting good looks, wide-open looks, and not hitting them.”

Sampson looked fed up and it’s logical to assume Scott Skiles was fed up too judging from his second half strategy.  The Bucks started the third with Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Ersan Ilyasova and Kurt Thomas.  The first man off the bench?  Francisco Elson.  I’d say Skiles wasn’t so thrilled with his starters, as Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Carlos Delfino didn’t see one second of action in the second half.

And when his team is down 22 at half to a mediocre team, how can you disagree with his moves? Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 12 – 16

(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Roko Ukic and Dan Gadzuric

vs.

Charlotte Bobcats (Larry Brown) 11-17

(Likely) Inactives: Tyson Chandler, Alexis Ajinca and Acie Law

Date: 12/28/2009

Time: 6:00 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-Ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Ray Felton

We may be forced to wait until Michael Redd is gone to see Brandon Jennings blossom once again.  It’s not so much the misses that have been troubling out of Jennings lately, it’s the passiveness.  It’s almost as if he’s trying to over pass to Redd because he knows that’s the only way he’ll get out of Milwaukee.  The Bucks could sorely use some more decisive drives out of Jennings though.  With Redd on the court, he’s been reduced to a perimeter passer and shooter.  There has been very few moments of drive and kick or drive and drop passes to Bogut.  And the pick and roll that once worked so well with Andrew Bogut has become woefully ineffective lately.  Just one of the many things going wrong in Milwaukee as of late.  Oddly enough, Jennings is still taking care of the ball and racking up assists, so it’s hard to complain too much.  But the Bucks need him to do so much more than just manage the game.

Advantage: Bucks Read more…