Game 43 Preview: Bucks at Mavericks
Category: Game Previews
Milwaukee Bucks (18-24)
(Probable) Inactives: Michael Redd, Joe Alexander and Francisco Elson
at
Dallas Mavericks (29-15)
(Probable) Inactives: Eduardo Najera and Matt Carroll
Game Time: 7:30 (CST)
Date: 1/26/2010
TV: FS Wisconsin
Match-Ups
Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Jason Kidd
Kidd was absent from the Mavs 50 point shellacking of the New York Knicks on Sunday, but should be ready to go when Milwaukee comes to town. Kidd doesn’t have the necessary quickness to stick with Jennings anymore, so Jennings should be in full on attack mode Tuesday night. I’ve said it many times before, Jennings needs to get to the rim for the Bucks to get easy shots and he should be able to get into the paint for those shots against Kidd. The hitch in that plan could come if the Mavs go to Rodrigue Beaubois at all – he has more than enough speed to stay with Jennings. Of course, the flip side with Kidd is that he can hit the open three if Jennings gets lost, which he’s prone to do on picks.
Advantage: Mavs
Shooting Guard
Charlie Bell vs. Jason Terry
Hey, a match-up that may work for Bell! Terry relies on quickness and his shooting prowess to create shots for himself. He can make open shots and difficult ones, but doesn’t get to the rim with the great success that a bigger shooting guard may. Given his lack of size, he’s a good match-up for the equally height deficient Bell. Bell may see some time on Jason Kidd too, especially if Terry isn’t doing much and Kidd’s getting open three-point looks. Terry’s been super inconsistent over his last five games (20, 4, 21, 8 and 18 point efforts) and that kind of sums up his entire year
Advantage: Mavs
Small Forward
Carlos Delfino vs. Shawn Marion
Marion looked to be on his way to giving the Bucks hell in the Mavs trip to the Bradley Center back in November, but he hurt himself early and didn’t return. He’s the type of athlete that can get to the rim and give the Bucks problems. If he gets Andrew Bogut into foul trouble that could mean all kinds of problems for the Bucks. He’s also got the length to bother his man on defense and the quickness to stay with slashers. In short, he could cause a whole different set of problems for the Bucks with his work on defense, even with Delfino having played terrific ball as of late.
Advantage: Mavs
Power Forward
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute vs. Dirk Nowitzki
Advantage: Mavs
Center
Andrew Bogut vs. Erick Dampier
No longer is Bogut “Ericka Dampier with a beard” as Shaquille O’neal famously once said. Bogut is now, at least has been for the most of this season, a premier defender with an ever developing post game that can be relied on for a nightly double-double. Coach Skiles recently said Bogut is consistently a 16-10.5 kind of guy and they’d like to see him get to the 19-11 level on a more regular basis. Dampier is a load underneath and will prove to be no pushover as Bogut tries to post up and drop in his variety of hooks and runners.
Advantage: Bucks
Bench
Luke Ridnour, Hakim Warrick, Jerry Stackhouse, Kurt Thomas and Ersan Ilyasova
Vs.
Josh Howard, Jose Barea, Drew Gooden and Rodrigue Beaubois
Beaubois’ last significant minutes before the New York blow out came when the Mavs visited Milwaukee. As I said earlier, he has the speed to stay with Jennings and after a strong performance in New York he may be in line for a little more playing time against the Bucks in an attempt to capitalize on his good outing. Gooden has been a poor-man’s Carlos Boozer often for the Mavs and can bring some real offense off the bench down low. He can step out a little bit and give Bogut problems there. Howard and Barea score in different ways but can both fill it up.
Advantage: Bucks
Prediction: Mavs 101- Bucks 90
The Bucks stuck with the Mavs when they came to Milwaukee, but they did the same thing when the Lakers came to town and we remember what happened when Milwaukee visited L.A. Obviously the road has been unkind to the Bucks and it’s hard to expect much to change against the Southwest Division leading Mavericks. If the Bucks can keep it close and make it a toss-up in the end it’s possible luck owes them one, but that may be too much to ask.
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