Enemy: Valley of the Suns

Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Steve Nash

Jennings most significant advantage over Nash, his speed, is nullified largely by his East-West tendencies and inability to finish inside at a high rate.  In virtually every other comparison of these two, Nash comes out miles ahead.  One of the finest shooters the league has ever seen, Nash is up over 50% from the field again, while hitting 38.1% of his threes and 91.7% of his free throws.  Most impressive is Nash’s ability to finish at the rim.  He’s an amazing 75.8% at the rim this season.  He’s only attempted 99 shots at the rim, but that goes to show how patient and careful Nash is.  When he knows he’ll have success, he ventures inside and finishes.

Advantage: Suns

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Enemy: Red94.net

Point Guard
Keyon Dooling vs. Kyle Lowry

Lowry is a very good defender, specifically, he’s one of the best guards in the league when it comes to taking charges.  He’s not altogether very impressive anywhere else on the court, though he can hit open threes when given a look.  Pretty much a run of the mill standard point guard, he could just be holding this spot warm until Aaron Brooks has a few more games back under his belt.  Dooling hasn’t shot well at all this season, but his 3-point shooting has come around a bit over the past two months.  He hit 38.5% of them in December and is holding fairly steady in January 36.8%.

Advantage: Rockets Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 24-27

vs.

Houston Rockets (Rick Adelman) 27-25

Date: 2/17/2010

Time: 7:00 PM (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Matchups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Aaron Brooks

Brooks was getting a little bit of buzz as a potential all-star, but that probably had more to do with his team’s surprising record that his all-star like play.  In fact, I’d argue that while Jennings hasn’t shot the ball very well this year, he’s having a better season than Brooks in most regards.  Jennings has a better assist rate (30.9-23.8) and lower turnover rate (12.6-13.8) while using more possessions (26.9-25.6).  Both have limitations defensively, but Jennings has a better overall defensive rating as well.  What really favors Jennings is that he plays a lot of his minutes with Delfino, Mbah a Moute and Bogut, or the Bucks three best defenders.  Brooks limitations are similarly kept in check with Battier, Hayes and Ariza often surrounding him.  As I write this I get the feeling that these teams are much more similar than I realized before, with a few noticeable exceptions.

Advantage: Bucks Read more…

BJ tried to find space for himself all night Monday.

Who knew?  Did anyone?  I didn’t.  My friends didn’t.  My dad didn’t.  I doubt if even Scott Skiles did.

But the Bucks have been holding out on us, because they DID have a great inbounds play ready and waiting in their pocket ready to be deployed.  After pick and roll after pick and roll the Bucks finally changed their last second play philosophy and ran a beautiful inbounds play at the end of overtime while trailing the Houston Rockets by three.  Brandon Jennings caught it, came off a screen, attacked the hoop and found a WIDE OPEN Luke Ridnour in the corner.

Now compare this play to the one the Bucks ended regulation with.  An aborted pick and roll between Jennings and Andrew Bogut which broke down and resulted in Jennings dribbling the clock down and launching a long contested three-point jumper.  Which has the better percentage?  Even more, why don’t the Bucks have more plays like the one that came at the end of overtime so they don’t have to run plays like the one they ran at the end of regulation? Read more…