Role Playing Game: Bucks 108 – Nets 89
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010One of the many keys to continued success the rest of the way for the Milwaukee Bucks was prominently on display Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. They need balance. A team that lacks a true star to begin with, the Bucks have needed to get something out of everyone all year, even before Andrew Bogut’s injury. Now, they need balance more than ever. And when they get it, good things can happen. Milwaukee was about as balanced as they could be in their 108-89 victory over the Nets Wednesday night – 120 minutes for the starters, 120 minutes for the reserves.
While the Bucks starters were outscored 64-59 on the night, the bench did their part and then some, out-scoring New Jersey’s backups 49-25. This shouldn’t have been surprising though. The Nets are 11-67 for a reason. They have some starters that are above-average players, but their bench is full of young, inexperienced and, as far as I could tell, relatively uninterested players. New Jersey certainly looked the part of the league’s bottom feeder. Everyone was hooting and hollering from the sidelines during a fast start by Devin Harris, but there was a clear sense of indifference as the game began to slip away. But hey, a job is a job, and if I had a stat at my work that said we’d only had a successful day 11 out of the last 77 times we operated, I’d be waiting for a vacation myself. But back to the bench.
Role player was a fitting definition of the Bucks reserves on this evening. (more…)
Buck Hits and a Prevew: 2-10-10
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Milwaukee headed towards New Jersey last night for their last game before the all-star break. New Jersey, as you already know, is the worst team in the NBA and could possibly go down as the worst team of all time, their record currently sitting at 4-47. Former Badger Devin Harris didn’t play in Tuesday’s game against Cleveland and may return against the Bucks, but sitting him through the all-star break seems logical.
The thought of the Nets once again sans D-Ha sounds good to me. Good enough that I’d expect it to be just the medicine the Bucks need after a very disappointing home loss against Detroit on Tuesday night.
- Chris Douglas-Roberts, he of the 31 and 10 line in Milwaukee earlier this year, after last night’s game from ESPN.com:
“You get surprised a lot in the league. It is what it is,” Douglas-Roberts said. “Things don’t work out all the time. I guess I’m out of the rotation.”
Douglas-Roberts doesn’t plan on discussing the situation with Vandeweghe.
“Absolutely not. I don’t think talks really do anything,” he said. “I’ve probably had the most talks with him on the team. But they don’t do nothing.”
So, no D-Ha, probably no CD-R and an organization recently thrust even further into turmoil? I like the Bucks odds a lot. I’m saying 104-95 Milwaukee. Check out previews at BrewHoop and Nets Are Scorching
Other Notes
- Hakim Warrick in three words: shy, dunk, Playstation. Jodie Meeks in three words: rookie, cliche, Kentucky. Aron Phillips at Dime has the goods on them both.
- The Cavs don’t want to part with J.J. Hickson and that may leave the Pacers to pursue other options with Troy Murphy. Could the Bucks be an option? Word is they are in talks. I’m not sure how serious it is right now, but things could heat up before next Thursday’s trade deadline. From Brian Winhorst at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:
The Pacers, a source said, are also in talks with the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings involving Murphy and both teams can offer expiring contracts.
- Andrew Bogut is approaching some milestones as an Australian. More on this in the coming weeks.
- Tom Enlund has an update on Joe Alexander’s D-League progress.
- Paul Swaney of StadiumJourney.com recently visited the Bradley Center and made a poor food decision.
Game 32 Preview: Bucks at Nets
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 13-18
(Probable) Inactives: Joe Alexander and Dan Gadzuric
at
New Jersey Nets (Kiki Vanderwegh) 3-30
(Probable) Inactives: Eduardo Najera, Tony Battie and Sean Williams
Date: 1/5/2010
Time: 6:00 (CST)
TV: Nah, not today
Match-Ups
Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Devin Harris
Like most of these match-ups, this one won’t be quite as easy as the last time these teams met. In the first game it was Rafer Alston manning the point for the 0-12 Nets. Jennings burned Alston for 19 points, eight assists and his lone dunk of the season. That was a different Nets team led by a different man though. While Devin Harris hasn’t exactly righted the ship since his return from an early season ankle injury, he (along with the many other Nets who have returned from injuries since they last met the Bucks) at least helps make the Nets a competitive team. Harris has not matched the lofty standard he set for himself last year though. Shooting under 40 percent and averaging less than 20 points and dishing out fewer assists was probably not what Harris had in mind as a follow up to his all-star season last year. If Harris can begin to get himself on track, the Nets become more than a team desperate for all the wins they can get. Physically, Harris is still quick and strong and will be a load for Jennings on both sides of the court.
Advantage: Nets (more…)
