In six March games, Holiday is averaging nearly 40 minutes a night, as Coach Collins has shortened the Sixer rotation. Holiday’s responded with improved rebound and assist numbers, but has struggled to make threes or free throws with much consistency. While he has good size, he’s more speed and quickness than power at this early point in his career. Power point guards often give Jennings loads of trouble, but he has success with ones that rely on quickness he typically can match. I hesitate to even mention it for fear of a jinx, but Jennings has shot well over 40% from the field in March while averaging over 20 points per outing. In addition, he has made 50% of his shots or better in each of his last two games.
I was big on both Jrue Holiday and Brandon Jennings before the 2009 draft. I’m still big on both, but now I’m growing even more intrigued with Holiday, probably because I don’t see him as much and because Jennings hasn’t played in nearly a month. Holiday is coming into his own this season after a slow rookie year. He’s shown improvements virtually across the board while maintaining some of the better numbers he had last season. Holiday shot an unbelievable 39% on threes last season, even though he wasn’t touted as much of a shooter coming out of UCLA. That number has dipped a bit this season — he’s down to 34.9 from three — but he’s still a threat. What’s particularly impressive about Holiday is the solid mid-range game he’s displayed and his “sky’s the limit” defense.
For as impressive some of Jennings’ games have been, Holiday is a better comparison for him than the Russell Westbrook’s and Derrick Rose’s of the world. While Jennings has had significantly more success in the league than Holiday, their numbers matchup pretty closely. Holiday’s perimeter shooting, thought to be his biggest weakness coming into the draft last season, has come around this year. He still isn’t likely to hit more than one or two in a game, but he must be paid attention to all over the court. His size and athleticism have people projecting great things for him defensively. Jennings is coming off a very good game against the Lakers and has been the Bucks best offensive player lately.
Another night and another player steps up for the Milwaukee Bucks. It certainly seems like every night the Bucks are getting some big play out of somebody (or bodies), but it’s always tough to tell who’ll be the star that night. Coming off a couple strong games in a row, Kurt Thomas was a possibility. Jerry Stackhouse had his best game in a few weeks on Wednesday, so I thought maybe he’d bring it again in Philly. Brandon Jennings is the ticking time bomb, ready to go off for five or six threes on any given night. But I have to say, ‘Los was due.
After initially struggling in his return from injury, Delfino finally got it going Friday night in the Bucks 95-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. 23 points (8-14 FG 5-8 3FG 2-2 FT) and five assists are the exact type of numbers I’d hoped to see from Delfino once Andrew Bogut went down.
Delfino’s various skills make him so crucial to the Bucks success. An underrated creator, Delfino can certainly put the ball on the ground and get to the hoop on occasion. He does it enough that I’ve noticed his go-to move – the reverse layup. No one on the Bucks uses the hoop to protect their layup at the rim better than Delfino with his reverse. When he’s aggressive with that thing and hitting threes, he can really be an effective player.
Of course, there’s a reason he’s on his third team and had a stint in Europe. He’s not super consistent with his talents. It’s hard to count on Delfino to make his threes on a nightly basis. And for some reason, he’s not always busting out those reverse layups and drives to the hoop either. Yes, he’s always an active defender, but his offensive inconsistencies have baffled me this season. If the Bucks want to win a series in the playoffs, the prospect of which seemed plausible with Bogut, impossible right after his injury and now slightly more feasible after three straight wins, they’ll need this Delfino every night.
Go on, admit it. You’re tired of Philadelphia. I certainly am. The Sixers have given the Bucks fits all year. We know the drill at this point, they’re athletic, they have more talent than their record indicates and if they’re able to hit some threes, all hell can break loose.
So, what can Milwaukee do to take one from Philly for once?
Control the ball
Milwaukee’s had very good assist to turnover numbers when they’ve played well this year. Philadelphia has given them trouble in this area all season. Twice when playing the Sixers, Milwaukee has turned the ball over more times than they assisted on baskets. The other game Milwaukee had a 10-8 assist to turnover ratio. Those aren’t encouraging numbers. Perhaps with Bogut out, the Bucks will be able to go small in an effort to get more ball handlers on the court to combat the Sixers athleticism.
Matchups
Point Guard Brandon Jennings vs. Jrue Holiday.
Holiday is horrifying. He’s like Rajon Rondo was as a rookie. After a bounce back March, April hasn’t been so kind to Brandon Jennings. Let’s move on.
