One 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.

Jerry Stackhouse as “Low Post Scorer”

Upon signing Stackhouse earlier this season, Coach Skiles said he thought the veteran immediately became Milwaukee’s second best low post scorer.   Occasionally the Bucks had been going to him in the post, but with the other options the Bucks had, Bogut in the paint and Salmons everywhere, Stack’s post game had been a bit forgotten about.  Wednesday night it was front and center.  Time after time Milwaukee found Stackhouse in the post with a smaller (and often much younger) defender on him that he was able to take advantage of.  Stack finished with a much needed 18 points (6-9 FG 2-2 3FG 4-4 FT) after really struggling the last couple weeks.

“You get a couple drops here and there.  I feel like I got an advantage over whoever guarding me,” Stackhouse said with a wry smile.  “Guys know their role, they know what they do best, I think that’s what we have to do now.  We have to do what we do and don’t try and do more than that and we’ll be fine.”

Dan Gadzuric as “Awkward Hustling Big Man”

Gadz was the big goofy jumper we all remembered from years ago once again Wednesday night.  He can make you smile (eight rebounds in 17 minutes), he can make you cringe (a free throw line jumper … that went down smooth) and he can make you cry (never one to be outdone, he pulled a Brezec and fell down after a move by a Nets guard).  Gadz was out there running around and doing his best to play to his strengths, namely rebounding and shot-blocking.  He’s not getting to as many balls as he once did as a shot-blocker, but Gadz can certainly still grab some boards.

Charlie Bell as “The X Stopper”

While Bell is probably not as good a defender as his reputation suggests he is, he had another strong defensive outing against the Nets.  Devin Harris gave Milwaukee fits in the first quarter, scoring 18 of his 25 points, but Bell proved very effective on him when given the chance.

Bell played the entire second quarter, helping to limit Harris to just one point on zero shots from the field.  With Harris unaggressive, the Nets mustered little offense and were unable to build on the momentum of their big first quarter.  I joked that Bell probably hadn’t been playing much lately because he was busy traveling the country and stopping Dwyane Wade from doing things given the talk about him being the “Wade Stopper” earlier this year.  But Bell certainly played the role of top defender against the Nets.

Kurt Thomas as “A Different Kind of Center”

About the only thing Thomas does similar to Bogut is rebound.  Thomas again rebounded the ball very well Wednesday, grabbing 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.  In addition to his skills on the glass, Thomas showed he’s not going to hurt the Bucks offense.  His 15-foot jumper looks as reliable as ever and is helping to create space for the Bucks inside.

The Bucks veteran role players have traveled this path before and know what adversity is like.  Thus far, they’ve been shining examples on how the Bucks can keep the good times rolling without Andrew Bogut.

Offense

• John Salmons had 22 points (10-13 FG 1-2 3FG 1-2 FT).  This feels redundant.  In a good way.  Not like when I used to think to myself, “why can’t Tim Thomas ever grab more than five rebounds or score more than 15 points?”  That was the bad kind of redundant.

• He had a few points in garbage time to help pad the numbers, but Ersan Ilyasova’s points were on jumpers so smooth looking I wanted to grab them and put them in a commercial for milk chocolate.  15 points (7-12 FG 1-4 3FG 0-1 FT) and nine rebounds on the evening.  The consistently stellar production out of Ilyasova lately has been a total joy to watch.  It’s one thing to like having a player on a team, it’s another to have a player who is so much fun to watch on a team.  Ersan is the latter.

Defense

Bell, Thomas, Gadzuric and Stackhouse, the role players, all did their part defensively.  Stack had a breakaway dunk off a steal and that exceptional block you saw the highlight of above.  The Nets got into Milwaukee right off the bat, shooting 65% in the first quarter.  Obviously that wasn’t going to last and the Bucks made sure of it by holding them to 27% shooting in the second half.  Their point totals were 38 in the first quarter to only 31 in the second half.  Quite a difference a break makes.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to think it’s never easy for an NBA team and knowing the Nets are hungry for any wins they can get would make for a competitive game.  But I never felt like the Bucks would drop this one.  Even when the Nets were playing well, it seemed more luck than skill, save for Devin Harris.  What was surprising is how ineffective Brook Lopez was.  The Nets center has given Milwaukee fits in the past and with Bogut out, I thought he’d be the key to their whole game.  Perhaps he was too willing to defer (seven assists to just six shots).  Whatever the case may be, Lopez was hardly noticeable with just five points on 1-6 shooting.  I can live with that and I can certainly live with another Bucks win.  They’ll need all of them they can get to hold off Charlotte and stay in the top six.

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(Probable) Inactives: Joe Alexander and Dan Gadzuric

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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

Shooting Guard

Michael Redd vs. Courtney Lee

Can Michael Redd string together two stellar performances in a row?  Consistency has not been common this season for the Bucks, whether it’s been the ups and downs for the rookie point guard Jennings or the life of a finesse big man in Andrew Bogut, the Bucks key players have had problems performing night in and night out.  We’ve seen Redd be able to bring consistent scoring before, but whether or not that can still be apart of his game remains to be seen.  Courtney Lee is a solid defender, but not a  player for Redd to lose sleep over.  Redd should be able to use his crafty moves to get a few good looks at the rim and hopefully some free-throws.  However he’s going to do it, now is a great opportunity for Redd to get going.  After a strong game against Oklahoma City, Redd has games against New Jersey and Chicago, two weaker teams,  as opportunities to boost his confidence and find his rhythm before a long road trip out west.

Advantage: Bucks

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute vs. Chris Douglas-Roberts

CDR got loose for 31 points in the last Bucks-Nets game, doing most of his damage at the free-throw line (12-14).  Don’t hold your breath on him having that kind of impact again, as LRMAM was absent that game.  Do expect CDR to make some trips to the free throw line and do his best to keep getting to the rim.  CDR attacked the rim repeatedly in that game and has been doing that all year long, averaging roughly seven attempts at the rim per game … or more than anyone on the Bucks.  LRMAM is still figuring out this whole offense thing and might get a few post looks against the smaller CDR.

Advantage: Bucks (LRMAM fits so well!)

Power Forward

Ersan Ilyasova vs. Yi Jianlian

One of the great fears many Bucks fans have is that Easy Yi will one day go on to live up to the vast potential he has, scarring us for life and making us forever rue the day he was given up for what practically amounted to one season of Richard Jefferson. In his last five games, Yi has averaged 20 points and seven rebounds while shooting just a shade under 50 percent.  When he was drafted it was expected those types of performances would be common place for Yi, but he did so little in his one year with Milwaukee that he hardly seemed a better prospect than Charlie Villanueva.  Regardless, he’s looked good lately and that has everyone on watch in Milwaukee, even if it probably wouldn’t have happened here.

Advantage: Nets

Center

Andrew Bogut vs. Brook Lopez

Bogut had the upper hand earlier this year, with 21/11 to Lopez’s 11/4, but that could change with ease in this one.  Lopez has a much better supporting cast around him now and Bogut has yet to show much real consistency this year.  Bogut is coming off a very strong game against the Thunder after a string of four straight mediocre to bad games.  Lopez is one of the league’s best shot-blockers and could give Bogut some problems.  It’ll be important for Milwaukee to stick with the Aussie all night and try and ride him in this one.  Redd and Jennings haven’t been very good on the road and the path to road victories is typically lined with Andrew Bogut touches down low.

Advantage: Milwaukee

Bench

Charlie Bell, Kurt Thomas, Hakim Warrick and Luke Ridnour

vs.

Keyon Dooling, Trenton Hassell, Josh Boone and Terrance Williams

Not a stellar group for the Nets.  Dooling has been known to get hot, Hassell and Boone provide defense in theory if not in practice and since Vanderwegh has taken over, Williams minutes have been as erratic as his personality.  Not the way to get success out of rookies.  Ridnour was crucial for the Bucks against the Thunder and Hakim Warrick actually earned himself some crunch time minutes with his activity around the hoop.  Now if only he was a little better about scoring when he’s by the rim: 57 percent shooting at the rim on the year is a career low.

Advantage: Milwaukee

Prediction: Bucks 98 – Nets 88

I was all set to predict the Bucks would lose this game.  Even had the score: 94-91 Nets.  But the more I thought about it, the more confidence I had in Scott Skiles and the Bucks.  They haven’t really lost many games to teams they’ve been better than.  The Bucks have typically played at or above their talent level all season long and I don’t see why that would change now.  The rough December was largely the product of a more difficult schedule.  To this point, the Bucks have beat all the teams you’d expect them to beat (save for Sacramento) and I don’t see why that would change now.

Milwaukee looked much better defensively for parts of the Charlotte and Orlando game and for all of the Oklahoma City game.  If they were able to put it together for pieces of two of those and a full game in one of those, I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to against an inferior New Jersey team.  Sure, the Nets are much better than they were in November and have some more talent now, but the Bucks remain the more talented squad and that has generally led to wins for Milwaukee this year.

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“In case you haven’t noticed, and judging from the attendance you haven’t … the Bucks have managed to win a few here and there.”

Harry Doyle’s words have rarely rang so true.  On a night where the Bradley Center was as empty as I’ve ever seen it for the Bucks, they pulled out another win, but that’s what they were supposed to do against a team coming in 0-11, right?  I think so.  And one of these days the Bucks are even going to figure this first half thing out.

The most bizarre thing about the Bucks struggles in the first and second quarter recently is the charge they’ve been coming out with immediately after half time.  For visual proof, I present to you the start of the third quarter … after the jump of course.

A 15-0 start to the second half was the catalyst for Bucks victory Wednesday night.  That putrid first half in which they allowed 48 points on 53 percent shooting to a team that had scored over 90 points just three times this year?  Long forgotten when you glance at the win/loss column after this one.  Looking quickly at the box score after this one gives the instant impression that the Bucks won handily.  After all, the Bucks allowed only 12 points in the third quarter and mostly garbage points in the fourth.

But it was a struggle early.  I swear.

Offense

• Andrew Bogut was one of the only Bucks to have anything going early, finishing the first quarter with 10 points on 5/7 shooting on an array of hooks and layups.  It was a very smooth start after a few rough nights chasing around Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden. Finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Bogut was relieved to be playing against an actual center again and it showed. Bogut’s offense seemed to fall into line since he wasn’t forced to step out of his comfort zone on defense.

It’s nice to actually play against a guy who wants to play in there.  We got physical at times and it’s definitely nice to play against a seven footer that’s in the same weight class.

Bogut did appear to be limping after the game.

It’s okay, just a little shin contusion.  I think I’ll be all right.

• When I said Bogut was “one” of the only Bucks, I assure you I had at least one more in mind.  The other I was thinking of?  Carlos Delfino. Delfino had eight first quarter points and finished with 21!  His first regular season double digit game as a Buck!  He was 4/8 from behind the arc and even added six assists!  This is everything we could ever ask for and more out of Delfino.  If he’s providing this kind of offense along with his usual relatively stingy defense, he’s exactly what the Bucks need on one of the wings.  Scott Skiles was preaching consistency and reliability after the game, this is the effort we’d love to see Delfino make consistent.

• The Bucks faced their usual challenge from the free throw line on Wednesday, shooting 11/13 while the Nets finished the evening 22/25.  The Nets owe a large portion of their success to Chris Douglas-Roberts, who finished the game with 31 points, including 12/14 from the line.

• Luke Ridnour is looking like a bonafide back-up point guard specialist for real.  Another strong game which included a number of those sweet pull-up jumpers that Luke seems to specialize in.  7/11 and 2/4 from deep leading to 17 points.  We’ll take that in a heartbeat.

Defense

• Defense was non-existent for large portions of the first half when the Nets had the ball.  The biggest beneficiary of the Bucks charitable efforts on defense was Terrance Williams. In the second quarter Williams shot 8/9 and finished with 16 points.  Williams was having no trouble scoring off the pick and roll, with Bogut struggling to get out on him.  Williams rarely even had to take a tough shot, shooting right up and over Brandon Jennings, Luke Ridnour and Charlie Bell. Surely Williams ended up with a monster night, right?  Not so much.  He finished the second half without making another field goal, adding only four free throws to his total.  Whatever adjustment Skiles made worked wonders.

• It wasn’t Williams alone that struggled in the second half.  The Nets as a team shot 9/38 in the second half.  That’s less than 25 percent for those of you counting at home.  Regardless of how good of a job a team does defensively, a team has to be pretty bad to shoot less than 25 percent for an entire half.  This was a truly awful second half performance.

The second half was so bad, I thought CDR was going to snap.  He appeared to have gotten in a bit of a shouting match with assistant coach Doug Overton about what was going on on the court.  I couldn’t hear Overton, but my colleague Alex from BrewHoop suggested it had something to do with a stretch where CDR got blocked, turned it over, got it back and missed a lay-up.  CDR shouted at his bench, “we’re losing, what am I supposed to do?!”

I felt for CDR.  He was working hard, he was trying to make plays and he was saddled with some teammates who’ve been injured and/or unable to get the job done to get this team a win.  The whole team had that, “here we go again” look as soon as things started going South in the third quarter.  CDR seemed like he didn’t want to let it happen again.

But then I saw him talking to Jennings.

Jennings didn’t have his usual stellar game, finishing with as many turnovers as assists (eight) and 19 points, but he made enough plays to help guide the Bucks to a win.  He didn’t let anything sway him into making this the “Brandon Jennings Show” either.  When the Nets were shutting down the pick and roll, he didn’t force the action, rather he was patient and worked it around and then back down to Bogut.  CDR was talking to Jennings and wouldn’t stop while Jennings was on the free throw line.  This didn’t look like the good natured, “you’re getting it done rook” kind of friendly trash talk either.  I asked Jennings about it after the game.

Bucksketball:  I saw CDR barking at you at the line.  Was that him talking trash to try and get in your head?

Jennings: Oh yeah, just a little trash talk.  On that play where I got fouled, I got fouled pretty hard, so you know, some words exchanged.  It is what it is.

Bucksketball: You just brushing it off?

Jennings: Yeah, just brushing it off.  They’re the one’s 0-12 not us.

Judging from the way the Bucks encouraged Jennings to attack the Warriors for disrespecting him (he says it was Kelvin Sampson that told him they were being disrespectful and to shoot more to make them pay) and the way Jennings kept the Bucks focused and intense down the stretch, upsetting the kid is not the way to attack the Bucks.

Frankly, it’s becoming more and more difficult to figure out how to attack these Bucks, much to the delight of a (hopefully growing) base of fans.

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(Likely) Inactives: Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and Keyon Dooling (but there are about six guys to choose from for these three spots)

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Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 5-3

(Likely) Inactives: Michael Redd, Francisco Elson and Joe Alexander

Game time: 7:00 (CST)

TV: FSN

Match-ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Rafer Alson

Skip is no longer the lightening quick, all handle-no shot, playground legend he was when he first entered the league as a Milwaukee Buck, but he can still hold his own.  Over the years he’s actually worked his way into being an adequate three-point shooter and is shooting nearly 40% from deep this year.  And the other day he even recorded his very first triple double, so there has been some upside to the rash of injuries that have left the Nets battered, bruised and winless.  It would have been something to watch Devin Harris match quickness with Jennings.  Maybe next time.

Advantage: Milwaukee

Shooting Guard

Charlie Bell vs. Courtney Lee

Lee didn’t play against the Pacers Tuesday, but has been practicing since last Thursday.  I’m thinking he might give it a go against the Bucks Wednesday night.  Lee was the Nets centerpiece in the Vince Carter to Orlando deal they made over the summer and figures to be an important player for them going forward.  He’s averaging almost 12 points per game, but is shooting 31% from the field and a grotesque 13% from deep.  That’s not exactly what they expected from him when they included Ryan Anderson to make Lee to Jersey happen.  With all the injuries the Nets have had this year, it’s possible Lee’s been gutting it out through some minor stuff though, so benefit of the doubt he’ll receive.  Lee can still contribute at the defensive end and his numbers remain strong there.  Alas, an injured Courtney Lee is not greater than what the Bucks will throw out there.

Advantage: Bucks

Small Forward

Carlos Delfino vs. Terrance Williams

Williams, a polished four-year product of Louisville surely has been providing terrific play as the result of all of his college basketball seasoning, right?  Wrong.  He’s been turning the ball over on 11.5% of his possessions (nearly Chuck Bell numbers), shooting 33% from the field and taking 12 shots per game.  I don’t fault him for shooting too much, the Nets have virtually no one else that can play right now.  But how does a guy with his talent shoot so poorly?  Well, he’s shooting 44% at the rim and NINE PERCENT from ten feet and in.  9%!  WOW.  I can’t even criticize that, that’s pure luck.  No way can a player with Williams skills and size that plays in the NBA consistently shoot so poorly from inside ten feet.  So he’s had some bad luck thus far and could even start to turn it around against Milwuakee.

Advantage: Nets

Power Forward

Ersan Ilyasova vs. Trenton Hassell

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it sure looks like Ersan will get his first start of the year against the Nets.  And it make sense.  Hakim Warrick has been struggling since becoming a starter and had success off the bench.  He’s more comfortable against the other teams backups, he can be more of a focal point with the second unit and his aggressiveness will return.  Ersan’s style can fit with anyone.  He waits for open looks, he crashes the boards and he plays pesky defense.  Perfect for the starting lineup or the bench.  He’ll have a favorable match-up in this one regardless of who covers him.  The Nets are playing without our old friend Yi Jianlian and likely without Eduardo Najera.  Size has been an issue for the Nets starting five since they went down.

Advantage: Bucks

Center

Andrew Bogut vs. Brook Lopez

When Bogut sees Lopez I’m sure his first thought will be, “Finally.  I was getting sick of chasing guys around the perimeter.”  Bogut’s had a couple of rough defensive games chasing Mikki Moore, Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden around 20 feet from the basket.  I’m sure it will feel nice facing a back-to-the-basket center.  Even if it is Lopez.  Lopez, drafted after Joe Alexander, has been terrific since arriving on the scene last year.  He hasn’t missed a game and leads the Nets in PER, points, blocks, rebounds and complaints to the refs.  Lopez is a Tim Duncan in training when it comes to problems with the referees.

Advantage: Bucks

Bench

Warrick, Luke Ridnour, Jodie Meeks, Dan Gadzuric and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

vs.

Bobby Simmons, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Sean Williams and Josh Boone

Douglas-Roberts was a man on Tuesday night, grabbing 12 boards to go along with 27 points.  If Lee doesn’t play, he’ll start and give Charlie Bell all kinds of problems.  Simmons can still hit an occasional three-point shot and is still under the contract he received from Larry Harris to help destroy the Bucks.  Simmons hit a couple clutch threes against the Bucks last year and then topped it off by having words for Milwaukee’s bench and then losing the game.  Nice, Bob.  Sean Williams is playing 11 minutes per game for a team that at times this year has only had eight guys.  Translation: Lawrence Frank doesn’t trust/like him.  Boone is clumsy.  That’s all I got for him.

Advantage: Bucks

Prediction: Bucks 96 – Nets 89

The Bucks defense has to come back one of these days right?  When is a better time than against the 0-11 Nets?  What worries me, is that the Nets have to win eventually and the Bucks are still probably the Bucks around the league.  I’d expect to see them come out with some fire, second night of a back to back be damned.  Defensive intensity has been non-existent for the Bucks in recent first quarters, so an expected line-up switch may help quell that issue.  The Bucks have this game and then the Bobcats on Friday, aka two games they absolutely need to win.  You have to dominate the bad teams at home if you want to be considered playoff contenders.

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