The NBA revolves around, going in the post, pick and rolls, bringing people off of down screens and spot up shooting. That basically is everybody’s offense, somewhere in there. And we’re posting up, picking and rolling, we’re spot up shooting and we’re bringing shooters off screens. We’ve got to make pro plays. – Scott Skiles before Saturday’s game.
Pro plays? Not happening, not right now, not for this Bucks team. Despite being without both Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled into the Bradley Center Saturday night and upended the Bucks 82-81.
Once again, Milwaukee’s game played out like an episode of Pinky and the Brain. In this scenario, Milwaukee’s defense is The Brain. In the same way that Brain is smart enough to come up with new and possibly successful plans to take over the world on a nightly basis, Milwaukee’s defense is good enough to limit opposing teams to totals well below their season averages. The Thunder scored just 82 points and at no point looked like a winning NBA offense. For most teams, a defense like that wins them a lot of games.
Only the Bucks offense once again went all Pinky and screwed things up, blowing the plan to take over the world or, in this case, win a basketball game.
Point Guard Brandon Jennings vs. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook did work on Rajon Rondo Friday night, so he’s probably not shaking at the thought of facing Jennings Saturday evening. He’s absurdly athletic and will be a very difficult match-up for Jennings. He has an incredible 26 PER on the season, despite still lacking much in regards to an outside shot. He drives by defenders and finishes in the lane so well though, that it hardly matters that he can’t shoot reliably. Jennings struggled against the Sixers after a few strong games. At this point, it’s impossible to know coming into a game whether or not Jennings will be passive or aggressive, effective or ineffective, accurate with his shot or missing or anything else. He’s all over the map.
I’m not going to lie, as soon as the last shot of regulation left Kevin Durant’s hand at half-court, I was slightly worried. Kobedid it and Dirk did it and if you add Kobe plus Dirk, who do you get?
So you can see where my anxiety stemmed from.
But The Durantula’s running 30-footer wasn’t close and the Bucks rode Michael Redd’s first hot night in what has seemed like years to the finish line in a 103-97 victory over Oklahoma City Saturday night.
(Sorry for the late post. I work in retail and it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving. I had a busy morning. Also, be sure to stop by the Daily Dime Live tonight on ESPN.com to chat with me during the Bucks-Thunder game.)
Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 8-5
(Likely) Inactives: Andrew Bogut, Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
at
Oklahoma City Thunder (Scott Brooks) 8-7
(Likely) Inactives: Shaun Livingston, Kyle Weaver and Kevin Ollie
Game time: 8:30 (CST)
TV: ESPN (No big deal)
Match-ups
Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Russell Westbrook
Two of the bright young point guards in the game today square off in this one. Westbrook had a strong rookie season last year and has picked up where he left off this year. He’s improved his field goal percentage, three-point percentage and assists. His most significant weakness is his penchant for turning the ball over. It probably has a lot to do with his incredible athleticism. He was in the dunk contest last year and has had to make the transition to point guard from off-guard in college with relative ease. When someone is as athletic as Westbrook they can find a way to have success wherever they are on the court if they put in the work. He should be a real handful on both ends for Jennings, who’s had his share of struggles in his last two games. As Jennings goes, so go the Bucks, so if Westbrook is able to corral him, expect another long night for the Bucks.
