Recap/Box Score/Enemy

This is a team that refuses to be predictable.  One night after a discouraging effort in Portland, Milwaukee marched into Los Angeles and bullied around the Lakers like they were the Clippers.

And, in theme with the absurd premise of the Bucks beating the Lakers on the road, the lead bully was 5-foot-5, 135 pounds.

Earl Boykins led Milwaukee with 22 points in their 98-79 win over the Lakers, but this was done by an ensemble cast, not a man alone.  Milwaukee harkened back to the brighter days of last season, moving the ball constantly (19 assists on 37 makes), hitting 3-point shots (8-14 3FG) and getting contributions from all over (four players between 15 and 22 points).  And while playing as well as they had all season offensively, Milwaukee continuously stifled the vaunted Lakers offense, keeping them from the customary runs during which they pull away from opponents.

The Bucks making shots?  Boykins and Keyon Dooling aptly manning the point?  Kobe Bryant called for a charge and ejected on his home court?  The whole night felt about as bizarro as bizarro gets.

Yes, the Lakers had just returned from a road trip and yes, they may be looking ahead to their Christmas Day matchup with the Heat, but there will be no less gleam on this gem of a game the Bucks turned in. Read more…

Enemy: Forum Blue and Gold

I also did a Q and A with the Land O’ Lakers blog at ESPNLA.com.  Check it out.

Point Guard
Keyon Dooling vs. Derrick Fisher

Dooling had a moment in the Portland game.  He hit three shots in a row, he dunked on Nicolas Batum (kind of), he looked like he may be able to make this thing work after all.  It was only a moment though.  Soon enough, Earl Boykins had entered the game and taken over the point and Milwaukee watched their deficit grow and grow.  Dooling isn’t able to get into the paint the way Brandon Jennings was, and if his jumper isn’t falling he doesn’t offer a ton offensively.  He’s not a bad defender though, and plays a smart game.  Fisher shoots threes and knows where to be.

Advantage: Lakers Read more…

Before we get started today, the good folks at Stubhub.com have generously allotted some tickets to the readers of Bucksketball.  Head on over to the Bucksketball Facebook page for the chance to win tickets to Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 5-5
Inactive: Chris Douglas Roberts, Michael Redd, Darington Hobson

vs

Los Angeles Lakers (Phil Jackson) 8-2
Inactive: Andrew Bynum, Theo Ratliff

Date: 11/16/2010
Game Time: 7:00 PM (CST)
TV: FS Wisconsin

The Other Guys: Forum Blue and Gold

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Derek Fisher

Jennings will once again have a quickness advantage, but will he be able to put it to use?  He’s been much, much better finishing at the rim this season, but his in-between game still needs work.  It’s hard to complain too much though, he’s having a strong second season and been very effective in a lot of areas in the game over the past three games.  Fisher has been a little better this year than he was last year, specifically with his outside shooting (12-22 on 3FG), but he’s still largely out there because he’s savvy.  He’ll probably draw a charge at some point tonight that no one will like and he’ll probably hit an open three.  If Milwaukee’s going to win this game, it would help greatly if Jennings dominated this match-up.

Advantage: Bucks Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 15-18

(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander and Dan Gadzuric

at

Los Angeles Lakers (Phil Jackson) 28-8

(Possible) Inactive: Pau Gasol (Hopefully)

Date: 1/10/10

Time: 8:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-Ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Derek Fisher

Shooting Guard

Michael Redd vs. Kobe Bryant

Small Forward

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute vs. Ron Artest

Power Forward

Ersan Ilyasova vs. Lamar Odom (or Pau Gasol)

Center

Andrew Bogut vs. Andrew Bynum

Bench

Luke Ridnour, Hakim Warrick, Charlie Bell and Kurt Thomas

vs.

Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell and Sasha Vujacic

Prediction: Lakers 102 – Bucks 94

To be blunt, the Bucks have no individual match-up advantages.  Jennings may be more talented than Fisher, but lacks the experience, defense and consistency that Fisher provides, especially with a rookie coming into L.A.  The one place where the Bucks have a glimmer of hope is the bench.  IF Gasol doesn’t play due to his on going hamstring issues, Odom is forced into the starting line-up and the Lakers are left relatively thin.  Farmar and Brown can provide some fireworks, but the Lakers don’t have anyone with the (recent) consistency of Ridnour or Warrick.

Word is that Gasol won’t play, which is great news for the Bucks, as he exploded for 26 points and 22 rebounds in the Lakers visit to Milwaukee earlier this year.  His absence doesn’t make a victory all that much more likely, but it probably gives the Bucks a psychological boost on the heels of a confidence building three game win streak.  Alas, the Lakers home court and overall talent surrounding their superstar Bryant is probably still too much for the, not-so-good-on-the-road Milwaukee Bucks.

Recap/Box Score

(I know I just put out a piece complaining about the refs, but typically I’m not overly ridiculous or biased.  So this is a more true to form recap.  If you’re a Laker fan and that borderline cry-baby piece I put out before was your first taste, give this a shot.  I’m not typically so homeriffic.  At least I hope not.)

We’ll start with the Kobe shots.  Because really there were two that were the same.  He missed it at the end of regulation and sunk it at the end of overtime.  I’d like the think that shot’s difficult for him, but it probably really isn’t.  Yes, it’s a fade-away and for most of us it would be borderline impossible, but for Kobe?  That’s just all in a day’s work.  And with a 6′3 defender guarding him?  Come on.  So that’s where we’ll start. Read more…