Box Score/Recap/Enemy

Shoot, miss, rebound, score, repeat.  That was the game plan for the Utah Jazz apparently Saturday night in Milwaukee.

With no one doing much on the glass for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Jazz took full advantage and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds leading to 25 second chance points in a game that looked an awful lot like the one the Jazz won against the Bucks in Utah earlier this season.  The result was the same Saturday, just a little less lopsided, as the Jazz beat the Bucks 95-86.

Milwaukee actually outplayed Utah for the majority of the first half, but saw things start to slip away as the second quarter ended and what had been an 11 point lead with under five minutes to go turned into just a three point halftime lead.  Things officially began to spiral out of control in the third quarter.  Milwaukee was able to grab just three rebounds in the entire third quarter, while the Jazz had five on the offensive end alone.  Utah scored 10 second chance points in the third quarter and flipped Milwaukee’s three point halftime lead into a three point lead of their own.

One would expect the Jazz’s talented inside combo of Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson to cause problems off the glass, but it was the rangy forward Andrei Kirilenko who gave Milwaukee the most problems, grabbing four offensive rebounds with a variety of snags, tips and touches that the Bucks had no answer for.

The 12 extra shots Utah accumulated more than made up for the shooting percentage difference when it was all said and done.  Utah chose their shots wisely too.  The Jazz attempted 12 more shots inside the paint than Milwaukee, outscoring the Bucks inside 32-28 despite hitting just 16/40 shots inside.  But all night, it was quantity for Utah over quality. Read more…

Enemy: Salt City Hoops

Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Deron Williams

Williams is coming off a rough night in New Orleans against arch-rival Chris Paul. The Jazz fell to the Hornets by 29 and Williams was held to just 10 points and five assists.  Surely, he’ll be looking to right the ship in Milwaukee.  Jennings was instrumental in the Bucks fourth quarter comeback in San Antonio, but was unfortunately just as instrumental in the Bucks needing a comeback.  He made just four of 18 shots against the Spurs, lacking the touch he’d shown frequently in the games before.  Jennings is getting closer and closer to a reliable 40% shooter, which, when compared to his first season, isn’t such a bad thing.  Especially for a 21-year-old.

Advantage: Jazz Read more…

Recap/Box Score/Enemy

Earl Watson, a 20% 3-point shooter on the season, banked in a three at the first half buzzer that had Bucks fans on Twitter wondering why it seemed one team after the next has hit buzzer beating shots against the Bucks this year.  Sometimes, it seems like this team is unlucky.

But, really, we all know better.

Luck does play a part in basketball, but it takes a backseat to execution and hard work.  Milwaukee’s often had the latter this season, but has constantly battled the former.

Monday’s 109-88 loss to the Utah Jazz was no exception.  No, this isn’t the same Bucks team that limped into game 17 just 6-10 overall, but it’s probably a much weaker squad, even if they did upend the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday..  One dealing with injuries to Andrew Bogut, Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette and Carlos Delfino. The “Backup Bucks” were over-matched Monday night, but didn’t do themselves any favors.

Milwaukee was brutalized on the glass, allowing 16 offensive rebounds and seeing themselves get out-rebounded 48 to 26.  Part of that was the significant size advantage the Jazz were working with, but some of that is effort too.  Milwaukee missed a number of box outs, a completely inexcusable offense for a team that knows they are operating undersized.  Milwaukee struggles enough shooting the ball and has had their share of problems defending without Bogut, the last thing they can afford to do is give their opponents second chances.  On top of those issues, Milwaukee was unable to capitalize on a turnover advantage.  Utah scored eight points off just 12 Milwaukee turnovers, while the Bucks only tallied nine points off Utah’s 20 turnovers.  That’s a painfully accurate summary of Milwaukee’s inability to execute.

What could have been a five point halftime deficit turned into eight on Watson’s lucky three.  But that was the only thing that was lucky Monday night. Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 34-29

Vs.

Utah Jazz (Jerry Sloan) 42-22

Date: 3/12/10

Time: 7:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Matchups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Deron Williams

In winning 10 of their last 11 games, the Bucks haven’t had to deal with a lot of great point guards.  Of the bunch, Rajon Rondo stands out as the best, and while he may have penetration skills second to none, his non-existent jump-shot makes for a built in flaw.  Randy Foye, Ray Felton, Rafer Alston and Mo Williams aren’t an especially terrifying group.  Deron Williams on the other hand, is the real deal.  Williams can score at the rim, hit the mid-range jumper or shoot the three.  His size presents another problem for Jennings, standing two or three inches taller than him and weighing 40 pounds more.  He’ll be as difficult to deal with on both ends as Jennings has had to deal with in some time.

Advantage: Jazz Read more…