The Road To Trepidation: Bobcats 87 – Bucks 86
Friday, April 2nd, 2010And things are suddenly not looking so well. But looks can be deceiving.
After ripping apart the league for most of the last month, the Bucks have now dropped two straight devastating road games. Two road losses that have left them dangerously close to dropping down to seventh in the Eastern Conference. These were two road losses that were difficult to swallow. Road losses in which they led each game in the fourth quarter. Two road losses that saw the Bucks shoot themselves in the proverbial foot in those fourth quarters.
Two road losses that make me think they’re closer to where they want to be than we’re realizing right now.
Right now, it’s natural to be in that “this iodine on our wound stings an awful lot” phase after these losses. The wounds are fresh; it’ll take a win over Phoenix or at least wins over Chicago and New Jersey for the stinging to wear off. And don’t get me wrong, I think Milwaukee needs two out of those three at minimum. No matter what, losing more than two or (at most) three games in a row at this time of the year, with the conference so bunched together from five to nine, is unacceptable. But for right now, I’m at least taking solace in the fact that the Bucks actually played well in these last two, all things considered.
I mean, they led both games in the fourth. Execution down the stretch of each game wasn’t strong. In the final two minutes of the Cleveland game, with a two point lead, Milwaukee proceeded to shoot four three-pointers and turn the ball over twice in seven possessions. Not great decision making. In a three minute fourth quarter stretch in Charlotte, Milwaukee turned the ball over on five of six possessions – all while allowing just two points. In addition, Charlotte got three offensive rebounds in the final minute. Again, this wasn’t pretty.
But there’s upside here. This is the Bucks shooting themselves in the foot and that doesn’t happen frequently. Milwaukee ranks fifth in the league in total turnovers and first in offensive rebounds allowed. Is it worth fretting about what ultimately undid Milwaukee in these games when it’s not likely to be their downfall throughout the rest of the regular season and playoffs? I think probably not.
So I’m not getting too upset right now. I’m just going to blow on my wound and hope the stinging stops. (more…)
Bucks Regain Mojo and Gain Offense: Bucks 93 – Bobcats 88
Sunday, February 21st, 2010Q. What makes for a very good NBA offense?
A. A versatile offense capable of driving to the basket, hitting outside shots or tossing it down low to their big-time center – also known as Saturday night’s version of the Milwaukee Bucks (save for the 40 percent shooting).
Earlier this season I resigned myself to the fact that I’d spend the majority of the year watching the Bucks launch difficult jump-shots, occasionally open threes and rarely driving to the hoop if Andrew Bogut didn’t have it going or couldn’t get a good look. I never felt great about it, but hoped the Bucks tenacious defense would at least keep them in games long enough for them to get hot at some point and win. After all, 48 minutes of defense in the NBA will get a team a lot of wins. At this point, it’s starting to look like a few variables have been added to the mix that could drastically alter the course of the Bucks offense going forward.
Variable one is easy enough to figure out: John Salmons. In two games Salmons has shown more attack moves and signs of being the perfect “drive” player in a “drive and kick” game that gets other Bucks open shots (seven assists and five rebounds on Saturday to go with his 19 points!). In addition, he’s a capable three-point shooter, has the size to finish on the break and has shot more free-throws in two games than other Bucks two guards did in the four games previous.
Variable two: The Brandon Jennings Roller Coaster. Jennings has had his ups and downs well documented. He’s learning the pro game and isn’t just playing for this season. With that being said, Jennings is going to have some pretty good games the rest of the way, perhaps not as frequently as he did in the first couple weeks, but he will have some and when they happen they’ll be a significant boost to the Bucks offense. It’s impossible to tell when Jennings’ shooting touch will show up, but that’s just part of the excitement in following the rook. Here’s to the ups. (more…)
Game 29 Preview: Bucks at Bobcats
Monday, December 28th, 2009Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 12 – 16
(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Roko Ukic and Dan Gadzuric
vs.
Charlotte Bobcats (Larry Brown) 11-17
(Likely) Inactives: Tyson Chandler, Alexis Ajinca and Acie Law
Date: 12/28/2009
Time: 6:00 (CST)
TV: FS Wisconsin
Match-Ups
Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Ray Felton
We may be forced to wait until Michael Redd is gone to see Brandon Jennings blossom once again. It’s not so much the misses that have been troubling out of Jennings lately, it’s the passiveness. It’s almost as if he’s trying to over pass to Redd because he knows that’s the only way he’ll get out of Milwaukee. The Bucks could sorely use some more decisive drives out of Jennings though. With Redd on the court, he’s been reduced to a perimeter passer and shooter. There has been very few moments of drive and kick or drive and drop passes to Bogut. And the pick and roll that once worked so well with Andrew Bogut has become woefully ineffective lately. Just one of the many things going wrong in Milwaukee as of late. Oddly enough, Jennings is still taking care of the ball and racking up assists, so it’s hard to complain too much. But the Bucks need him to do so much more than just manage the game.
Advantage: Bucks (more…)
No Bogut no Redd no problem: Bucks 95 – Bobcats 88
Saturday, November 21st, 2009The way things have gone this year it seems like we’re going to have to stop expecting anything to have an effect on Brandon Jennings. He’ll struggle out of the gate adjusting to the NBA. Nope. Michael Redd is out, Jennings won’t be able to take on much more of an offensive role, will he? Yes he will. Andrew Bogut went down? Jennings should struggle now that his two best teammates are out, one being his pick and roll partner, right? Nah. At this point, I’d expect him to put up 20 points on a court constructed purely out of kryptonite.
The kid just keeps topping himself and upping his own ante. Without his two best teammates and in his first game without Andrew Bogut Jennings was his typical (crazy I’m already saying this is typical, isn’t it?) self in scoring 29 points and contributing seven assists to only two turnovers. His impact was clear right off the bat. (more…)
Game 10 Preview: Bucks vs. Bobcats
Friday, November 20th, 2009Charlotte Bobcats (Larry Brown) 3-8
(Likely) Inactives: Alexis Ajinca
at
Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 6-3
(Likely) Inactives: Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd and Joe Alexander
Game time: 7:30 (CST)
TV: FSN Wisconsin
