Zoned Out: Raptors 101 – Bucks 96
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010I know the Bucks have been inconsistent this year, hell, I write about it every game. So glancing at a box score and seeing some shaky performances doesn’t really faze me anymore. But they took inconsistency to a whole new level in Friday night’s loss to the Raptors.
(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) The Bucks were far more interested in getting it outside of the paint in the second half Friday night.
After playing what I thought was their best half of basketball all year long in the first half, the Bucks went away from everything that had been working for them and resorted to chucking up three-point shot after three-point shot against the Raptors zone defense. The more they chucked, the better Toronto felt, because Milwaukee ended up 5-26 from downtown, including a 3-15 performance in the second half. And, as has been the case often times this year, once the Bucks offense gave out their defense soon followed suit.
Quickly, the Bucks double digit lead became a single digit lead and then it was a one possession game and then the Bucks were trailing. It was a slow and painful deterioration, but that’s only because Luke Ridnour wouldn’t let the Bucks bungle their terrific first half any sooner than they did. Remember those three threes I said the Bucks connected on in the second half — all Ridnour, all in the fourth quarter. The Bucks scored 23 fourth quarter points, 18 of which were Ridnour’s. So, when looking back on why the Bucks were unable to translate some of their best ball of the season into a W, we can safely agree that we needn’t look in Ridnour’s direction. (more…)
Good to be Home: Bucks 113 – Raptors 107
Thursday, January 21st, 2010If we can be certain about anything regarding an inconsistent Bucks team through 39 games, it’s that they’ll be putting on a good show at home.
In their first home game in 12 days, the Bucks withstood a career night (44 points) from one of the most discussed players in the league these days, Chris Bosh and for once got the right bounces in the end of a 113-107 home victory Wednesday night.
Sometimes in these few possession games, that’s what it’s all about, a bounce here and a bounce there. Sure, it’s awfully important for a team to keep it close the rest of the game to give themselves a chance at the end, but once two teams get down to business in the last few minutes, it’s often a flip of a coin that decides who pulls it out and who doesn’t. To this date, the Bucks haven’t been on the lucky side of the coin very often this year as evidenced by their 3-9 record in games decided by three points or less.
But a pair of offensive rebounds by Ersan Ilyasova, one coming on a one handed snag of a ball seemingly heading out of bounds, and a ball ricocheting off the Raptors out of bounds that eventually led to a Milwaukee basket finally allowed the Bucks to pull this type of game out. Oh, and the 6-7 performance at the line in the last five minutes didn’t hurt either. (more…)
