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Posts Tagged ‘Tracy McGrady’

A feel good balancing act: Bucks 92 – Pistons 90

March 2nd, 2011 Jeremy Schmidt Comments off

Recap/Box Score/Enemy

Having had their collective backs up against the wall for most of the second half of the season, the Bucks have nightly been faced with two choices: come out fighting or find a way to move that wall back just a bit further.  Unfortunately for Bucks fans, the second option has often been exercised.  Tuesday night was different though.   A height, experience and scoring deficient Bucks team responded to the circumstances challenges and defeated the Detroit Pistons at home, 92-90.

Without Andrew Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova and Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee was forced to rely on the inexperienced starting combination of Larry Sanders and Jon Brockman. Both played to their strengths in contributing to the win.  Sanders, the prolific shot-blocker, rejected three shots while grabbing eight rebounds (seven defensive).  While Sanders manned the defensive glass and patrolled the paint, Brockman was more active on offense than usual.  The 6-7 power forward grabbed seven offensive rebounds and scored eight points around the hoop, including one soaring dunk that demonstrated some of the athleticism we haven’t often seen from him.

Matching Brockman’s rarely seen hops, was Milwaukee’s rarely seen fight.  While the Pistons and their famously grouchy veterans largely remained nailed to the bench or slow to get up to embrace teammates or life in general, Milwaukee appeared to be a team that still has a little hop in their step, losing season or not.  The difference in veterans was evident.

While Tracy McGrady watched the game with a disinterested smirk on his face and no worries about having to play, Keyon Dooling was, as he always is, the first guy out on the court during timeouts to high-five his teammates and quick to be up off the bench after big shots to celebrate.  For all the talk about whether or not Coach Scott Skiles has lost his guys once again, they certainly didn’t seem like a group that had been lost, especially when contrasted to a group that certainly has.

Maybe that was the difference Tuesday night, maybe it wasn’t.  Maybe Milwaukee just finally made some shots and everyone felt good about it.  It could have been playing without so many key figures once again that kept the group together and gave them some energy.  Whatever the case may be, Milwaukee picked up a win and, at least for one night, appeared to pick up their spirits.

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Bogut A Headache for the Knicks: Bucks 83 – Knicks 67

February 22nd, 2010 Jeremy Schmidt 6 comments

Recap/Box Score

Thankfully, Andrew Bogut was able to avoid a migraine Monday night.  That appears to have been the only thing that can stop him when he plays the Knicks.

Bogut thought he was on his way to a career night when the Bucks made their first trip to Madison Square Garden earlier this month.  He began that evening with six points and three rebounds in five minutes before he could no longer bare the bright lights and big city of New York thanks to a migraine headache.  The headaches occasionally leave Bogut feeling numb he says and are certainly nothing he play through.

The Knicks defense on the other hand?  Well he just plays right through them.

The Knicks, who play without a center, played like a team … that doesn’t have a center.  Bogut was able to get whatever he wanted inside when the Knicks weren’t rushing in with an immediate double team.  David Lee is a very good power forward, but at roughly 6’9 he had no answer for the 7’0 Bogut down low.  When Bogut wasn’t getting shots, he was hitting the glass on both ends to further frustrate Lee – the same David Lee that was picked over him as an injury replacement for the all-star game.  Correlation?  I’m sure the Aussie will downplay it, but do you know anyone who, if matched up with them, wouldn’t want to perform better than someone who earned a promotion they thought was rightfully theirs?

In the fourth quarter with the Knicks getting handled but hanging on to hope a comeback may be within reach, Bogut climbed over Lee’s back to tip in a shot.  Bogut was whistled for the foul and Lee furiously clapped his hands together and nodded in approval.  His cup had runneth over with frustration.  Can you blame him though?  Bogut would end the night with 24/20 and five blocks.  If I was guarding him, I’d be frustrated too. Read more…

Game 55 Preview: Bucks at Knicks

February 22nd, 2010 Jeremy Schmidt 8 comments

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 26-28

at

New York Knicks (19-35)

Date: 2/22/2010

Time: 6:30 (CST)

TV: None

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Chris Duhon

The last time the Bucks and Knicks met, Duhon had been relegated to the bench and Nate Robinson had made his triumphant return to the starting lineup.  Now Robinson has been traded and Duhon’s back in the saddle, which is of course a good thing for the Bucks.  Think of Duhon as Jennings, without the same play-making ability and no hope for the future.  Expect to see plenty of Eddie House and Sergio Rodriguez running the show next to T-Mac.

Advantage: Bucks Read more…