Game Thread: Spurs/Bucks

It's time for a Bucks win. (via leisuretimefamilyfun)

Spurs (2-4) @ Bucks (3-5)

Gametime: 7:00 p.m. central time (FSN-W)

Lineups:

Bucks: Luke Ridnour / Charlie Bell / Richard Jefferson / Charlie Villanueva / Andrew Bogut

Spurs: George Hill / Roger Mason / Ime Udoka / Tim Duncan / Kurt Thomas

Injuries:

Bucks: Michael Redd (ankle) has missed four straight games and is day-to-day.

Spurs: Tony Parker (ankle) and Manu Ginobili (ankle) are out.

07/08 Series:

Nov. 11: @Spurs 113 Bucks 88

March 1: Spurs 96 @Bucks 94

08/09 Advanced Stats:

Bucks: Offense:  24th (102.0 points/100 possessions) Defense: 14th (104.1)  Pace: 14th (92.4)

Spurs: Offense: 9th (108.0/100 possessions) Defense: 27th (112.2)  Pace: 28th (86.8)

Three points:

• Stars from afar. While Redd is expected to be confined to the sidelines again, the Spurs can relate to missing star players. Without Manu Ginobili, and now Tony Parker, the Spurs are looking for new offensive options. Roger Mason has provided a lift offensively, averaging 15.1 points and hitting 51.9 % from outside. Yet the team's historically dominant defense has been the problem so far this season. San Antonio ranks 9th in offensive efficiency but a stunningly bad 27th in defensive efficiency.
• No "D" in San Antonio Spurs. Both clubs rank in the top ten in three-point shooting, but the Spurs allow opponents to shoot an amazing 41.0 % from beyond the arc while the Bucks hold three-point shooters to just 28.0 %, good for third in the NBA. That's a major reversal from last year, when the Spurs ranked third in three-point percentage defense and the Bucks were 27th. Another reason for the Spurs' defensive ineptitude this season? They rank dead last in steals and 29th in blocks. Yet through all of this, the Spurs have seemingly maintained their trademark cool. They are the only NBA team without a technical.
  
• Time for some Andrew. Andrew Bogut is coming off yet another frustrating game in which he netted just five points in less than 20 minutes. Bogut is averaging just 29.6 minutes, fifth most on the team and the the fewest since his rookie year. Fortunately, he's had some success against the Spurs in his career, highlighted by an impossible game-winning bank shot at the buzzer back in December 2007. In six games against San Antonio, Bogut has averaged 14.3/10.0/2.3 and 1.2 blocks on 57.6 % from the field. Not that it was ever Bogut's specialty, but he can't seem to make a shot from outside a couple feet from the hoop this year. The Aussie's shooting 40.7 % from the line, and is making only 16.7 % of his jumpers.
  

Coverage:

Pounding the Rock