Game Thread: Bucks/Knicks

VIllanueva flies back to his birthplace, New York. (via Streetball)

Bucks (11-16, 5-12 road) @ Knicks (11-14, 7-4 home)

Gametime: 6:35 p.m. central time

Injuries:

Bucks: Malik Allen (ribs) is questionable.

Knicks: Danilo Gallinari (back) is out. and Eddy Curry (knee) are out. Jared Jeffries (leg) is questionable.

07/08 Series:

Nov. 2: Bucks 94 @Knicks 86

Nov. 21: @Bucks 104 Knicks 87

08/09 Advanced Stats:

Bucks: Offense: 24th (103.6 points/100 possessions) Defense: 12th (105.9)  Pace:  12th (92.1)

Knicks: Offense: 18th (106.4 points/100 possessions) Defense: 21st (108.4) Pace: 1st  (98.5)

Three points:

• One-third are threes. The Knicks are the only team in the NBA which attempt more three-pointers than two-point jump shots. 33 % of the New York's field goal attempts are three-pointers, the highest rate in the NBA. Only 30 % of the team's shots are two-point jump shots, the lowest mark of all. Jamal Crawford is gone, but Al Harrington, Quentin Richardson (made 5-11 in the first matchup this season), and Nate Robinson love thy three-ball.
• A Stephon sighting. Stephon Marbury has lots time and money. So, while a flagging economy has some arenas showing more seats than people in the stands, the Knicks played to a packed Staples Center on Tuesday -- and with a familiar face in the crowd. Marbury got his money's worth too, as the Knicks gamely battled the Lakers before falling 116-114. That's a far stronger showing than the Bucks managed against L.A.'s finest a week and a half ago. Lost in the Stephon-storyline was that Marbury certainly wasn't the only one watching; The Knicks led late in Los Angeles despite using just seven players. Nate Robinson led all scorers with 33 off the bench.
• Same/difference. The Bucks are 11-16, the same record as they had through 27 games last year. For myriad reasons, this season feels a lot better. I don't foresee Milwaukee losing to the Pistons by 46 points or something in late-December this time around.
  

Coverage:

Bucks.com / Posting and Toasting / Knickerblogger