Game Thread: Bobcats/Bucks

Ridnour is standing tall lately. (Morry Gash/AP)

Bobcats (11-21, 3-9 road) @ Bucks (15-18, 8-5 home)

Gametime: 7:35 p.m. central time (FS Wisconsin)

Injuries:

Bobcats: Sean May (knee) is out. Raja Bell (groin) is questionable.

Bucks: None.

08/09 Series:

Nov. 22: Bucks 79 @Bobcats 74

Dec. 5: @Bucks 101 Bobcats 96

08/09 Advanced Stats:

Bobcats Offense: 26th (103.1 points/100 possessions) Defense: 13th (105.1)  Pace:  28th (87.7)

Bucks Offense: 23rd (104.3 points/100 possessions) Defense: 8th (103.9) Pace: 11th (92.6)

Three points:

• New-look 'Cats. Charlotte has a fresh, new look since the last time Milwaukee saw them less than a month ago. The Bobcats traded away three-point/slam dunk specialist Jason Richardson in exchange for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell. Charlotte is 3-6 since the deal, but Boris Diaw has had some nice moments out of the Phoenix sun. In nine games with the Bobcats, the versatile Frenchman is averaging 15.0/8.1/4.9 and is hitting on 55.6 % of his long-range attempts. But he's also turning the ball over (3.9 TO) a ton and can't find his free-throw form (52.4 % from the line).
  
• Bobbing for wins. The Bucks are already 2-0 against the Bobcats this season and have a chance to double the fun by tomorrow night, with a home-and-home series to start the weekend. Milwaukee just loves to play the Charlotte; they are an incredible 13-3 against Charlotte all-time. And who could forget Yi Jianlian's near-perfect game against the Bobs just a shade over a year ago? The former Milwaukee forward dropped 29/10 with three steals on 14/17 shooting in his best game as a pro. Current first round rookie forward Joe Alexander doesn't appear primed for a similar breakout game -- he has three DNP's in last four -- but with Charlie Villanueva quiet of late, perhaps Scott Skiles will find a few minutes for Alexander to audition. Meanwhile, Charlotte rookie D.J. Augustin is averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 assists, earning him a place among the top five rookies in the latest Blogger MVP/ROY Rankings.
  
• Inside issues. The Bobcats (.542) and Bucks (.541) have the two worst team shooting percentages on inside shots in the NBA. Both teams attempt a lot of shots around the basket however, so they are middle-of-the-pack in scoring inside.

Coverage:

Queen City Hoops / Rufus on Fire