Game 13: Bucks/Hornets
by Alex Boeder on Nov 25, 2009 7:31 AM CST
in Previews
19 comments
Notes after the jump...
Marcus Thornton? The one, probably not the only. But he is playing like a one-of-a-kind second rounder so far. Guard and 43rd overall pick Marcus Thornton is averaging a silly 13.0 points in just 18.4 minutes on 46.6 % from the field. Only David West (14.5 ppg) is averaging more among active Hornets.
More perspective: Thornton is averaging 27.8 points / 40 minutes, which is virtually even with Brandon Jennings (28.0 / 40), and that ranks him among the NBA's top 15 scorers per minute. Sure, it's a touch easier to put in points at that rate in fewer minutes, but it's not really easy at all. I assume Bell will try to mark this man.
Injured stars. And it's a mighty good thing that Thornton has stepped up, because Chris Paul remains sidelined with a sprained left ankle. Also still out is Bogut, who is arguably Milwaukee's best player. But Paul isn't arguably the best player on his team, he is far and away the top player on the Hornets, the best point guard in the world, and a top five player overall.
Paul was actually having his best statistical season yet before going down a week and a half ago -- and that is really saying something considering his last couple seasons. Look at this: 23.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 2.1 turnovers on .594/.845/.655. Yes, that's FG%/FT%/3PT%, and no, it doesn't really make sense unless you are Chris Paul. Jennings will have to wait until Feb. 24 for another chance against the best.
A rough road. Homecourt advantage is alive and well in the NBA. Case in point: only two of the fifteen Western Conference teams (Los Angeles 4-5, Minnesota 1-6) have losing home records this season.
The Bucks are getting a dramatic sense of just how much better teams play at home on this road trip; the Spurs entered Monday's matchup 5-2 at home but 0-4 on the road. Now they travel to New Orleans, where the Hornets are the same 5-2... the Hornets are 1-7 on the road.
Coverage
0 recs |
19 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Let's hope Redd is feeling better
Hornets came within a Haslem bucket of beating the Heat on Sunday after taking down the Hawks and Suns without CP3. Normally I’d say this game was ripe to steal, but the Hornets have been going all Ewing Theory on us since Paul went down, so who knows.
West has really been struggling of late (about 30% shooting in last five) and I’d hate to see him break out against us. West obviously likes to roam 15-20 feet out but Ilyasova/Warrick will prefer that to going against a pure post guy anyway. Okafor hasn’t been scoring but he still rebounds and blocks shots; they actually went small a fair bit in their last game.
Hornets are an OK offensive rebounding team and one of the worst on the defensive glass, so hopefully the Bucks can avoid getting crushed on the boards w/o Bogut.
Collison has scored in double figures in seven straight, including 22/11 against the Hawks two games ago. Obviously I prefer facing him to Paul, but Jennings won’t have it that easy.
Hornets don’t turn it over at a high rate, nor do they force many turnovers, which probably contributes to their slow pace numbers.
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Bogut's arguably the Bucks best player...
…when he’s healthy. But he barely played last year and he’s injured again this year. I’m a little worried about his durability. I mean, he is signed on for the long haul.
by chapuforyou on Nov 25, 2009 2:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It’s definitely a concern. The good news is that his back has held up fine, and the current injury isn’t expected to be anything chronic. But he’s sustained a handful of strange injuries, which is obviously disconcerting in its own way—just when one thing seems to be OK, he gets hit with something else. I don’t think it’s a matter of toughness, but some guys’ bodies just don’t hold up as well as others’. Luck also has something to do with it.
Woelfel yesterday was saying he expects Bogut to come back after about three weeks, and if you count 21 days since the injury on Nov 18 that takes you to about December 9, when the Bucks host the Raps. If that’s the last game Bogut misses, then he’ll have missed 12 games. Right now the Bucks are 2-1 without him, and if they can play close to .500 ball without him I’d be pretty thrilled. But the schedule isn’t easy either, so that might be optimistic.
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Gadzuric ups his season FT% to 25%
I’m surprised Ersan doesn’t get called for more fouls down low.
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 7:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Looking forward to Collison vs. Jennings.
Being UCLA guy, really proud of Collison’s great play lately. He’s really making his use of his opportunity.
These PGs from this year’s draft are nothing short of impressive.
Liked Ilyasova’s block on Okafor.
33 Wins. Yeah, I said it.
by JETisKing on Nov 25, 2009 7:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
tough to block Okafor with your feet on the floor
But Ersan does have long arms :)
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Forget Mike Redd
Thomas might be our best catch and shoot guy :)
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 7:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Big run to close the 1st
Hornets shoot 4/26 from the field but “only” down 10 thanks to 11/11 from the stripe. Not sure how long they’ll stay this cold, but hopefully it lasts.
Ridnour managing the game well while Jennings was on the bench in foul trouble. Hopefully BJ3 gets in the rhythm from here on out.
Redd still looking rusty (missed three jumpers, made layup in transition), but he’s not dominating the ball or anything. If he can start making some of those shots he’ll fit in just fine…
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 7:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Hornets just missed 17 in a row
Yet trail by only 11. Hornets color guy Gil McGregor refuses to give the Bucks’ defense any credit…c’mon, not even a little? “Not at all.”
Bucks missing a chance to put them in a much bigger hole…on a related note, Michael Redd continues to look awful (1/7 fg).
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 7:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
K.Thomas Defence
Kurt really moves his feet well and uses his size to slow/stop people. Maybe we should be guarding David West.
by AiRPoD on Nov 25, 2009 8:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
just did it again, picked off the entry pass
Can we put his brain into Gadz’s body?
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 8:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Who would have thought?
Defence for the win!
by AiRPoD on Nov 25, 2009 9:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
No mo'
Can’t stay down after blowing a 5 point lead in the least minute.
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 9:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Awesome
Need to get getting it inside like that. No Redd/Jennings jump shots
by AiRPoD on Nov 25, 2009 9:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Too many mistakes
Murdered on the boards all night, so it was only fitting that’s how the game was clinched in the end.
Shame they wasted great nights from Ridnour and Warrick, but realistically when Redd and Jennings can’t shoot this team will lose. Collison played really well and made the big shot to put it into OT—and the Bucks couldn’t make any key plays down the stretch to answer.
by Frank Madden on Nov 25, 2009 9:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Damn. Tough loss.
Not sure if it was Collison’s defense or Jennings being too cute on that turnover. Perhaps it was a little of both.
Really liked how Luke played Peja off the ball. They almost couldn’t get the ball to him.
Not sure how they couldn’t get the rebound on that free throw miss…that was pretty crucial.
Great game. Tough loss, guys.
33 Wins. Yeah, I said it.
by JETisKing on Nov 25, 2009 9:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
