Game Thread 22: Blazers/Bucks
by Frank Madden on Dec 11, 2009 5:28 PM CST
in Previews
18 comments
Portland Trail Blazers at Milwaukee Bucks, Dec 12, 2009 7:30 PM CST
| 2009/2010 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
vs. |  |
| 14-9 (6-5 road) | 10-11 (8-3 home) |
|
| December 12, 2009 | ||
| Bradley Center |
||
| 7:30 PM CT |
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| Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin HD |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Blake | PG | Brandon Jennings |
| Brandon Roy |
SG | Carlos Delfino |
| Martell Webster |
SF | Luc Mbah a Moute |
| LaMarcus Aldridge |
PF | Ersan Ilyasova |
| Joel Przybilla |
C | Andrew Bogut |
| 109.2 (10th) - OFFENSE - 104.3 (23rd) |
||
| 103.7 (7th) - DEFENSE - 103.7 (8th) | ||
|
87.6 (29th) - PACE - 93.7 (10th) |
||
Linkage
Blazers Edge / Rip City Project / Oregon Live / Bucks Gameday
News/notes after the jump...
Redd's return. He's back...again. After a miserable three-game comeback around Thanksgiving, Mike Redd will be back in uniform against the Blazers, one week after returning to practice and seven games after his last appearance in the Bucks' 108-90 in Oklahoma City. Charles Gardner reports:
"Great day," Redd said after the Bucks' practice session at the Cousins Center on Friday. "I'm going to try it again.
"I'm a lot more prepared. I went through a couple practices. I had more time to train and my leg is stronger. I feel good. The explosion is all better."
We've talked a fair bit about how Redd might fit into the Bucks plans, and I think most of the same principles apply. On the positive side, Redd is still the team's only credible threat to draw fouls, an area where the Bucks continue to struggle mightily (he won't help the Bucks foul less, but that's another issue). Some have suggested Redd needs to embrace more of a spot-up shooter role given the emergence of Jennings and Bogut as the team's new core, but to be honest I'm not sure that's the best use of him either. He's been more of a scorer than a shooter for years now, and Jennings thus far has looked like more of a facilitator than a shot creator for teammates--he's willing to move the ball and can get into the paint, but he's not Chris Paul or Steve Nash as a passer.
While Redd is hopefully putting his patella injuries behind him, there's a great post over at Blazer's Edge (for my money the best NBA blog in existence) on patella-related injuries. Wish we would have had that around when Redd went down a month ago....
Blazers M*A*S*H*. While the Bucks are getting healthier, the same cannot be said for the Blazers. Losing Greg Oden (broken patella) for the year understandably made the headlines a week ago, but he's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Blazers' rotation players missing extended periods. Super-sub Travis Outlaw has been out since November with a broken foot, Rudy Fernandez is out until the New Year following back surgery, and Nicolas Batum has been out all year following shoulder surgery. Moreover, rookies Patty Mills (broken foot) and Jeff Pendergraph (hip) have yet to suit up due to injuries suffered during the summer.
Not even the Blazers' coaching staff has been immune: head coach Nate McMillian ruptured his Achilles' tendon helping out in practice and is missing the current road trip altogether. All told, the Blazers suited up just nine guys in their Wednesday win in Indiana and Friday loss in Cleveland.
Energy. While the Blazers are coming off a close loss in Cleveland, the Bucks have had two days to rest, so do the math. There's little excuse for the Blazers to come out with more energy, but you can't argue with the talent still on the roster. Roy and Aldridge form a potent perimeter/post combo, though Aldridge is much for of face-up, mid-range type guy than a post bruiser. Against Ilyasova I'd guess he'll try to be a little more physical and get deeper position, but I'm guessing that's what Blazer fans want him to do more regardless of his opponent.
Bigs...or lack thereof. The Blazers are among the league's best rebounding teams, ranking fourth in offensive rebound rate and seventh in defensive rebound rate. You don't have to tell the Bucks--they saw the Blazers' rebounding prowess up close last year when Portland murdered them 58-30 on the glass at the Rose Garden. Youch.
However, the Blazers' numbers will likely decline a bit without Oden, who was fourth in the league in offensive rebound rate (16.0%) and third in total rebound rate (21.2%) when he went down. Fortunately for the Blazers, Joel Przybilla is one of the two guys who has been even better than Oden on the glass--some dude named Dwight being the other. However, Portland is dangerously thin up front behind Przybilla and Aldridge, with Juwan Howard being the only guy taller than 6'8" on the bench. So expect plenty of small lineups.
Blake. Steve Blake would appear an obvious weak link in the Blazers' starting lineup, especially with Andre Miller coming off the bench. But as poorly as Blake is shooting the ball this year, never underestimate his ability to torment his old friends in Milwaukee. Blake dropped 21 points (including 6/10 triples) in his visit to Milwaukee a year ago (he missed the game in Portland) and averaged 20 ppg and 5.5 apg in two games against the Bucks the year before. Blake was certainly not well received during his abbreviated stay in Milwaukee in 2006, and apparently hell hath no fury like a Steve Blake scorned.
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Blazer fan here
Nice writeup. Blazersedge is indeed top notch, as is Brewhoop. Looking forward to the game!
Matchups
I wonder if they’re going to put Brandon Roy on Jennings and muscle up on him like the Pistons did because Vanilla Latte (Blake) is not going to be able to keep up. I would hope Luc Richard will take Roy. And finally, Joel P v Bogut. The last two vanilla lottery centers in Bucks history.
I have a good feeling about tonight.
Chicks Dig The Long Ball.
The Luc/Roy matchup certainly seems like something Skiles might like to try, though Delfino’s not the worst defender either. I would think Roy’s presence would also earn Charlie Bell some PT tonight, despite Roko’s surprisingly huge game against Toronto.
by Frank Madden on Dec 12, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions
No they won't
Roy is not a defensive stopper and never covers point guards. The Blazers don’t have a good defensive point guard, so they go with whoever’s on the floor at the time and make the best of it. (Jerryd Bayless seems to have the tools to be a great defender, but that’s a mostly unrealized potential at this point.)
Trail Blazer fan here
Good luck tonight… I’m interested in seeing Brandon Jennings play. Some of the games he has had have been real eye openers. (Glad I drafted him on my fantasy team.)
Not too thrilled that Redd is back. If he’s healthy he’s as good a shooter as there is in the league. Not sure about the rest of the Bucks tho.
Portland has been trying to keep it’s head above water with all the injuries. They played hard against Cleveland last night and almost pulled out a gutsy win. Almost. Might be a case of tired legs tonight. Well see. Once again, good luck.
Resign not thy day gig thou mewling flop-mouthed pumpion
Just boarded my flight to Copenhagen…I’ll hope for good news from the Bucks when I land in 8 hours :)
by Frank Madden on Dec 12, 2009 5:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Mr Hustle
Jennings is obviously Discovery No.1, but Ersan is No.2. I just like watching him, even if it’s sometimes not pretty. Just like the effort.
lots of speculation (At Blazers Edge OGDT) about why Jennings has not taken a shot tonight
any ideas?
"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Hobbes
Epic game
Let’s hope they pull it out
by enfilade on Dec 12, 2009 10:28 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Portland got robbed
"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Hobbes
Best team won
Honestly, if Milwaukee would have lost, they’d have been robbed. Outside of a two minute exception in OT1, the game was well in hand for the Bucks.
Luc and Ersan are as blue collar as they come. Brandon and Bogut are the stir sticks. And Michael Redd showed his “two minute, $2M per game offense.” And then there’s Frodo. I really want to trade him, but he continues to up his trade value. It’s like E-Bay right after its IPO. When do you sell? Can we hope for a split?
Chicks Dig The Long Ball.
12 seconds to go and Portland up by three
refs take inordinate amount of time reviewing a possession call and without any evidence to overturn the call do so anyways… milwaukee takes the gift and redeems it.
It was an entertaining game but there is no way the refs could justify overturning that call.
"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Hobbes
oops 13 seconds and Portland up by 2
still the same screw
"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Hobbes
No way they could justify it? Aside from makin the right call you mean?
by enfilade on Dec 13, 2009 1:20 AM CST via mobile reply actions
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