Game 50: Pistons/Bucks
by Frank Madden on Feb 9, 2010 1:19 AM CST
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This is what Kareem & company looked like 40 years ago against the Pistons
| 2009/2010 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| 17-32 (5-18 away) | vs. | 23-26 (16-7 home) |
| February 9, 2010 | ||
| Bradley Center |
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| 7:00 PM | ||
| Radio: WTMJ AM 620 TV: FSN Wisconsin |
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| Probable starters: | ||
| Rodney Stuckey |
PG | Brandon Jennings |
| Richard Hamilton |
SG | Charlie Bell |
| Tayshaun Prince |
SF | Carlos Delfino |
| Jonas Jerebko |
PF | Luc Mbah a Moute |
| Ben Wallace |
C | Andrew Bogut |
| (25th) 103.3 - OFFENSE - 104.1 (23rd) |
||
| (22nd) 109.2 - DEFENSE - 104.0 (8th) |
||
| (29th) 88.3 - PACE - 93.2 (11th) |
||
Linkage
Detroit Bad Boys / Bucksketball
News/notes after the jump...
JS: Mbah a Moute finding his way
Nothing Luc Mbah a Moute does is particularly flashy, but his improved play (particularly on offense) was impossible to ignore in the Bucks' back-to-back victories over the Knicks (6/7 fg, 16 pts, 6 rebs) and Pacers (18 pts, 7/9 fg, 11 rebs). Charles Gardner spoke to Skiles about it after the game:
"He hustles so much, the game just comes to him," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said of the 6-foot-8 Mbah a Moute, now playing a starting power forward role. "He was on the offensive glass and found some things around the basket, and he knocked down a couple jumpers."
Mbah a Moute was one of many x-factors on the Bucks' roster coming into the season and his performance has been a mixed bag through 49 games. The versatile defense is of course still there, and that will always be his calling card and what guarantees he's at least a 20-25 mpg guy. But despite an off-season spent focused on developing his jumper, his fg% on 16-23 foot shots has fallen from 36% to 28%, though on the rare occasions he's shot from deep (just 16 times all year) he's made a healthy 37.5%.
Of course, lost in the disappointment over Mbah a Moute's jump shot is his continued efficiency around the cup, which has as much to do with skill as it does knowing his own limitations. At the rim he makes 61.5% of his shots (up marginally from a year ago) and inside 10 feet he's upped his accuracy to 42% from 28% a year ago (though he takes less than a shot per game in that classification). On the other hand, his rebound rate has cratered noticeably, from 13.6% to 10.2%, but that's due in part to getting much more burn at SF rather than PF. I'm not sure Luc ever becomes an entrenched starter at either forward spot--his best role may end up being as a Posey-like defender off the bench--but he's also the kind of guy you never feel bad about starting.
Pistons Update
Since returning from a groin injury five games ago, Ben Gordon has scored more than 10 points just once and continues to come off the bench behind the declining Rip Hamilton (17.9 ppg but career-low .397 fg% and .242 3fg%). Meanwhile, fellow free agent signing (and reserve) Charlie Villanueva has been struggling with back spasms of late, limiting him to just 25 minutes over the past four games.
More promising has been the play of rookie second rounder Jonas Jerebko, who continues to start at PF and is coming off a 9/9 fg, 20 point outing in the Detroit's 99-92 win over the Nets on Saturday. Bogut-stopper Ben Wallace continues his solid play as well, averaging 9.0 rpg. Still, the Pistons' season has been a huge disappointment thus far, as a floundering finish to Michael Curry's first and last season in 08/09 has carried over to John Kuester's first season in charge this term. Makes you appreciate Scott Skiles even more.
So the Bucks should have a golden opportunity on Tuesday to run their home winning streak to 10 games and continue their push for the 8th playoff spot. They're currently just 0.2% behind the Heat (24-27) for the final spot and only a game behind the Bulls and Bobcats (both 24-25) for the 6th/7th spot. While the Bucks head to New Jersey tomorrow for one final game before the all-star break, the Heat host the Rockets on Tuesday and head to Atlanta on Wednesday, the Bulls are in Indiana Tuesday night and host Orlando on Wednesday, and Charlotte hosts Washington on Tuesday and heads to Minnesota on Wednesday.
SB Nation: Breaking down the deadline
Mike Prada takes a look at all 30 teams' prospects for doing deals at the deadline. Not surprisingly he doesn't see the Bucks being too active, though he does mention Caron Butler as the biggest name they might target. I agree that a big deal isn't likely, and I think Butler probably makes the most sense of any bigger names currently available. Part of that is fit (a scoring wing with Wisconsin roots makes plenty of sense) and part of it is contractual (Butler's deal expires in the summer of 2011). But for that reason dumping Butler doesn't do Washington a whole lot of good unless the also get rid of Antawn Jamison as well--only then would the Wiz have meaningful cap space this summer.
Stadium Journey: The Bradley Center
Paul Swaney knows a thing or two about stadiums--his blog is all about visiting as many of them as possible--and he recently paid a trip to the BC.
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Prediction
I predict that the star of the game is the Turkish Rifle while Hak is gounded by Ben Wallace. As for Bogut, I think he could win his matchup. At worst, I think we’re going to see either 20+ points or 5+ assists.
My biggest fear, however, is what the Stuckey/Bynum tandem is going to do to Young Buck down low. It conjures up images of immoral priests and House Party 2.
Chicks Dig The Long Ball.
Well played
I wonder what Skiles is going to do tonight, Stuckey/bynum combo have eaten Jennings up in previous meetings. I wouldnt be suprised to see Charlie get some burn as PG, or even have Delfino do the Point-Forward thing that we’ve seen in some situations in the past. If Hak has his game going, and can get to the hoop, it can do a lot for Bogut tonight, to keep Wallace’s focus elsewhere. Hopefully Ben Gordon is still moving slow, because he is usually a beast when playing MKE
Go Beer, I mean Bucks
by Take Back Our Bucks on Feb 9, 2010 10:24 AM CST reply actions
With regards to the Breaking Down the Deadline Article....
I would really like if we could get Caron Butler on the cheap for some expirings and such. Although I think he is a little overrated he is a solid scorer and can get to the line decently well.
With him I think the Bucks for sure make the playoffs… If they can get him without giving up next years first I’d be down…
Ridnour and Alexander for him works financially… don’t think they’d do it but you never know… weirder things have happened
Mbah a Moute...
The Prince’s go to move in the paint seems to be the reverse layup. At least that’s how broadcasts make it feel.
Announcer: Jennings inside to Mbah a Moute, driving and he’s up with an awkward reverse layup that’s in and out. That’s a tough shot to make folks.
Paranoia
The Bucks haven’t lost a game they shouldn’t in over a month, so I’m starting to get paranoid that we’re due for a disappointment…winning these last two before the break would be HUGE even if both teams are below us in the standings.
This is the Bucks’ offense I knew and didn’t love in December…1/13 from Bogut/Jennings.
I guess the bright side is they can’t shoot 16% for a whole game…right?
ok this is sad... i can't really say they aren't playing without energy because they keep getting a good amount of boards
they are just not running that cohesive offense they have been over the last 10 games
Wow
Bogut actually gave Bell a handoff cutting through the post. You know Bogut’s lacking confidence when he does that…
The dude has got 12 boards already this half. And he was 9 for 9 last game. He’s pretty good. That’s why they start him.
I thought he had it for 3.
that was one of those shots we’ve come to expect Jennings to make.
I think Squad 6 should count down the fake shot clock all the time like they did to start this game...
i have a buddy in Squad 6 so i am going to see if he will get them to do that more
Jennings electrifies the team and puts them up 4
Follows it by making a poor decision on the pull up 3 in transition and immediately fouling Bynum. Bench.
Bucks down 2 just before the end of the fourth. I don’t like Skiles’ short leash in the 2nd half.
I’m expecting we see plenty of Jennings in the fourth. I think Skiles sometimes likes to find an excuse to get Jennings an early rest.
Bogut must hate odd quarters or something…
Stuckey lays out Jerebko.... Hak gets hacked going to the rack...
poor shooting + bad refereeing = dire straits for the Buckeroos
Good lord!!
How many shots have the Pistons missed in the fourth quarter?!?! Not many
by Brick's house on Feb 9, 2010 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
Bucks dug themselves a hole, then worked their way out of it….then I guess they got a bit pleased with themselves or maybe just tired. Pistons outworked them on the boards and just made shots in the last 15 minutes or so.
Stuckey exposed Jennings’ lack of size, which to be honest I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of this season. Nice to see Bogut bounce back from an 0/8 start to finish with 17/18 but they couldn’t get him rolling in the second half until it was too late.
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