Hornets vs. Bucks Preview: Milwaukee Looking To Snap Home Skid Against Struggling Hornets
by Frank Madden on Feb 15, 2012 6:30 AM CST
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| 2011/2012 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
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|
vs. |  |
| 12-16 (7-6 home) | 5-23 (2-9 road) |
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| February 15, 2012 | ||
| Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI |
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| 7:00 PM CT |
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| Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin |
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| Probable starters: | ||
| Brandon Jennings | PG | Greivis Vasquez |
| Shaun Livingston | SG | Marco Belinelli |
| Carlos Delfino | SF | Trevor Ariza |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | PF | Gustavo Ayon |
| Drew Gooden | C | Chris Kaman |
| (16th) 102.9 - OFFENSE - 98.6 (26th) |
||
| (19th) 104.7 - DEFENSE - 105.2 (21st) |
||
| (11th) 92.4 - PACE - 88.0 (30th) | ||
On the Hornets: At the Hive / Hornets 24/7 / Hornets Hype
The injury-plagued Hornets visit the Bradley Center looking to make it two surprising wins in a row when they face the Bucks, who will be looking to snap a four-game home losing streak.
On the Clippers Trade. Rohan from At the Hive is one of my favorite NBA bloggers, and earlier this week he offered a thoughtful look at the Chris Paul trade and what it's meant for the Hornets to date. Full disclosure: I've never been able to talk myself into the concept of tanking--or at least I've never been capable of rooting against my own team--but I definitely understand the rationale behind wanting your team to be bad in order to have a chance at being much better. Essentially it's the fundamental dilemma of teams that don't have real stars or the market size to attract them via free agency. New Orleans opted for the tear-down approach in taking the Clippers' deal over the Lakers/Rockets offer in December, but it's a strategy that the Bucks have sought to avoid in the past few years as they seek to re-establish some credibility in the Wisconsin sports scene. I definitely understand why the Bucks don't want to blow things up, but Rohan summarize the frustrations that come with that strategy pretty damn well--look no further than the 2010 Bucks.
There's an enervating sense of emptiness that inevitably accompanies "competitive" but not competitive basketball; this is a sport that takes cinderellas, grinds them down into a powder, and smokes their remains, sneering in the knowledge that if Game 1 didn't do the trick, Games 2 through 7, and the next series, and the next series after that most certainly will.
Now 1.5 games behind the Jeremy Lin-inspired Knicks for the final playoff spot, the Bogut-less Bucks would seem to face an uphill battle if they want a chance at facing the Bulls (gulp) in the first round. Considering the talent level that the Knicks (8th) and Celtics (7th) bring to the bottom of the Eastern playoff bracket, how long can the Bucks mount a credible challenge? Much could still go right for the Bucks this season, but with Bogut quite possibly out for the season their degree of difficulty has clearly been elevated. And if--for instance--they're five games out when the trade deadline arrives on March 15, what do they do? There are good arguments for cashing in on some short-term assets to nab extra picks and cap flexibility going forward, but my guess is that things would have to really fall apart ahead of the March 15 trade deadline before they took that approach.
Gordon hurting. The centerpiece of the Paul trade was supposed to be Eric Gordon, but the former Indiana standout has played just two games since arriving from Los Angeles and is now out an additional six weeks after undergoing surgery on his ailing right knee. Gordon and the Hornets couldn't agree to a new contract before the deadline for rookie contract extensions earlier this season, so the Hornets may not see much of him before he becomes a restricted free agent this summer. That's obviously not good news for a player New Orleans had hoped would be a building block for the future, though it's also not as if the Hornets were hoping to make a playoff run. This season is all about next season, which means looking ahead to the lottery and figuring out how to get value for expiring veterans like Chris Kaman.
Kaman. Speaking of the former Clipper standout, he had his best game of the season in the Hornets' surprising win over the Jazz earlier this week, scoring a season-high 27 and adding 13 boards as New Orleans won for just the second time in 19 games. Kaman started in place of Emeka Okafor (sore knee), while Carl Landry (out a month with an MCL sprain) and starting point guard Jarrett Jack (sore knee) also watched from the sidelines. In short, if you're a Hornet then you probably have a bad knee.
Brandon. We probably don't need to point this out, but Jennings' numbers over the past five have been rather ugly: 11.4 ppg, 5.0 apg and 30.2% shooting from the field and 20.7% from three. Tonight he gets a chance to put things right against Greivis Vasquez, who over his last five games is also averaging 11.4 ppg but a more respectable 7.8 apg and 38.0%/30.2% from the field.
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DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE HORNETS' STARTING LINEUP!
SAVE YOURSELF.
SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest - News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | SB Nation Basketball - Scores & More | Twitter: @stevevonhorn
by Steve von Horn on Feb 15, 2012 12:49 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Too late, I've already been blinded by the blandness of it
…Wait, who the heck is Gustavo Ayon?
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 15, 2012 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
Lin-sanity
Lin-sanity has been great for NY, but has it been even greater to the Bucks? Who now look banished to the lottery against our own will but for the betterment of the franchise future. Heck Lin-sanity will probably even sell out the BC on March 09.
Sorry guys, I’m just another confused Bucks fan wanting to win today in my heart and tank today in my mind.
Some extra reason to watch this game
I´m watching Treme right now and I´m curious to know how´s Greivis Vazquez doing after Mar del Plata, the FIBA tournament I was fortunate to go last year.
I hate that my hometown Grizz
traded him away. Without his amazing 3-pointer in the 3OT playoff game last year…it only would have been 2OT! I kid, but I really miss the guy. He was so solid off the bench for us I really thought he’d be the 2nd in command for a long time. Here’s to hoping that he has a long, prosperous NBA career and that he helps the Hornets get back on track.
Greivis
has been quietly having solid string over the last few weeks. He’s been chasing a double-double every night and even has a few 20 and 10 games. He’s losing tho, so he’s getting the empty stats comments from analysts.
Thanks FTD
I really wanted to watch if he was playing as badly as Frank post sugested. I had an excellent impression of him in those games in Mar del Plata. He commanded a mediocre group of venezuelan players to almost semifinals and showed determination and…swagg? We will see tonight, though I would love to see brandon recapturing the game he showed some weeks ago.
he was a beast
at Maryland. The best Gary Williams PG since Stevie Blake
Although they have some young studs right now in Stoglin and Faust
by Charlie_Buckets on Feb 15, 2012 2:39 PM CST up reply actions
Going to the game tonight...
Taking my GF as a Valentine’s Day Present. (haha i know right?)
1. Heat tix were ridiculous and sitting in the 2nd level at the BC is terrible, so now we are de facto going to the see the worst team the Bucks play at home for the rest of the year.
I feel like we’ll be able to sneak up courtside by the end of the game because there will be NO ONE THERE.
2. If the Bucks dominate the game (which they should) than she will inevitably become a fan and want to go to more games/ won’t care that I watch every single game at home.
3. Should I wear my Purple Tim Thomas jersey, or my Purple Sam Cassel jersey?
Tim is #5 aka Capn Jack jersey
Sam is #10 aka Del3no
I feel like S Jax needs the kharmic love, but that I will be able to stand up for about 10 made 3pts by Carlos tonight
by Charlie_Buckets on Feb 15, 2012 2:45 PM CST reply actions
Cassel is my choice
Would be great if you had a Sam mask too. LOL
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
You know my vote, Charlie.
But Canada rooting for Carlos? Wow. (True that Jackson is not enjoying his best moment at Milwaukee)
to put it bluntly
if i am picking Hornets games over Heat games because tickets are too expensive, I am not in any sort of fiscal situation to be getting married at the moment. :)
Sam Cassel it is!
by Charlie_Buckets on Feb 15, 2012 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
I also vote for Sam
because who didnt love the “big balls” dance?
also, I much prefer our current #10 to our #5.
If he hasn't figured out he's a human by now, I don't think he ever will
What I was going to say reminded me too much of a quote from Elf haha, but what I actually wanted to say is: If BJ can’t get it going tonight, I don’t think he ever will
Choices in the poll.
-No
-No
-F No
On Wisconsin!
by Celtin on Feb 15, 2012 7:33 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
hi, everybody
struggling to find a stream, Someone should put in prison the guy who designes the Hornets jerseys,
Hehehe
Yeah, I think I liked the light blue ones a bit more…
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 15, 2012 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
check out @Greg_Punzo on twitter.
He might be able to help you out.
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 7:48 PM CST up reply actions
Not watching the game...
but it seems that the Bucks bench, other than Ersan, can not buy FGs tonight.
To quote Gooden, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaahhhhhh"
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 15, 2012 8:03 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I can only assume that new comments are not showing because the servers are crashing because everyone is trying to comment at once.
Commentors are mourning the loss of Bucks' bench scoring.
5-18 FG shooting in the 1st half for bench crew tonight. This team needs bench scoring to win. Especially with their Jennings sleep walking through games.
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 8:15 PM CST up reply actions
Hornets without four starters
I hope Skiles destroys the locker room
I just checked the brew hoop league and big crazy dave just dropped him
oops guess he forgot the bucks were on the schedule
Tank with random fans from the stands ...
Makes no never mind to me ….
Great promotion...
Buy a seat, win a chance to be a 15th man or woman on the Bucks roster.
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 8:33 PM CST up reply actions
he seems to really try hard
he is just SO dumb
Are we approaching the point where Skiles benches Jennings for Udrih for a start yet?
It seems close. The time to send a message is nigh.
In the NBA, players rule.
Jennings is tanking to get Skiles fired.
Perhaps he is unplaying for better future team mates.
Tanking for prospects. Loafing for the top pick in the draft.
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 8:41 PM CST up reply actions
maybe we ARE tanking
stealthily. And everyone is sucking on purpose. except for Illy and delfino bc they wanna get paid next year. I’m going to go ahead and think that.
why is Jax even in the game?
give me Harris, Delfino, my mom, anyone
They are just teasing fans that want to tank then?
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 8:55 PM CST up reply actions
Does that cancel out not having faith in the Bucks winning?
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 15, 2012 8:57 PM CST up reply actions
Bucks have had plenty of 'good' losses this year,
tonight they are playing with fire trying for a ‘bad’ win
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 8:58 PM CST up reply actions
I do not want them to win ....
If they don’t prompt change, then change must be forced upon them.
Jax obliging your wish with an early in the shot clock three attempt.
by Brick's house on Feb 15, 2012 9:00 PM CST up reply actions
Can Ersan finish a goddam shot?
So dang passive …..
WTF lose to NO
Skiles fired?
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
Is there a team that has more turnovers out of time outs than our squad? Wow
by CHAController on Feb 15, 2012 9:11 PM CST via mobile reply actions
We do too
or I think we do they hardly play
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
they MUST be tanking right now
there is no other excuse for this sorry shit. I know this team doesnt have a ton of talent, but we arent this awful.
We are not alone tonight
Pistons win in Boston by 10
Oh that makes it better then
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
Has Skiles lost this team?
or do we basically suck?
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
Bingo
I think you’ve got it…I got my torch and pitchfork out
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
time to tank!
I am too drunk to taste this chicken.
by ThroughBeingCool on Feb 15, 2012 9:16 PM CST reply actions
10th :) :) :)
"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian
So if you want to root for a higher draft pick...
Root for Phoenix, Minnesota, Cleveland and Golden State to win lots of games for the rest of the year. Those are the teams that are clustered ahead and behind the Bucks in the win/loss column.
what i saw at the game
1st game in person tonight. (ya i know i picked a gem)
1. jennings got screwed out of about 6 assists tonight by either wide open misses, hesitation, or dropped passes. His body language says it all: “get me out of this crap”
2. Bench players have started to understand that for some reason if you aren’t in the game with less than 5 min to play in the 3rd you won’t be seeing the court for th rest of the game;w. Seriously, Skiles quits at coaching more often than Gooden quits at post defense…OK that is a stretch…
3. BECAUSE DREW GOODEN IS THE WORST POST DEFENDER EVER…I know he went up against a much bigger Kaman tonight, but come on! He is always flat footed, plays 90% of his defense with his arms, and never stays on his feet on pump fakes.
i say for entertainment sake we cut half the team and sign Gilbert Arenas and AI to 6 mo contracts. AI/Arenas/Capn Jack/Gooden? could be the most selfish team in history and I think we give it a shot!
3.
by Charlie_Buckets on Feb 15, 2012 11:05 PM CST reply actions
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