Bucks vs. Raptors Preview: Milwaukee Flees To Canada Hoping To Escape Losing Streak
by Dan Sinclair on Feb 8, 2012 1:26 PM CST
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| 2011/2012 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
vs. |
|
| 10-14 (3-10 away) | 8-18 (3-6 home) |
|
| February 8, 2012 | ||
| Air Canada Centre | ||
| 6:00 PM CT |
||
| Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Brandon Jennings |
PG | Jose Calderon |
| Shaun Livingston | SG | Jerryd Bayless |
| Carlos Delfino | SF | DeMar DeRozan |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | PF | James Johnson |
| Drew Gooden | C | Aaron Gray |
| (19th) 102.3 - OFFENSE - 96.8 (28th) |
||
| (18th) 103.6 - DEFENSE - 103.7 (19th) |
||
| (11th) 92.3 - PACE - 89.6 (24th) | ||
On the Raptors: Raptors Republic / Raptors HQ / The Score- RaptorBlog / Toronto Star
Just a week removed from an impressive three-game winning streak, the Milwaukee Bucks are now mired in an equally unimpressive losing streak, suffering a letdown, a blowout, and a heartbreaker in order. Milwaukee will try to end the skid as they head to Toronto to take on the Raptors.
Extrapolating...Playoffs? The Bucks aren't looking too hot right now, especially not compared to last week. But for all the despair-mongering Bucks fans are so used to providing, the season is hardly lost. In fact, the Bucks are still in reasonably decent shape to make the playoffs, so long as they get their act together quickly and stop losing to bad teams. John Hollinger's Playoff Odds still give Milwaukee a 65.2% chance of grabbing the 8th seed, outpacing the New York Knicks at 38.8%. That doesn't take into account the eventual return of franchise savior Baron Davis (that's what New York is calling him, so that's what I'll call him), and the Knicks are more likely to acquire a helpful piece at the trade deadline than the Bucks. But Milwaukee has beaten New York once already, and that counts for something, right? Maybe?
Bad-Luck Bucks. Speaking of, the Bucks' luck has hurt them to the tune of roughly 5%, according to Pythagorean Winning Percentage Estimates.
With an early-season schedule that probably qualifies as "murderous" and the loss of several key players on a rotating-basis (sound familiar?), the Bucks are roughly a game back of their "expected" record. Last season Milwaukee under-performed its point margin all year, while the playoff run of 2010 saw the Bucks outpace their margin after the All-Star break, coinciding with the arrival of the not-yet-evil John Salmons.
Judging Jennings and Jackson. Last night was a strange one for Milwaukee's two most talk-about players. Jennings attempted only four shots, his fewest ever when playing more than 12 minutes. Jackson turned in a mildly-productive outing in his first court time since last week. But both earned more attention for what they said post-game than what they did in-game:
My question to #Bucks Stephen Jackson: Do you still want to be in Milwaukee? S-Jax: "I can't answer that. If I answer that, I'll get fined."
— Howie Magner (@howiemag) February 8, 2012
Jennings was asked about his offensive performance (h/t to Jeremy at Bucksketball for the quotes):
I mean, I just didn't have the shots I usually have. That's about it.
I just wasn't open. Just trying to get my teammates goin'.
It'd be great if Jennings consciously chose not shoot when he wasn't open and instead focused on setting up his teammates. But last night wasn't some attempt at playing the distributor. Last night was sleepwalking.
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Hope I'm not mongering anything
…when I calmly ask if an 8-spot in the. playoffs does anything useful?
Is it more than a validation of continuing mediocrity?
Plus the odds you cite don’t include now-probable team strife.
by unklchuk on Feb 8, 2012 1:52 PM CST via Android app reply actions
I’ve always argued that the only worse than the 8th seed is the 9th or 10th seed. I know a lot of other people feel differently though. I think the Bucks are too good to get a top pick, so I’d rather see them continue to gun for the playoffs. That does NOT include trading assets for help this season, though, Hammond(s).
I hope to avoid further personal speculation
until I see whether the brouhaha (reported stronger at RealGM) brews up a storm or just hahas down to nothing major.
ESPN
Jennings ranked No. 17 in the top 25 under 25
Bucks ranked 23 in the Future Power Rankings up from 24 last year, I believe.
We wont win if
Jennings decides to keep " not finding his shot".
Musta been so hard for him last night being defended by Nash.
Im just hoping jennings doesnt act like last night, id much rather have him miss shots than not take any at all. Its his team, hes only hurting the team & himself by not doing much.
This is what the thread looks like
On Wisconsin!
by Celtin on Feb 8, 2012 6:34 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I only switched in at the end of the 1st myself....
But Gooden appears to be carrying the team again.
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
signing in from Oz
not sure what to expect from this game
WHO'S EXCITED ABOUT BUCKS BASKETBALL!?!?!?!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa babay.
SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest - News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | SB Nation Basketball - Scores & More | Twitter: @stevevonhorn
I need more conviction than that.
BTW, everyone is allowed to like Mike Dunleavy for basketball reasons.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 6:49 PM CST up reply actions
Haha, good.
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 8, 2012 6:51 PM CST up reply actions
Hellz yea!
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 8, 2012 6:51 PM CST up reply actions
Is it ok....
to like Mike Dunleavy for more than just basketball reasons?!
Yes, that is acceptable.
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 8, 2012 7:03 PM CST up reply actions
Good god, a little hair on his face and he would look like Beast from the old Beauty and the Beast tv series.
by Brick's house on Feb 8, 2012 7:14 PM CST up reply actions
Wow, I'm assuming that's a quality ref.
Good enough to go with based on the level of detail.
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 8, 2012 7:14 PM CST up reply actions
I'd say he looks like Disney's The Hunchback in this picture.
(Awesome joke about getting Quasimodo high)
...BRANDONJENNINGSSUX!!!
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Feb 9, 2012 9:34 AM CST up reply actions
Jennings in last 10 games is 38.9% FG, 36.0% 3PT, 50.8% TS, which is close to career #s. Needs to do more if teams play him for the jumper.
SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest - News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | SB Nation Basketball - Scores & More | Twitter: @stevevonhorn
Wow
Thought he’d been doing better then that.
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 7:21 PM CST up reply actions
Yea, that includes the MIA game
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 8, 2012 7:22 PM CST up reply actions
Anybody notice any of the Bucks players' acting more unhappy than usual?
http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.
They're in Canada.
Cut em some slack.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I KID I KID
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 7:18 PM CST up reply actions
Steve
You’ve been warned.
"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
Haha. I actually like Toronto a lot.
Been there about five times, certainly wouldn’t mind another trip.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:26 PM CST up reply actions
Sign Gheorghe Muersan.
He can probably protect the rim better than Gooden at this point.
Is there any reason why Skiles isn't benching him?
Showcasing him for a trade? No other rational answer.
On offense........
I’m not sure that offsets the ridiculous amounts of uncontested layups he gives up a game.
wish we had an explosive player like Johnson
after that dunk.
Definitely.
Someone who can explode and dunk… and not named Maggette.
DeRozan has been pretty terrible this year, and might just suck.
But I get the point.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 7:55 PM CST up reply actions
Joe Alexander, anyone?
...BRANDONJENNINGSSUX!!!
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Feb 9, 2012 9:36 AM CST up reply actions
Carlos and Dunelavy together on court
Let´s see how much minutes it lasts and if it brings something interesting to the team
Sanders needs to settle down
if he gets tossed we’re stuck with just gooden.
Bucks are up, but it doesn't necessarily feel like they deserve to win. If that makes sense.
Dunleavy strong again, Gooden doing his raw stats collector thang
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:06 PM CST up reply actions
What did you miss?
Action! Adventure! Excitement!
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 8:06 PM CST up reply actions
Eh
He scored a lot earlier then last night and has been looking to shoot a little bit more, but still looking to defer more then usual.
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
Jennings isn't playing
he’s moping. I haven’t seen him try to use his speed ll game, that’s a clear cut indicator to me
He did once when he was determined to get to the basket (and then scored)
But since then it’s mostly been jumpers….
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 8:16 PM CST up reply actions
Nice Skiles
Happy to see him put Sanders back out there
Bad Skiles
don’t take Sanders out u doofus
cant have him in if they are fouling and chasing
cant make FT
They can't foul away from the ball within...
2 minutes I believe? I’d rather Larry take FTs that Luc anyways
Well, at least Luc is back
And Isn’t hurt.
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
I enjoyed Dunleavy yelling at him when he tried to inbound
The less Larry touches the ball in the last two minutes, the better.
One of the few games I can watch on Tv
and just got home wtf is with BJ
"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
Thats what happens when there's no Larry
no rim protection
I’m basically in the camp of hoping we see Jennings, Harris and Leuer play well and whatever happens, happens. So watching Jennings continue to sabotage his all-star candidacy while Harris/Leuer don’t really play at all is essentially the worst way to win IMO. I don’t want them to lose, but I also don’t know what is being accomplished.
Jennings needs to start planning his escape or master plan to improve the bucks. Needs to recruit some guys from his class to team up somewhere.
It'd be nice if he improved the Bucks with his own play for an extended stretch.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:28 PM CST up reply actions
yay?
win is nice .hard to get too excited considering Toronto sucks so much.
A win is a win is a win is a win
"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
I very sleepy game to watch.
The James Johnson dunk woke me up a bit. Otherwise, meh
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
*A very sleepy game to watch.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
U tired, bro?
...BRANDONJENNINGSSUX!!!
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Feb 9, 2012 9:39 AM CST up reply actions
Don't know if I'm seeing something that isn't there
But after jennings stole the ball after his missed 3 and laid it in, Skiles didn’t acknowledge him on the way to the bench at the time out. Either something going on or Skiles was pissed cuz he didn’t run the clock.
"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
Man a win is a win, but the body language from Jennings and Jackson no es bueno
I’m afraid that the carousel of team cancers is finally starting to rub off
I wonder if Jackson and jennings are trying for a twosome
trade out of Milwaukee I mean.
"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
Now would probably be the best time to trade Jennings
Well, a week ago would have been the best time to trade Jennings :)
I have to think the Bucks would do everything within reason to keep him happy, but I have no idea what’s going on with him right now. Hopefully this passes, but nothing would surprise me with this team.
i'm choosing to believe its just a phase.
he’s young. hopefully this stuff is just immaturity that will pass soon. or, wishful thinking on my part.
I hope you're right
But he’s always been fairly inconsistent, so I’m not sure what to expect.
by Jacob Grinyer on Feb 8, 2012 8:52 PM CST up reply actions
His body language speaks volumes
And it’s a far cry from last week when Skiles put his arm around him during the time-out. Just wish we knew what was going on. But better trade him now if that’s what he wants.
"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
Not knowing is the worst part on some level
Well, aside from him falling off a cliff…I mean, we’ve seen him struggle many times, but I’ve never seen him lacking competitive fire. Only saw the fourth quarter of tonight’s game but he just doesn’t seem all there.
Also: I really don’t feel like playing armchair psychologist for the rest of the season.
I've got a biggie planned for Jennings tomorrow. Started and conceived before this weirdo attitude thing.
Should be fun.
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by Steve von Horn on Feb 8, 2012 8:56 PM CST up reply actions
Idk it just seems to me having seen the end of the game
he’s got this look on his face like he’s pulling something over on someone if you know what I mean.
"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
At least Jackson is helping his trade value
"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
Jackson and Gooden
and Ilyasova and Dunleavy
I’d trade all 4 of them for the last pick in the 1st round.
I wouldn't trade MD
For basketball reasons of course.
"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
I would trade anybody over 24 on this roster
for a 1st round draft pick.
And I still want them to win-now
just minus who ever has to go for the pick
BASKETBALL REASONS
http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.
by Mitchell Maurer on Feb 9, 2012 5:30 AM CST up reply actions
It's a shame the Clips don't have much to offer
They could use some SJax right about now
"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
Would we need anything for the clipps to take him off our hands?
Hard to really understand what is going with this team at the moment. To be a fly on the wall would be brilliant. Half expect Jennings to drop a bombshell, have to consider the roster spot being opened up, feels like we are all waiting for something, but I won’t believe it until I see it.
btw
did everybody see Skiles smile tonight…looked ridiculous lol
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