Bucks vs. Bobcats: Open Thread

Gametime: 6 pm CT
TV: FSN Wisconsin/League Pass/Free NBA Broadband
Radio: 620 WTMJ/Stream Free @NBA.com
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Bucks Lineup: Mo Williams / Michael Redd / Desmond Mason / Yi Jianlian / Andrew Bogut
Bobcats Lineup: Raymond Felton / Jason Richardson / Gerald Wallace / Emeka Okafor / Primoz Brezec

Bucks Injuries: Bogut will be in the starting lineup despite the left wrist injury, not clear how much that might be affecting him.  Awvee Storey is still out with a hip injury.  
Bobcats Injuries: Adam Morrison (ACL) and Sean May (micro-fracture) are out for the year.  Othella Harrington had knee surgery a month ago.

06/07 Series: Bucks 2, Bobs 2. The Bobs beat the Bucks at home and on the road in the last month of the season, after dropping the first two encounters of the season. The Bucks won the first 9 meetings between the two teams from 2004-2007, before Charlotte took two games from the Bucks during the tankapalooza that ended the 06/07 season.

Key Points:

• How will Bogut and the Bucks bounce back from a disappointing opener?  Bogut was a non-factor on offense, getting only occasional touches en route to 4 points on 2/9 fgs.  But to his credit he played some stout defense on Dwight Howard and pulled down 11 rebounds along with 4 assists.  Bogut had his best game of the season in the first game in Charlotte, notching 27 pts/11 rebs/6 asts/3 blks.  He put up 17/11 in the second game, which was Krystkowiak's second game and second win as head coach.  Following the game, the Bucks put Bogut on the shelf for the rest of the season with his foot injury.
• While it's understandable if LK hasn't been able to work out all the kinks in their offense, the bottom line is that the key players are the same as last year, when scoring wasn't a problem.  Okafor and Wallace are each athletic, gifted defenders, but Wallace especially is prone to gambling on defense.  Although Bogut's involvement is key, Mo Williams simply has to do something on offense.  Against Orlando he didn't run the offense effectively, nor did he compensate by scoring himself.  
• This is the Bobs' season opener, meaning the Bucks will open their season with three consecutive openers, including their own on Saturday.
• Walter Herrmann could be the x-factor for the Bobs.  After not playing in the first game against the Bucks, the Argentine assassin racked up 24 ppg and 8 rpg over the next three contests.  And oh by the way, he shot a downright silly 73% from the field and 53% from three point range in those games.  Somebody put a hand in this dude's face.
• Gerald Wallace averaged 22/13 in two games against the Bucks last year.
• I would guess Yi will guard the more perimeter-oriented Brezec while Bogut faces off against Okafor.  
• Bobby Simmons was the biggest bright spot in the Bucks' blowout loss in Orlando, scoring 18 on 7/11 fg in only 24 minutes off the bench.  I haven't seen anything about Bobby taking Mason's starting job yet, but it seems only a matter of time.  Simmons' movement looked pretty good on Wednesday.