Let's keep the Magic tricks to a minimum, Jameer. (via rotorob)
Bucks (7-8 4-5 road) @ Magic (9-4, 5-3 home)
Gametime: 6:00 p.m. central time (FSN-W)
| Bucks | Position | Magic |
| Ramon Sessions | PG | Jameer Nelson |
| Charlie Bell | SG | Mickael Pietrus |
| Richard Jefferson | SF | Hedo Turkoglu |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | PF | Rashard Lewis |
| Andrew Bogut | C | Dwight Howard |
Injuries:
Bucks: Michael Redd (sprained ankle) has missed eleven straight games. Luke Ridnour (knee) is out.
Magic: Hedo Turkoglu (flu) did not play yesterday but is expected back tonight. Keith Bogans is out with a fractured thumb.
07/08 Series:
Oct. 31: @Magic 102 Bucks 83
Dec. 12: @Bucks 100 Magic 87
March 28: Magic 103 @Bucks 86
08/09 Advanced Stats:
Bucks: Offense: 26th (102.2 points/100 possessions) Defense: 9th (102.9) Pace: 17th (91.1)
Magic: Offense: 16th (105.0 points/100 possessions) Defense: 3rd (99.5) Pace: 8th (93.6)
Three points:
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Double digits. Including Michael Redd, six Bucks are averaging at least 10.0 points per game this season: Redd (21.3), Richard Jefferson (17.9), Ramon Sessions (15.5), Charlie Villanueva (11.6), Andrew Bogut, (11.1) and Luke Ridnour (10.0). And a seventh, Luke Mbah a Moute (9.7) is very close. No team in the NBA has seven players averaging double figures (the Knicks had seven prior to the trades). The Bucks have offensive problems, but balance doesn't appear to be one of them anymore. Granted, the injuries to Redd and Villanueva play a sizable role in the increased scoring for others, but it's still pretty amazing that a team 23rd in points per game is quite close to being the only team in the league with seven 10.0+ point scorers.
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This is Dwight's block. The Magic are first in the NBA in blocks, averaging 7.5 per game. Dwight Howard is far and away the top shot-blocker in the league, averaging 3.92. If he keeps that pace up, it will the best shot-blocking season since Dikembe Mutomobo swatted 4.49 per game in 1995-96. Meanwhile, Charlie Villanueva, of all people, did his best Howard impersonation with four blocks against the Bobcats on Saturday. No other Buck blocked a shot.
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Record repeat. For all the changes, the Bucks stand at 7-8 for the second year in a row. Last year's route was far more bizarre, with a five-game winning streak over the likes of Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Dallas which preceded a four-game losing streak including a disastrous loss in New York. Another important difference is that last season the Bucks were 7-8 on Dec. 1, and this year they were 7-8 on Nov. 22. That shows how very full this year's early schedule is in comparison. Also, I don't foresee this year's club closing 19-48.
Coverage: