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| 13/14 NBA Preseason | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs. |  |
| October 12, 2013 | ||
| BMO Harris Bradley Center | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| 7:30 CT | ||
| No TV | 620 WTMJ / Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| Brandon Knight | PG | Kemba Walker |
| O.J. Mayo | SG | Gerald Henderson |
| Caron Butler | SF | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist |
| John Henson | PF | Cody Zeller |
| Larry Sanders | C | Bismack Biyombo |
| 2012/13 Advanced Stats | ||
| 94.7 (3rd) | Pace | 92.3 (13th) |
| 103.6 (22nd) | ORtg | 104.3 (19th) |
| 105.2 (12th) | DRtg | 109.4 (27th) |
On the Bobcats: Rufus On Fire | Queen City Hoops | Bobcats Baseline
Bobcats update. Charlotte lost 86-75 in Miami last night, though the more concerning loss was of starting center Al Jefferson. The Bobcats' big summer signing had to be helped off the court with a right ankle injury in the third quarter and was due to be re-evaluated sometime today.
Losing Jefferson for any extended period would obviously be a big blow to rookie coach Steve Clifford's early season ambitions, and along with Brendan Haywood's foot injury (8-12 weeks) it leaves Charlotte paper thin in the middle (for now). Third-year big man Bismack Biyombo, starting power forward Cody Zeller and veteran PF Josh McRoberts all figure to be asked to pick up the slack in the meantime.
Bucks' injuries mount. Already dealing with the long-term absence of Carlos Delfino and nagging injuries to most of their big man rotation, the Bucks didn't get any help following Thursday night's loss to the Wolves in South Dakota. Having already missed the past week with knee soreness, Ekpe Udoh underwent an arthroscopic procedure on Friday that will shelve him for 4-6 weeks, while Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee soreness), Nate Wolters (left wrist) and Gary Neal (foot) also were nursing less serious injuries on Friday.
That brings the list of walking wounded to seven: Delfino (foot), Pachulia (Achilles), Udoh (knee), Ersan Ilyasova (ankle), Wolters (wrist), Neal (foot) and Antetokounmpo (knee). But hey, at least Olek Czyz and Bucks preseason leading scorer Stephen Graham (11.5 ppg) are still healthy, right?
The Rook. Two (preseason) games into his NBA career, Giannis Antetokounmpo has already delivered more than his fair share of highlights. Of course he's also delivered 12 turnovers and missed nine of his first 13 shots, but all that is part of the process for the NBA's youngest player. Via Charles Gardner:
"I don't know if he was nervous or not," Drew said. "But he has shown to be very poised because he is making some big-time plays.
"This is about growth for him. He will grow faster being between those lines making mistakes than sitting on the bench getting instructions from us. We have to balance that.
"Let's say if we had a full squad, he probably wouldn't play as much as he did. It's an opportunity for him to grow. And he's responded well."
Drew said the coaches already have talked to the youngster about the traveling calls he is drawing.
"We'll show him on film and we'll get out here and work with him," Drew said, "getting him to where he keeps that foot down before he moves the other. Right now he's shuffling both. We'll work on it."
Now let's hope he's good to go again tonight.
No TV. Tonight's game isn't being carried live in Milwaukee or Charlotte, so that leaves only a couple options for catching the action: buy tickets and see it in person or listen to it live on 620 WTMJ (or Audio League Pass).