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| 14/15 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs. |  |
| November 25, 2014 | ||
| BMO Harris Bradley Center | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| 7:00 CT | ||
| Fox Sports Wisconsin | 620 WTMJ | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| Brandon Knight (Q) | PG | D.J. Augustin |
| Khris Middleton | SG | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | Josh Smith |
| Jabari Parker | PF | Greg Monroe |
| Larry Sanders | C | Andre Drummond |
| 2014/15 Advanced Stats | ||
| 92.8 (21st) |
Pace | 91.1 (25th) |
| 100.0 (28th) | ORtg | 100.3 (27th) |
| 104.0 (9th) |
DRtg | 105.7 (13th) |
On the Pistons: Detroit Bad Boys | PistonPowered | Detroit Free Press
The Milwaukee Bucks play host to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night for the first of two match-ups between the two teams this Thanksgiving holiday week. After Detroit defeated Milwaukee earlier this month, Detroit stood at 2-3 while Milwaukee fell to 2-4, it seemed more likely that Detroit would be poking around in the playoff picture while Milwaukee struggled to find their stride.
Well, you see, no. It did not go that way. Detroit has gone 1-7 since that game while Milwaukee has surprised many by going 5-3. Regardless of record, these two teams figure out a way to play each other evenly, and there isn't much of a reason to believe that Tuesday night won't be the same story.
Rebounds. Though the Pistons are beneath the Bucks in the standings, they present obvious mismatch problems inside, one that the Bucks have not been able to solve recently. Milwaukee's last two losses to the Raptors and Wizards were highlighted by the fact that they were outrebounded 110-66 in those contests. Detroit's big, skilled frontcourt trio of Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond are all quality rebounders for their positions, but as a group they've also been struggling to put the ball in the hoop. Both Smith and Drummond are shooting below 40% from the field and below 50% from the free throw line, numbers that go a long way toward explaining the Pistons' 27th ranked offense. Still, the Pistons rank 12th in offensive rebound rate and 8th on the defensive boards, and if they're able to dominate the glass, Milwaukee could be in for another long night.
No Brandons? Both Brandon Knight (thigh) and Brandon Jennings (thumb) are listed as questionable. Knight strained his quadriceps in the first half of Saturday night's game against the Wizards, but returned minutes later and played regular minutes the rest of the game on his way to 26 points. Jennings hyperextended his left thumb against the Hawks while reaching in for an attempted steal. Neither is expected to miss much time, but here's to hoping they play because #STORYLINES.
Update: According to David Mayo at MLive.com, Jennings will not play tonight. D.J. Augustin is expected to start in his place (h/t @PistonPowered).
Make sure to stop by this game thread to chat with fellow Bucks fans tonight. In the meantime, you have my permission to watch Josh Smith fire this pass into the stands on an infinite loop.