Hawks - Bucks

[Guest]

We have to win this game tonight. If we do it will be a 5-game winning streak. Josh should hav a field day as long as he plays inside, the Bucks have no one who can guard him one on one down low. This is the first look we get at the new look Bucks with Monta Ellis. Kirk should do a good job on Ellis, I'm glad Joe doesn't have chase Ellis around. When we go big with Marvin, Joe should be in the post all night long with Monta guarding him.Go Hawks!!!

[Pride1190]

We should be able to win, but this 7 games in 9 days stuff is a mess!!! Look for Josh to have a double double and Joe to score around 20-25.

[Gray Mule]

It's time for one of our guards to "go off" on somebody.Look for either Captain Kirk or Jeff T. to "EXPLODE" tonight.twenty points from one of them should put us over the hump.They must cover Josh inside, along with Zaza and worry about JJ outside.That should leave the other two plenty of opportunities to shine.GO HAWKS!!

[Dnice]

Jacked this from the Bucks RealGM board..

[SalvorMallow]

[benhillboy]

Jennings and Ellis averaging 14 and 12 respectively, on poor shooting of course, since the acquisition. I've always been of the opinion that any team with Ellis on it will beat themselves more than anything. They'll probably deploy Mbah-Moute on Joe, because if not, he better live in the post as Ellis and Dunleavy have no chance of guarding him down there, and I think Delfino was hurt last night. Gooden and Ilyasova are the only ones who could hurt us, but definitely not enough to put the game in question as Josh should have his way with them for the most part. I dont know how good of a rebounder Udoh is, but he isnt ready for King Zaza. Hometeam in a comfortable win finally.

Edited March 27, 2012 by benhillboy

[lethalweapon3]

You’d have thought the Bucks had a “Jeremy List” on the injured list last night. Because to hear Bucks fans tell, it, their heroes were “Listless” in a missed opportunity to rein in the “Lin-less” New York Knicks for the final playoff spot. Yesterday, the Madison Square Garden faithful had to make do without cheering on Jeremy Lin, Amar’e Stoudemire, Jared Jeffries, and Toney Douglas. This was particularly true in the second half, after the Bucks squandered a five-point halftime lead, but the problem that became evident was no one other than Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (26 points, on 5-for-6 two-point shooting and 5-for-8 three-point shooting) could buy a bucket.

The megastar backcourt pairing of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis managed only 8 baskets out of 38 shots, including a combined 0-for-9 at three-point range. Perhaps pestered by Tyson Chandler, the Bucks’ remaining starters were just as ineffective (4-for-17). The Knicks were every bit as anemic with their shooting and turnovers, but got to the free throw line almost twice as often to keep Milwaukee at bay.

Their season-long stats suggest last night’s contest is their offensive modus operandi. Loft up a nearly insane amount of shots (85.7 per game, 2^nd in the NBA; 4.1 more net FGAs per game, 1^st in the East) early enough in the clock to keep the pace high (about 96 possessions per 48 minutes, ranked 6^th in the NBA; 3^rd highest pace in the East). Then, crash the boards (12.7 offensive rebounds per game, 5^th most) to compensate for the inordinate number of missed shots (43.5 FG%, 6^th worst). It’s like Sacramento’s style of play, except Milwaukee has much better shooters, worse rebounders, and much better passers. It doesn’t seem like the type of offense we’ve come to expect out of a Scott Skiles team, but it may be either Skiles making do with the groceries he has at his disposal, or transitioning and molding the Bucks from what he inherited three seasons ago.

On the subject of rebounding, the Bucks seem to place an emphasis on the wrong end of the floor. Only the Bobcats give up more net defensive rebounds per game. It remains to be seen if Ekpe Udoh and the other big men getting increased minutes will be able to make up for the rebounding lost when Andrew Bogut got injured and subsequently traded to Golden State.

It’s hard to look at the Bucks and see one of the league’s top-flight passing teams but, as of now, the team led by a coach who once rang up an NBA-record 30 assists in a game is third in per-game assists and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio. By comparison, the Bucks were dead last in assists per game last season. About 62% of their made field goals are assisted (2^nd highest in the NBA). Thanks to the trade, they now have two players (Beno Udrih at 2.9, Jennings at 2.5) among the NBA top 40 for assist-turnover ratio, and two new players that, at least early on, seem to be getting the hang of it (Udoh at 2.7, Ellis at 2.5). Ellis’ assist rate was already at a career high before he joined the Bucks. Meanwhile, team leader Jennings has substantially improved his efficiency via his ball handling (career-low turnover rate), to the extent that he was well within the orbit of guards worthy of All-Star consideration.

Ideally, the Hawks will want to goad Milwaukee’s guards into playing hero-ball. Make them shoot over taller defenders when possible, and keep them from driving into the lane for dumpoffs to guys like Udoh, Jon Leuer, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Shaun Livingston, or kickouts to the likes of Drew Gooden, Dunleavy, and Ersan Ilyasova.

Passes for short-range shots (3-to-9 feet) are Milwaukee’s forte, as nearly 50 percent of these baskets are assisted (2^nd highest in the league) – and Hawks’ opponents have a similar success rate on assisted shots at this distance (about 50 percent, also 2^nd highest). If successful with open jumpers, Milwaukee’s taller shooters will draw out Atlanta’s forwards, making it tougher for the Hawks’ centers to vie for the defensive rebound. As Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague did the other night against Washington and Utah, respectively, the Hawks’ guards will have to play close-to-the-vest defense and then help with the rebounding.

Go Hawks!

~lw3

[arhawkfan]

This game makes me nervous for some reason.

[lethalweapon3]

Our secret weapon in figuring out the Bucks' gameplan:http://www.nba.com/hawks/video/2012/03/27/mil032712pre42avi-2048288/index.html~lw3

[Guest]

Anybody know if the game is on locally tonight - Foxsports South? I haven't seen it on the comcast lineup.

[Guest]

Anybody know if the game is on locally tonight - Foxsports South? I haven't seen it on the comcast lineup.

Never mind - there is a program alert on their website about the game starting at 7:30PM (pregame),

[High5]

Anybody know if the game is on locally tonight - Foxsports South? I haven't seen it on the comcast lineup.

It's supposed to be on Sportsouth like every other game, but it's not on my guide either. Wouldn't be the first time the guide was wrong, though.

[Colin]

Rough first half, Josh with 18 shots though...? I can't watch the game because I'm not home, are they good shot or not? Are you guys mad?

[dalamchops]

Rough first half, Josh with 18 shots though...? I can't watch the game because I'm not home, are they good shot or not? Are you guys mad?

not that many bad shots... just an insane amount of turnovers by everyone.

[Gray Mule]

This game makes me nervous for some reason.

Every game has this built in because - On any given night - Hawks have opportunity tolose. We're getting whipped, but, coming back to close half down by single didgets.

[Supporter]

poop

[willthepureshooter]

Tired bodies = mental mistakes = turnovers = LOST GAME!!Our boys were tired tonight and it showed. Chicago should be the perfect rebound. Go Hawks!!!

[arhawkfan]

I wonder if JJs legs were gone.

[willthepureshooter]

I wonder if JJs legs were gone.

Yeah, they were pretty much through.

[Sothron]

I don't think anyone can be shocked we lost this game with absolutely dead legs.