Bucks 103, Mavericks 99: Milwaukee rally shocks Dallas, ends 12-game streak
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Box Score
Didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Yes, the Bucks have been getting their act together of late, but that doesn’t mean a rational observer would have granted them much of a chance at winning either of the two games they play this week in Texas. Consider: the Mavericks (19-4 entering tonight’s game) and Spurs (20-3) sport the two best records in the league, and between them had not lost in 17 games. Until tonight at least. And while each team may be too old and flawed to play for a championship in June, that doesn’t mean the Bucks were going to find anything easy about beating them in December.
After a sluggish start, the Bucks got a good look at just how the Mavericks had won 12 consecutive games midway through the second quarter, when the combination of Dirk Nowitzki’s inimitable shot-making, Shawn Marion’s still boundless energy, the penetration of J.J. Barea, and some stifling defense had staked Rick Carlisle’s bunch to a rather commanding 42-22 lead. It’s not that you’d expect the Bucks to give up at that point, but pragmatically speaking a team like the Bucks doesn’t make up a 22-point deficit on the road against a team like the Mavs.
But Dallas may have gotten a bit smug at that point, and the Bucks simply kept working. Keyon Dooling found… Continue reading
Robbins: Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick Leave the Orlando Magic’s Road Trip, Will Miss Tonight’s Game at Milwaukee Bucks
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The Orlando Magic will once again find themselves rather shorthanded tonight when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks. All-Star center Dwight Howard and reserve swingman Mickael Pietrus returned to Orlando last night due to a stomach virus, and now Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports starting point guard Jameer Nelson and backup shooting guard J.J. Redick have also embarked for home, suffering from the same ailment. Their absence, coupled with Ryan Anderson’s sprained right mid-foot, means the Magic will only dress eight players for tonight’s contest. They are Malik Allen, Brandon Bass, Vince Carter, Chris Duhon, Marcin Gortat, Rashard Lewis, Quentin Richardson, and Jason Williams.
Some NBA teams can get by with playing an eight-man rotation on a nightly basis, but Magic coach Stan Van Gundy tends to use nine or 10 guys. As a result, it’ll be another night of unusual rotations for the team and extended minutes for the players.
Orlando handled Detroit last night, 104-91, thanks to some splendid play from Bass, Carter, and Gortat. Whether it can maintain that level on the back end of a back-to-back remains, obviously, to be seen.
http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2010/12/4/1854989/robbins-jameer-nelson-and-j-j-redick-leave-the-orlando-magics-roadSB Nation – Orlando Magic
Game #22: Miami Heat (13-8) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7-12)
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The Miami Heat head into this 4-game road trip flying higher then they have all season. Slowly but surely the offense is starting to click, and while there are still plenty of things that need to be fine-tuned and improved upon, the progress they have been making is greatly welcomed. With the Big 3 starting to get comfortable and know what is needed from then to win, things continue to look brighter.
Now the Heat begins their longest road trip of the season and in all honesty, it should be a successful one. The first stop is tonight in Milwaukee, playing in the arena where Dwyane Wade has his number retired from his college days at Marquette University. Wade has been playing very well of late, shooting 55% and averaging 22.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last 6 games.
One guy on the Bucks that scares the crap out of me is Andrew Bogut. I know that 2nd year stud Brandon Jennings is playing well and leading the team in points and assists but when Bogut is healthy the dude just dominates. Labeled as injury prone, he had missed Milwaukee’s… Continue reading
Milwaukee Bucks 96, Orlando Magic 85
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The Orlando Magic’s winning streak ended at six games this evening against the Milwaukee Bucks, with Orlando simply having no answer for center Andrew Bogut on the interior in its 96-85 defeat. Bogut tallied season-highs with 31 points on 13-of-20 shooting to go with 18 boards, having his way with the Magic’s center combination of Marcin Gortat and Malik Allen. Brandon Jennings added 27 points for the Bucks, whose defense excelled in forcing the Magic to take contested, low-percentage shots throughout the game. Vince Carter missed 14 of his 21 shots on his way to scoring a team-best 20 points for Orlando, which simply didn’t have enough firepower to compensate for the loss of four rotation players on the second night of a back-to-back set against a stout defensive team.
There’s no way around it: Milwaukee established Bogut inside against Gortat early, and he quickly demonstrated that Gortat couldn’t hope to defend him or keep him off the glass. He made six of his first 7 shot attempts and punished Orlando for daring to single-cover him. The Magic aren’t really equipped to send double-teams to the low post. They rarely double anyone, but when they do, it’s high-volume perimeter scoring threats late in games. So in the first quarter, against a center who’s making hay with a variety of post moves? How’s that supposed to work?
The Magic fought their way back with a late three-point spurt by Jason Williams and… Continue reading
Milwaukee Bucks 96, Orlando Magic 85
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The Orlando Magic’s winning streak ended at six games this evening against the Milwaukee Bucks, with Orlando simply having no answer for center Andrew Bogut on the interior in its 96-85 defeat. Bogut tallied season-highs with 31 points on 13-of-20 shooting to go with 18 boards, having his way with the Magic’s center combination of Marcin Gortat and Malik Allen. Brandon Jennings added 27 points for the Bucks, whose defense excelled in forcing the Magic to take contested, low-percentage shots throughout the game. Vince Carter missed 14 of his 21 shots on his way to scoring a team-best 20 points for Orlando, which simply didn’t have enough firepower to compensate for the loss of four rotation players on the second night of a back-to-back set against a stout defensive team.
There’s no way around it: Milwaukee established Bogut inside against Gortat early, and he quickly demonstrated that Gortat couldn’t hope to defend him or keep him off the glass. He made six of his first 7 shot attempts and punished Orlando for daring to single-cover him. The Magic aren’t really equipped to send double-teams to the low post. They rarely double anyone, but when they do, it’s high-volume perimeter scoring threats late in games. So in the first quarter, against a center who’s making hay with a variety of post moves? How’s that supposed to work?
The Magic fought their way back with a late three-point spurt by Jason Williams and… Continue reading
Robbins: Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick Leave the Orlando Magic’s Road Trip, Will Miss Tonight’s Game at Milwaukee Bucks
View full size photo »
The Orlando Magic will once again find themselves rather shorthanded tonight when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks. All-Star center Dwight Howard and reserve swingman Mickael Pietrus returned to Orlando last night due to a stomach virus, and now Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports starting point guard Jameer Nelson and backup shooting guard J.J. Redick have also embarked for home, suffering from the same ailment. Their absence, coupled with Ryan Anderson’s sprained right mid-foot, means the Magic will only dress eight players for tonight’s contest. They are Malik Allen, Brandon Bass, Vince Carter, Chris Duhon, Marcin Gortat, Rashard Lewis, Quentin Richardson, and Jason Williams.
Some NBA teams can get by with playing an eight-man rotation on a nightly basis, but Magic coach Stan Van Gundy tends to use nine or 10 guys. As a result, it’ll be another night of unusual rotations for the team and extended minutes for the players.
Orlando handled Detroit last night, 104-91, thanks to some splendid play from Bass, Carter, and Gortat. Whether it can maintain that level on the back end of a back-to-back remains, obviously, to be seen.
SB Nation – Orlando Magic
http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2010/12/4/1854989/robbins-jameer-nelson-and-j-j-redick-leave-the-orlando-magics-road
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