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Open Thread: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards, Regular Season Game 17


The Essentials:

Bucks (9-7) vs. Wizards (6-10)
7 p.m.
Verizon Center
TV: CSN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan

Notable Bucks numbers this season

12th in expected winning percentage (.555)
12th in pace (93.4 possessions per game)
21st in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (104.6)
6th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (103)

Notable Bucks numbers last season

19th in expected winning percentage (.462)
11th in pace (92.6 possessions per game)
23rd in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (106.7)
15th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (107.9)

Pre-game links

Brew Hoop, SB Nation's Milwaukee Bucks blog
Bucksketball, a Bucks blog
Brew Hoop's game thread
Michael Lee: The Other Side: Bucks
GameDay Bucks

Tonight's Projected Starters
Bucks vs. Wizards
Brandon Jennings
PG Gilbert Arenas
Charlie Bell
SG Nick Young
Carlos Delfino
SF Caron Butler
Ersan Ilyasova
PF Antawn Jamison
Andrew Bogut
C Brendan Haywood

I'm on my way out of work to the game (Section 104, if you're there), so no long preview. I also apologize for the site going down - the SB Nation servers were having problems this afternoon that I think are fully resolved now.

Four quick points:

  • This is the last team you want to face on a back-to-back. Milwaukee makes you work for everything and plays you incredibly physically. They foul a lot, but when the game is on the line, the refs get tired of calling everything and usually swallow their whistle. So, Gilbert Arenas, please don't drive just to look for contact.
  • Brandon Jennings is cooling off, but I'm still psyched to see him in person.
  • The engine of the Bucks is not Jennings, but Andrew Bogut. He's quietly improved his game significantly. He can score in the post with either hand if you don't double and is an excellent passer if you do. He can run the pick-and-roll with Jennings, can step out and shoot and is the defensive lynchpin of the team. Luckily, we have Brendan Haywood to slow him down. Haywood's got to earn his money tonight.
  • Michael Redd will not play for the Bucks tonight.

That's all. GO WIZARDS!