SBNation.com User Blog: Jacob Grinyer

2012 NBA Draft: Brew Hoop Draft Board - Pick #5

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:21:20 -0000

Brew Hoop's readers have made their selection at #4: Bradley Beal. A 6'4" guard out of Florida, Beal did not fully live up to his rave reviews coming out of high school, showing inconsistencies in several different facets of his game during an otherwise solid freshman season at Florida. Nevertheless, Beal has shown himself to have a wide skill set and a reputation for being a good decision maker while on the floor. Beal might not make the huge leap to stardom in the pros, but with his reported determination to get better, fluid shooting stroke and sound skillset, he is generally considered to be a safe pick at this point in the draft.

1. Anthony Davis - PF, Kentucky
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - SF, Kentucky
3. Thomas Robinson - PF, Kansas
4. Bradley Beal - SG, Florida

Pick the player YOU would like the Bucks to select, assuming they were drafting at each position - this ain't no mock draft. That means you should take into account need, potential, or (trade) value, and consider which other players are still available.

Poll closes after about a day.

Poll

My #5 Pick for the Brew Hoop Draft Board is:

Andre Drummond

45 votes

Jared Sullinger

9 votes

Harrison Barnes

35 votes

Jeremy Lamb

5 votes

John Henson

2 votes

Other

3 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

76ers 90, Bucks 85: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:28:28 -0000

The Bucks' final home game of the season was... fairly uninspiring. It probably wasn't wise to expect anything magical after having been eliminated from the playoffs already, but so it goes. Tobias Harris played the role of exciting young player, putting in 15 points and 13 rebounds in a game high 37 minutes of action. Larry Sanders (12 points 6-12 FG) managed to provide some competition for that role though, showing some of his improvement over his rookie year. Over in the Philadelphia side of things, Jodie Meeks came back to haunt the Bucks with 27 points, and Evan Turner complimented him by scoring 29. The Bucks will close out the season tonight against the Celtics in Boston. Where will they go after that? It's anybody's guess at the moment.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / JS Online / Liberty Ballers/ Philadunkia / Philadephia Inquirer

Notes: BTBP: On Ersan Ilyasova, The Milwaukee Bucks, And A Long-Term Contract / Bucksketball: The depressing possible final phrase from a head coach / Bucks.com: Fourth Quarters on 4th Street / FS: Ilyasova making a case for most improved / OnMilwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks rookies Leuer, Harris look ahead

Bucks 92, Raptors 86: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:38:37 -0000

In the final clash with their neighbors from the north, the Bucks snatched up one of their more hollow victories of the season. Despite the escapades of Ersan Ilyasova (19 points, 6/10 FG, 5 rebounds) and Brandon Jennings ( 25 points, 9/23 FG) the Bucks' playoff fates were already being sealed miles away in New Jersey, where the 76ers clinched the playoffs with a win. Milwaukee managed a comeback from being down 14 in the third quarter, but it was not an efficient offensive display. James Johnson posted 22 points with13 rebounds for Toronto, and Ed David chipped in 11 boards. With the playoffs no longer an option, the Bucks will look forward towards what promises to be another active off season, with the future of key personnel in doubt.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / JS Online / Raptors HQ / Raptors Republic / Toronto Star

Notes: JS: Bucks face decisions on Hammond, Skiles / OnMilwaukee: Bucks falter again, questions arise / TBJ: Stephen Jackson went to Sea World and it was amazing / FS: Bucks miss playoffs for third time in four years

Bucks 95, Bobcats 90: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:27:57 -0000

Coming in as a team with a tendency to beat up on the lower teams of the NBA, one would think that the Bucks would unleash their best against the Charlotte Bobcats, who only have 7 wins and both the worst offensive and defensive efficiencies in the league. Nothing is that simple though. Byron Mullens had the night of his life with 31 points and 14 rebounds, as the Bucks could not find an answer up front. Meanwhile, Eduardo Najera suffered a nasty injury to the head after an elbow by Jon Brockman, and had to exit. The Bucks were able to counter the Bobcats with their backcourt of Monta Ellis (25 points, 9-21 FG) and Brandon Jennings (18 points, 8-17 FG, 9 assists). The Bucks had a rough time shutting the Bobcats away, and the unsatisfactory nature of the victory was reflected in Scott Skiles' post game comments.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / JS Online / Rufus on Fire / Charlotte Observer

Notes: BTBP: An Irrevelant Coaching Milestone for Scott Skiles / Bucksetball: Scott Skiles was not excited about Milwaukee’s win over Charlotte / FoxSports: Najera injures head, taken to hospital

Bucks 112, Wizards 98: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:51:23 -0000

This wasn't the first time the Bucks have defeated the Wizards, and pushing around bad teams is nothing new to Milwaukee, but of course that doesn't change the fact that they won. Monta Ellis (17 points, 5/11 FG) was sharp tonight matched up against Jordan Crawford, scoring most of his points off of jumpers and from the free throw line. Crawford (23 points, 8/17 FG) didn't have such a bad night either for the Wizards. Brandon Jennings (7/17 FG, 19 points) dominated the third quarter, exploding for 17 points as he helped the Bucks put Washington away for good. The Wizards also couldn't seem to go a possession without fouling, which proved to be immensely helpful. Furthermore, Ekpe Udoh (15 points, 8 rebounds) put up his most promising offensive performance yet, despite his no-stats (Well, no box score stats) reputation. The Bucks haven't had a problem so far beating the lowly teams, and continuing that will likely be necessary to make the playoffs.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference/ Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Bullets Forever / Truth About It / Washington Post

Notes: USA Today: Bucks aim to wrest final playoff spot from Knicks / JS: Rookies lost in Bucks' shuffle / JS: Nelson reflects on time as coach of Bucks / OnMilwaukee: Bucks effort is worth appreciating / FS: Skiles has very high praise for Dunleavy / FS: Everybody had a hand in on Bucks' 'W' vs. Wiz

Grizzlies 99, Bucks 95: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:10:43 -0000

Some things might change, but the Bucks struggling against above average teams hasn't. Things looked fine enough when the Bucks held the Grizzlies to 11 points in the first quarter, but it wasn't nearly enough to sustain a lead as the Grizzlies began to pull away in the third quarter. Milwaukee would be able to force turnovers and get out in transition, including a missed Jennings dunk that was turned into a three point play, but the Grizzlies would overwhelm the Bucks on the boards 58-39, and Monta Ellis (2/12 FG) would not have a favorable night in 35 minutes. The Bucks would have a glimmer of hope in the final minute, thanks to the Grizzlies' fouling on two 3 point attempts. That hope would not last very long though, and the Bucks fell 99-95, putting them 2.5 games back from the Knicks for the 8th playoff spot.

Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Straight Outta Vancouver / Commercial Appeal

Notes: OnMilwaukee: Bucks award uniform contract to Kohl's / FS: Bucks let big chance slip through their grasp

Bucks 121, Cavaliers 84: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:19:13 -0000

To put it simply, the Bucks did a lot right in Cleveland an not a whole lot wrong. The 35 points that Milwaukee let out in the first quarter was only a preview of things to come as the Bucks jumped to a whopping 71-44 halftime lead behind the strength of Brandon Jennings (28 points, 11/17) , Ersan Ilyasova, (20 points, 9/11 FG) and Mike Dunleavy (16 points, 5/7 FG). The Bucks never quite doubled that score in the 2nd half, but nevertheless would continue putting the beatdown. A collapse was unlikely, but it's still good to be mentally prepared. The Cavs, meanwhile, still had a good game to show from rookie Kyrie Irving (29 points, 11/20 FG) but he suffered a sprained right shoulder in the process. However, the Cavs are likely looking towards the draft for now, while the Bucks are still searching for the 8th spot in the East.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Cavs: The Blog / Cleveland Plain Dealer

YahooNotes: SportingNews: Minutes Hard to Come by as Bucks chase final playoff spot / JS: Bradley Center's impact is calculated at $204.5 million a year / FS: Bucks destroy Cavs, gain game in playoff race

Bucks 108, Hawks 101: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:43:46 -0000

Short-handed without the services of Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova, the Bucks looked like a completely different team than the one that went stagnant before going completely out against the New York Knicks on Monday night.

The game looked to be going in a positive direction soon enough, as Monta Ellis went to work with 10 points in the first quarter (en route to 33 points and 8 assists). He was joined by fellow guard Brandon Jennings (18 points, 6-13 FG) in rejuvenating the backcourt that had struggled mightily just one day before. At one point, the two towers of Ekpe Udoh and Larry Sanders rose up to reject a Marvin Williams attempt at the rim, and the two made for an interesting defensive combo. Though the Bucks would race out to a 17 point lead, the Hawks would--obviously--come roaring back, and Josh Smith (30 points, 18 rebounds) certainly did his part. Monta Ellis' 17 fourth quarter points, however, would shut the door on the possibility of a Hawks triumph. It was certainly a satisfying win over an above-average team, something the Bucks had been searching for.

Box Scores: Basic / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Peachtree Hoops / Hoopinion / Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Notes: FS: Ellis finally shows off shooting touch for Bucks / NBA.com: Monta Finally Being Monta For Bucks / JS: Ellis gives Bucks a real shot at playoffs / CNN: Luc Mbah a Moute: From African prince to king of NBA

Knicks 89, Bucks 80: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:35:23 -0000

With Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin sidelined for Monday's contest, the Bucks should have had an easy time with the Knicks, right? Not so. Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks got to work early, and if not for the saving grace of Mike Dunleavy with his 14 first quarter points, the Bucks likely would have been buried early. No, the burying would come later on in the second half where the Knicks would feast at the free throw line and the game became flat out ugly. The Bucks' starting backcourt went a combined 8 of 36, and for the starting five as a whole, a gut wrenching 12-53. Carmelo Anthony pumped out 28 points on 8-20 shooting for the Knicks, and Tyson Chandler pulled down 5 offensive rebounds out of 9 total boards. Mike Dunleavy finished 26 points, probably being the only thing that made the game watchable. The game was another setback for a Bucks team with it's sights set on the playoffs.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Posting and Toasting / Knickerblogger / New York Times

Notes: Brewhoop: Ekpe Udoh, Monta Ellis And The Dissonance Caused By Advanced Statistical Analysis / JS: Not all lost for Bucks yet / FS: Bucks look to end Hawks' winning streak

Pacers 125, Bucks 104: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:30:02 -0000

The Bucks are doing a fine job of blowing out teams that aren't particularly very good. The better ones? Not so much. The Bucks seemed helpless at times against the Pacers, who posted an offensive efficiency rating of 126.3. George Hill scored 24 points off the bench and a size-disadvantaged Bucks frontline could not put the brakes on the Pacers' combo of David West (15 points 6-14 FG) and Roy Hibbert (16 points, 7-11 FG). In spite of this, Ersan Ilyasova continued to be a bright spot with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Brandon Jennings perked up the crowd for a little while with a half-court shot to end the third quarter, but it did little for the Bucks and was otherwise a night of struggles for Jennings (5-16 FG). However, through all of this the Bucks still managed to churn out 30 assists, if that's any consolidation whatsoever. If the Bucks wish to get serious about the playoffs, they'll need a good showing against the Knicks on Monday.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Indiana Cornrows / Eight Points, Nine Seconds / Indianapolis Star

Notes: FS: Skiles, Gooden talk loss / Indy Cornrows: Hansbrough Takes Exception To Dunleavy's Smashmouth Play /

Bucks 112, Bobcats 92: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:12:29 -0000

After having their winning streak rudely interrupted by the Boston Celtics, the Bucks went into Charlotte and continued on their merry way. Though the game was close after one, the Bucks would get to work quickly in the second, taking a 12 point lead into halftime. Gerald Henderson did not make things easy for the Bucks, scoring 16 points in the first half on the way to 29 points, 3 short of his career high of 32. Luckily, another balanced scoring night helped the Bucks come through, with Luc Richard Mbah Moute (8-12, 20 points) having a game reminiscent of his play against Golden State. Mike Dunleavy (15 points, 6-7 FG) continued to provide a great lift in general off the bench with shooting and passing. In the end, the Bucks netted themselves another 30 point assist night. It was against another sub-par team, but the Bucks routed them as they should.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Rufus on Fire / Queen City Hoops / Charlotte Observer

Notes: JS: Fog delays Bucks' arrival ; Indiana Next / FS: Bucks' playoff prospects greatly aided Friday / FS: Bucks, Pacers battle for first time this season

Celtics 100, Bucks 91: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reation

Jacob Grinyer — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:23:12 -0000

The Bucks' six game winning streak came to an end unspectacularly against the Boston Celtics, putting a damper on the Milwaukee debut of Monta Ellis (6/18 FG, 13 points) and Ekpe Udoh (2 points, career high 10 rebounds). Though the Bucks scored well in the first half and held on to a 2 point lead at halftime, the offense would not be able to sustain itself. Drew Gooden did not live up to his crowning as the Easter Conference player of the week, going 2-12 from the field with 6 points and only 3 rebounds. Brandon Jennings chipped in 19 points, including an attempt to bring the Bucks back towards the end that fell short. Paul Pierce led the way for Boston with 25 points, and former Wisconsin Badger Greg Stiemsma added 5 blocked Milwaukee shots.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Celtics Blog / Celtics Hub / Boston Globe

Notes: Bucksketball: Month of March? More like month of Mike (Dunleavy)! / FS Wisconsin: Bucks' playoff prospects takes hit vs. Boston /

Bucks 116, Blazers 87: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:30:32 -0000

Regardless of their competition, the start to the post-Bogut era in Bucks basketball has so far been very nice. Portland was a team that recently took to the decision to rebuild after a disapointing stretch, and that's exactly what they played like. Drew Gooden set the tone early with 13 points in the first quarter, and the Bucks took a 25-23 lead. The game was rarely that close afterwards though, as the Bucks pulled away to a 54-43 halftime lead, proceeding to stretch that to 20+ in the third quarter.

The Bucks' fantastic teamwork continued, as they notched 30+ assists for the fourth straight game. Monta Ellis made his presence felt, scoring 14 points on 4-8 shooting, and perhaps even more importantly dishing out 9 assists. Beno Udrih and Mike Dunleavy brought the firepower off the bench with 15 points each, while the Blazers bench (2-29 FG) was ineffective to say the least. With a New York win, the Bucks remain a half game behind the Knicks for the final playoff spot in the East.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Blazersedge / Portland Roundball Society / The Oregonian

Notes: JS: Jennings wants Bucks to keep streaking / Bucks Beat: Soap Opera Saga led to Bogut Trade / FS: New faces help add to Bucks' winning streak. / Blazers Edge: Media Row Report

Bucks 120, Warriors 98: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:02:05 -0000

In unique fashion, the Bucks welcomed their two newcomers by routing their former team. Milwaukee put up an offensive performance unlike any other one this year, scoring over 30 points in 3 out of 4 quarters en route to a season high offensive rating of 130.1. With Ersan Ilyasova out with a bronchial condition, Luc Mbah Moute filled in for him and then some, moving well off the ball to the rim where he would score 22 points and grab 17 rebounds. Mike Dunleavy had a nearly flawless shooting night, leading the way with 24 points off of 7-8 shooting. In his Bucks debut, Monta Ellis scored 18 points with 4 rebounds and assists, while forcing 3 Warriors turnovers. Ekpe Udoh scored no points, but grabbed 4 rebounds and had one block in 19 minutes of action.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Golden State of Mind / Warriors World / Oakland Tribune

Notes: Brewhoop: Monta Ellis' Message to Milwaukee Bucks Fans / FS: Bogut thanks Milwaukee, greets Bay Area / Hardwood Paroxysm: The Bucks Are Winning With Offense / Warriors World: A Franchise Reborn / Mercury News: Andrew Bogut introduction

Bucks vs. Cavaliers Preview: Bucks Hope To Hold On To 8th Spot Post-Bogut Trade

Jacob Grinyer — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:08:55 -0000

2011/2012 NBA Season
	vs.
18-24 (10-9 home)		16-24 (7-11 home)
March 14th 2012
Bradley Center
7:00 PM CT
Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin
Probable starters:
Brandon Jennings	PG	Kyrie Irving
Carlos Delfino	SG	Anthony Parker
Tobias Harris	SF	Alonzo Gee
Ersan Ilyasova	PF	Antawn Jamison
Drew Gooden	C	Ryan Hollins

(16th) 100.7 - OFFENSE - 99.3 (21st)
(23d) 103.2 - DEFENSE - 103.1 (21st)
(7th) 95.5 - PACE - 95.0 (6th)

Fresh off of dealing long-time big man Andrew Bogut (along with Stephen Jackson) to the Warriors for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, And Kwame Brown, the Bucks stay at home tonight to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are breathing down the Bucks' collective neck in the race for the final playoff spot in the East.

2011/2012 NBA Season
	vs.
18-24 (10-9 home)		16-24 (7-11 home)
March 14th 2012
Bradley Center
7:00 PM CT
Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin
Probable starters:
Brandon Jennings	PG	Kyrie Irving
Carlos Delfino	SG	Anthony Parker
Tobias Harris	SF	Alonzo Gee
Ersan Ilyasova	PF	Antawn Jamison
Drew Gooden	C	Ryan Hollins

(16th) 100.7 - OFFENSE - 99.3 (21st)
(23d) 103.2 - DEFENSE - 103.1 (21st)
(7th) 95.5 - PACE - 95.0 (6th)

No Newcomers. The Bucks will be a bit shorthanded tonight as Ellis and Ekpe Udoh are not cleared yet to play in a Bucks uniform. Kwame Brown, meanwhile, may not play a single game in a Bucks uniform due to a chest injury that sidelined him in January. However, it's probably safe to say that most Bucks fans weren't preoccupied withh the former #1 overall pick as part of the deal.

Playoffs? The Cavaliers are two spots behind the Bucks for the last playoff spot, behind the New York Knicks. Like the Knicks however, the Cavs have struggled recently, going 3-7 in their last 10 games. Rookie star Kyrie Irving has struggled shooting from the field in the last three games, shooting below 35% in each of them, but still creating opportunities for others.

Jennings still here. Despite rumors that Jennings may have been shipped out of Milwaukee along with Bogut, he's still here and kicking, and will hope to pick up where left off against New Jersey (34 points on 12/23 FG) as he continues to bounce back from a fairly disspointing stretch in February.

Bucks 105, Nets 99: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:17:15 -0000

Amid continuing trade rumors, the Bucks went into the Prudential Center and came out not looking rattled at all, in spite of a fairly sluggish start (again). Though Kris Humphries promised to make things tough from the very beginning (31 points, 18 rebounds) lacking Deron Williams and Brook Lopez dealt blows to New Jersey's chances from the start. While the Ersan Ilyasova that we've come to know and love recently didn't show up, Brandon Jennings (34 points, 12/24 FG) made sure to step up in his place, with assistance from Drew Gooden, Mike Dunleavy, Beno Udrih, and some great teamwork between all of them. With the win, the Bucks took hold of the ~~coveted~~ final playoff spot in the East, but are also mired in uncertainty regarding trade possibilities.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Nets Daily / Nets Are Scorching /The Star-Ledger

Notes: FS: Winning last 4 of 5, Bucks now 8th seed / Brewhoop: Talking Three-Team Deal With Golden State, Orlando? / Yahoo: Dwight Howard: He’s determined to leave the Magic for the Nets, either now or later

Bucks 105, Raptors 99: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:14:25 -0000

Ersanity in its truest form made its debut north of the border in Toronto last night, and did not dissapoint. Ersan Ilyasova again led the way with 31 points (11/16 FG) and 12 rebounds, but had a little help from his friends-- namely Mike Dunleavy (19 points, 7/15 FG) and Drew Gooden (21 points, 7/11 FG). The Bucks got off to a bumpy start, trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, but they managed to cut it to five by the end of the 2nd quarter. 24 game minutes later, the Bucks are just one game out of the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference playoff spot. Who will still be on the team after March 15th, however, remains to be seen.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brewhoop / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Raptors HQ / Raptors Republic / Toronto Star

Notes: JS: Bogut at Crossroads with Bucks / Bucks.com: Ersan Ilyasova Named NBA'S Eastern Conference Player of The Week / Hardwood Paroxysm: Trade Deadline: Round Table / SBNation: NBA Trade Rumors Catch Up With Brandon Jennings / JS: Report says Warriors have interest in Bogut

Bucks 119, Knicks 114: Video Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 04:40:10 -0000

Both teams lacking their defensive anchors in Tyson Chandler and Andrew Bogut, defense was apparently not on the menu for the Knicks and Bucks. For once though, it did not seem to matter for Scott Skiles' team. A trio consisting of Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Jennings and--of course-- Ersan Ilyasova each scored over 25 points, becoming the second group of 3 NBA teammates this season to accomplish that feat. Despite an 18-4 run from New York to make a seemingly comfortable game uncomfortable (not to mention a 5 second violation in the waning seconds of the game) the Knicks could not capitalize and the Bucks held on.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Posting and Toasting / New York Times / Knickerblogger

Notes: Brew Hoop: Drew Gooden: Overpaid And Underappreciated / Mirror Online: Brandon Jennings can relate to Jeremy Lin's path to the NBA / Mirror Online: Linsanity arrives in Milwaukee / Bucksketball: Ersan Ilyasova will grab that offensive rebound, don't worry about it / FS: Knicks' star power doesn't light up win column / JS: Novak finding his groove with Knicks

Bulls 106, Bucks 104: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:22:43 -0000

For the fourth time this season, the Bucks faced the Chicago Bulls, and for the fourth time, they fell. Once again, it came in front of a heavily Bulls fan populated crowd in Milwaukee. Despite the odds, the Bucks were determined to make the game competitive though, and indeed they did. The ever productive Drew Gooden led the way initially with 16 points in the first quarter on the way to a 27 point game, whilst Ersan Ilyasova continued to defy expectations with 32 points and ten rebounds, never letting up around the basket. However, Derrick Rose, two rebounds shy of a triple double, made quick work of any effort with a buzzer beater swish over Brandon Jennings. Somehow, it wasn't entirely shocking.

Box Scores: Basic / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Gameflow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / BlogaBull / By The Horns / Chicago Tribune

Notes: Bucks Beat: Big Decision Nears / FS: Ilyasova blossoming with consistent minutes / CSN Chicago: Thibodeau talks possible trade targets for Bulls / J S: Jackson takes part in practice

Bucks 97, 76ers 93: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:55:27 -0000

Unlike their previous encounter with the 76ers on Martin Luther King day, the Bucks came out on the winning end this time around. Things started out pleasently in the first quarter as Brandon Jennings came out swinging with 19 points. However, his fast start fizzled in the second, as he went scoreless in the quarter and the Sixers went up four at halftime. But the Bucks would not go away quietly, with Jennings having a 14 point renaissance in the second half. With the aid of Drew Gooden (25 points on 9/17 shooting) the Bucks squeaked by despite 26 points from Lou Williams, who missed with less than a minute left to secure things for Milwaukee.

Box Scores: Basic / Hoopdata / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Liberty Ballers / Philadunkia / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Notes: Bucksketball: "Going out and doing it" / JS: The MVP, Miss America, and a Bucks victory / FS: Ex-Buck Meeks making his mark with 76ers

Celtics 102, Bucks 96: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:36:45 -0000

As with many games this year, it was a tale of two halves for the Bucks, who played well against Boston for all of 24 minutes. Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova attacked the Celtics from inside and outside, and Brandon Jennings became a pass first player before our very eyes. Yet the Bucks soon fell off the tracks in the 3rd and beyond, and Rajon Rondo took advantage with a triple double to lead the way. The Bucks managed one last gasp as they came within two with less then 30 seconds remaining, but it was soon put to rest by Boston.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flows

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Celtics Blog / Celtics Hub / Boston Globe

Notes: FS: Ilyasova's ascension provides hope for Bucks / BTBP: Midseason Grades: Bench / Starters / Celtics Blog: As Rondo Goes, So Goes The Celtics

Bucks 119, Wizards 118: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:10:59 -0000

Fresh from the all star break, the Bucks looked ready to pummel the 7-26 Wizards into the ground, leading by as many as 22 during the second quarter and taking a 14 point lead into halftime. Nothing is safe with the Bucks though, and the Wizards chipped away at the lead with the help of some hot three point shooting and unlikely scoring from Maurice Evans, among others. But with the Bucks trailing 118-117, Ersan Ilyasova again came through for the Bucks with a game winning tip-in following a Brandon Jennings miss, ending fears of another blown game. Mike Dunleavy's shot was stellar all game for the Bucks, contributing a season-high 28 points.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind the Buck Pass / JS Online / Bullets Forever / Truth About It / Washington Post

Notes: FS: Bucks satisfied with ugly win over the Wizards / JS: Bucks still showing some signs of life / Bullets Forever: Wizards Vs. Bucks: Randy Wittman Keeps Sticking To His Word / Sports Business Journal: Resurgent NBA’s local ratings up 19 percent

Bucks 92, Nets 85: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:38:42 -0000

Bucks 92, Nets 85
It may not have been the awe-inspiring win that the Bucks were looking for, but they got it done regardless. The Nets struggled to make shots all night long and looked generally sloppy, despite the return of big man Brook Lopez, who struggled to contain the Bucks smaller frontline, and Deron Williams, who pitched in 26 points and 6 assists. The Nets made a final run towards the end of the fourth, but the Bucks held on. Oh yes, and Ersan Ilyasova scored 29 points and grabbed 25 boards. It's kind of notable.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / NetsDaily / Nets Are Scorching / The Star-Ledger

Notes: NYDailyNews: Bucks' Stephen Jackson talks NJ Nets, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams as Milwaukee spoils Brook Lopez's return from injury / Bucksketball: Ersanity sweeps over Bucks / JS: Ersanity by the numbers / BTBP: An Open Letter to Stephen Jackson

Hornets 92, Bucks 89: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:51:29 -0000

Hornets 92, Bucks 89
In what seemed like one big sluggish train wreck, the Bucks came out on the losing end. The then-5-and-23 Hornets were able to muster a five point half time lead before stretching it to 13 during the third quarter. The Bucks came back to keep the game within manageable distance in the fourth, but they could never conjure up enough momentum, which, combined with crucial missed rebounds late, spelled their doom. Ersan Ilyasova helped carry the lackluster Bucks for much of the game with 23 points and seven rebounds, but Marco Belinelli and Chris Kaman combined for 40 points to lead the shorthanded Hornets to victory.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / At The Hive / Hornets247 / The Times-Picayune

Notes: JS: Bogut Hopes to Avoid Surgery / FS: Gooden providing value down low for Bucks / Bucksketball: Milwaukee is no longer where offense goes to die / FS: Return of the 'Brockness trick shot monster'

Heat 114, Bucks 96: Video, Stats, Recaps, Reaction

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:29:58 -0000

Heat 114, Bucks 96
The Bucks hung around for much of the first half as the two teams traded leads, but ultimately the Heat would not allow the Bucks to claim the unprecedented series sweep. They pushed ahead in the second half, aided by 16 third quarter points from LeBron James, and never let up. Carlos Delfino chipped in 24 points on 8-12 shooting (5-8 from downtown) in the losing effort , whilst Drew Gooden struggled, going only 2-14 from the field. LeBron James totaled 35 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, continuing his aggressive play against the Bucks.

Box Scores: Basic / HoopData / Basketball Reference / Popcorn Machine Game Flow

Recaps: Brew Hoop / Bucksketball / Behind The Buck Pass / JS Online / Peninsula Is Mightier / Hot Hot Hoops / Miami Herald / South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Notes: FS Wisconsin: Wade 'not going to be high-flying forever' / JS: James has his own block party / ESPN Wisconsin: Stephen Jackson speaks out

ESPN: Stephen Jackson Interested In Playing In New Jersey Alongside Dwight Howard

Jacob Grinyer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:04:27 -0000

According to ESPN's Ric Bucher, Stephen Jackson may not be so content on the Bucks, and may be looking for greener (?) pastures:

If they [Nets] want to improve their chances, my understanding is that Stephen Jackson & Dwight Howard have talked several times about playing together. And would love to do so with the Nets with Deron Williams at the point guard setting them up. If the Nets want to improve their chances of getting Dwight Howard, making a deal for Stephen Jackson as well should be on their menu.

Uh-Oh?

Jackson, like his predecessor Corey Maggette, has been clouded by suspicion over his relationship with the coaching staff and how well he fits in with Scott Skiles' system. Needless to say, Jackson has had an up and (mostly) down year, having been suspended once for missing practice and by the NBA last weekend for butting heads with officials after Friday night's loss in Chicago. Then again, this has been a recurring theme throughout Jackson's career, so the Bucks can't say they didn't have any warnings. Whether the rumors of his transfer to the East Coast had anything to do with his lack of playing time against the Pistons is anyone's guess, but at the very least it's a curious coincidence.

It seems somewhat like a foregone conclusion that Howard will be wearing a different uniform sometime in the near future, so how far the Nets will be willing (and able) to go to appease Howard will likely play a factor in whether or not the Bucks make a deal or not. The Bucks have been anything but predictable, with Jackson a major contributor in the unpredictability department. As a result, it didn't come as a complete shock to see Steve Kyler suggest on Monday that the Bucks' patience is wearing thin with the well-traveled former Oak Hill standout.

Jacksons has shot a well-below-average 36% from the field 47% TS%, notably even short of even Brandon Jennings' first season in the league. It hasn't helped that while on the court he's used up approximately 22% of the Buck posessions, not a high for him but not all too impressive considering his production. Despite his struggles, Bucks fans have seen flashes of what they might have hoped for, including a season high 34 points against San Antonio and 20 against Houston, but he's remained inconsistent with notable differences between his home and away performances. At home, he has averaged 14 points on a tolerable 43% shooting, including roughly 33% from 3 point range. On the road, his play has taken a dive-- averaging 12 points on 33% shooting, 27% from the three.

Nevertheless, the team has not exactly struggled in Jackson's absence, going 3-0 against the Knicks, Lakers, and now Pistons without him. It's probably a stretch to say that those wins wouldn't have happened with Jackson, but there's no doubt that the Bucks have other options at the wings with Delfino, Dunleavy and Livingston, with some minutes to spare for rookie Tobias Harris. It's also a matter of salary, as Jackson is owed aroud 19 million through the 2012/2013 season, a serious chunk of change for a team that's still not sure what direction it really wants to head in, and not exactly likely to contend soon.

Sources: Mavs, Yi Jianlian agree on deal

Jacob Grinyer — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:49:28 -0000

Sources: Mavs, Yi Jianlian agree on deal

A good friend of ours is moving on. Maybe he can get Dirk to teach him a few things. He'll start out in the D-league under Del Harris in the Texas Legends.

Comparing the Bucks' injuries to a decade's worth of NBA data

Jacob Grinyer — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:31:31 -0000

As the lockout churns along and the glimmer of the draft has ended, there's not much to talk about right now other than the gloom and doom that comes with the ugly rhetoric of sports labor disputes. (Hey, look, a schedule! ...oh.) So, let's find something else to talk about. Let's talk about injuries. (I know, not exactly uncharted territory here...)

Management, coaches, and fans analyze their teams inside and out during the offseason. For those associated with the organization, their jobs depend on it, while we the fans just do it for fun. However, the constant is that neither seem to fully take into account injuries that their team might have down the road. And really, how can anybody? Though some players over time prove to be more durable than others, injuries are to a large extent unpredictable.

And after this past season, most Bucks fans were left never wanting to hear the word "injury" again. The Bucks' seemingly absurd amount of injuries became a point that GM John Hammond and crew came back to time and time again as a major reason for the Bucks' disappointing season. In January, I compared the amount of injuries the Bucks suffered (through that time) to the rest of the league, corroborating the notion that the Bucks were the hardest hit team in the league as far injuries go.

So, out of curiosity I thought that it might be interesting to see how injuries stacked up among all teams over the last 10 years. It's a long task with quite a bit of room for error (isn't this getting you excited?!) but in the end I think there are some interesting things to look over here. Kevin Pelton from Basketball Prospectus did something similar for team injuries this year alone, only he took it a step further by looking at minutes rather than games lost and then applying WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player) to see the value for each player lost. Which is important, since missing LeBron James is very different from missing Mario Chalmers, even if both guys qualify generically as 20+mpg rotation players. This isn't going to be quite as rigorous as Pelton's work, but by looking at a longer time period we can see some interesting trends around team injuries and how it might impact performance. Explanation of results and methodology after the jump.

For this, I used the data from the excellent Basketball Reference. I started with the first team alphabetically by city (Atlanta), starting with the 2000-2001 season. I opened three BR tabs (no, not Bleacher Report) for the roster/stats of that year's team, the player transactions they made during that year, and finally the schedule of the team.

I first looked at the transactions to see if any player movement occurred throughout the season for that particular team. Then, I looked at the roster and only examined the players who played an average of over 20 minutes per game, and only the top nine players if there was more than nine 20 minute players (the numbers will be different than Pelton's piece because he looked at all players, not just the top nine). Obviously players don't miss games just because of injury--suspensions and DNPs also factor in--but by restricting the sample to a team's top nine I tried to only look at rotation players who would be expected to play in every game.

I then subtracted the amount of games they played from total possible games they could have played. If a player moved during the season, I looked at the schedule and dates of when they were traded to find out how many possible games they could have played with their team before being traded/waived, and subtracted from there. The same goes for if a team signed a new player somewhere in the middle of a season. If a player wasn't moved at all, I kept their total possible games at 82. I did this for all 30 teams in the last decade, from the 2000-01 season to 2010-11. Here is the simple chart:

Some thoughts:

The Spurs have been the most injury-free team of the decade with an average of 40 games lost due to injuries. The Pistons and Suns follow, with an average of 50 and 48 injuries per year respectively. Not unexpectedly, all 3 of these teams have experienced periods of great success during the decade, with the Spurs and Pistons winning titles and the Suns posting multiple 50 and 60 win seasons.
The Wizards have the honor of being the most injury-riddled team of the decade with an average of 125 games lost per year. Then come the Warriors and Clippers, each with an average of 117.
The Bucks are a little below average with 85, but the amount has increased significantly in the last 5 years.
The Bucks' past season ranks as the 18th worst team season over the span in terms of games lost due to injury. The worst season injury wise for any particular team this decade was the 2001 Warriors, with 274 games lost. The Warriors' 2010 season is the 2nd worst, with 267. The least injury riddled team was the 2006 Pistons, with only 5 games lost. You might recall those Pistons were on pace to be one of the winningest teams of all time before they slowed down towards the end of the year and won "just" 64 games.
The 2006/07 season saw the most total injuries of of all teams combined, with 2715. 2002-03 saw the fewest with 1877.

The next chart is the availability percentage of each team for every year. It's basically an estimate of what percentage of games each of their top 9 players played in, dividing the amount of games missed by 9 *82 (9 players by 82 games). Keep in mind that it won't be completely accurate because some players were traded before they get the chance to play in 82 games.

You can certainly make your own conclusions based on this. The Bucks' percentages were all above 90% until 2007, when they began to dip.

And now....

Introducing: Randomly scattered dots! Actually, they aren't random. It's a culmination of all the wins and injury data. Each data point represents a team in the last decade, and is placed according to the amount of wins they had vs. the amount of total games missed by players in that season.

Simplifying everything and ignoring all outside factors, basically this graph would tell you that the average team with zero injuries starts out with 49 wins. Then, for every game lost by one of the top 9 rotation players, a team loses on average 0.1 wins. Since the average team had around 80 games lost due to injuries per year, that means the average team won 41 games (internal consistency, huzzah!). Again, this is really oversimplifying it, but it provides a general idea of how injuries impact a team. The regression's r-squared is fairly low at just 0.16, but the coefficient of 0.1 is statistically significant from zero: the 95% confidence interval suggests between 0.078 and 0.128 wins are lost for each game missed due to injury. Ideally you'd specify a much more complete regression factoring in all the other aspects which impact wins and losses, but as a first approximation it's worth considering. Overall,the closer to the bottom left the more underachieving the team, the closer to the top right the more overachieving the team.

For example, the 2010/2011 Bucks were slightly above average in terms of what you would expect for a team with the amount of lost games they had, with 2.91 more wins than the predicted (by this measure) 32.09. Positively electrifying, isn't it? The biggest outlier in the last decade were the 2010 Timberwolves, who only had 35 games lost due to injury and therefore were "predicted" to win 45 games, but only won 15. Does that make them the worst team of the past decade? Possibly. And it makes you wonder how bad they would have been if they had been above average in injuries.

Meanwhile, the 2009 Cavaliers had 79 games lost due to injury, thus being "predicted" to only win 40 games, but they were able to pull through with 66, making them the biggest "overachiever" of the decade in terms of injuries.The teams closest to matching predicted totals (and thus, closest to the line of the graph) were the 2004 Jazz and 2007 Celtics, with actual win totals that were within 0.03 and -0.05 of their predicted win totals, respectively. In other words, the regression would tell you they were the most perfectly average teams in the NBA when adjusting for injuries.

So, what does this all mean? Well, it's obvious that certain teams have had more trouble with injuries over the last decade than others. The question is: Is it just pure luck or is it flaws in the organization? Teams like the Suns have gotten significant praise for their medical staff and treatment, and the numbers back that up. They've invested a lot in their players' health, and it seems they've been rewarded. It begs the question: are teams that struggled with injuries over the last 10 years simply not investing enough time or money into treating and preventing injuries? Are they gambling unnecessarily on injury-prone players? Whatever the reason, it's clear that significant amounts of money and wins are at stake.

Beno Udrih's top ten plays of 2009-10. Guest Starring ex-Bucks superstar Corey Maggette.

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:07:23 -0000

Beno Udrih's top ten plays of 2009-10. Guest Starring ex-Bucks superstar Corey Maggette.

Beno - The Lost Year

Jacob Grinyer — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:21:36 -0000

Beno - The Lost Year

A great story about Beno Udrih the human being. As stated by the author, Beno probably doesn't want the attention so keeping it off the front page.