Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone. The Sixers will celebrate in style, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2pm matinee. Can the Sixers continue their dominance against the league's also-rans? Let's take a look at what they need to do to push their record to 10-3.
The Bucks are one of the Jekyll and Hyde teams in the league. They're 4-0 at home, 0-7 on the road. At home, they beat the Spurs. On the road, they lost to the Bobcats, Kings and Suns. The priority is obviously to keep them win-less on the road.
Looking at their stats, a couple things jump out. The Bucks were one of the worst offensive teams in the league last season, and their remedy for that problem was to bring in an over-the-hill Stephen Jackson. A guy who was capable of submarining a team's offense when he was in his prime. Well, shockingly, the Bucks offense has improved. They're currently 22nd in the league, despite Jackson's 20% turnover rate and 25% usage rate. The big reason for their improvement on the offensive end is Brandon Jennings. His efficiency is way up and his turnovers are down. They're also getting really solid backup play at the point from Shaun Livingston. Pressuring the ball and making life difficult for MIL's PGs is going to be the primary focus of the defense. In fact, I'll take it a step further. Every time you get the ball out of their hands and make Jackson a playmaker, you've already won the defensive possession.
Rookie PF Jon Leuer has been a pleasant surprise for the Bucks, and he's pretty much the only big who's had an impact on the offensive end at all this season. Bogut has been downright terrible (45.9% TS) and Drew Gooden hasn't been much better (47.4% TS). Try to keep the shots in the hands of any forwards and centers not named Leuer and you should be just fine.
The most shocking thing about the Bucks has been their average defense. This may have something to do with Bogut missing five of the team's 11 games, but to see them as only the #16 defense in DFR is surprising. It seems like most of their problems stem from a high field goal percentage enjoyed by their opponents. Bogut is expected to play tomorrow, so I wouldn't take for granted that they won't be a formidable defensive squad.
Overall, I like this matchup for the Sixers. Jrue can handle Jennings, on both ends, and Stephen Jackson is the type of player who won't back down from a challenge, even when it's clearly in the best interest of the team that he do so. Here's my barometer, 15+ shots for Jackson = a double-digit win for the Sixers. Two guys to keep an eye on for the Bucks: Delfino and Ilyasova. They're both threats from three, Jodie hasn't done a good job of keeping tabs on shooters this year, and stretch fours always seem to get open looks against them.
Finally, I'd really like it if Jrue could put together a solid game today, mostly because when he has two bad games people are ready to run him out of town.
The tip is at 2pm. Game thread will land around noon. I'll be at the game, if you're going to be there, let me know in the comments and we'll hopefully meet up at the half outside section 114. Actually, if you're at the game in the upper level, you may get a seat upgrade at the half if you meet up.
I'll be at the game. Gonna try and stop by your section at half. Go Sixers.
Nice, looking forward to it.
I will be there. I will come over and try to meet up during halftime.
way to go boys. Glad you'll be out repping. Would be there if I could
number 1 fan in Japan
We got this one fo sho!
Bucks are a good team when Bogut is healthy and Jennings makes good decisions. Unfortunately, that is a rare occurrence. Maybe they can pull it together against us and come out with the upset.
I keep waiting for this team to play down to it's competition but it hasnt happened yet. Don't think it's gonna happen today either.
Go sixers go sixers go
i don't know anyone who is ready to run Jrue out of town, though i haven't read all the comments here. but i am definitely disappointed that it seems like he hasn't really progressed since last season. his defense is still spectacular, but he continues to make really bad decisions with the ball, ie bad passes and tries to dribble through a crowd when he should just pull it back out. seems to be an instinctive thing, which is troubling.
For all the Jrue "hate" of late i gotta say as much as his decision making and passing has been suspect this year, his defense has improve considerably. Jrue always showed flashes of brilliance on that end, but this year he is finally being consistent on that end the improvement is reflected in the results of the team even though his offensve game has suffered thus far.
Where is all this Jrue "hate" being spoken of? Or is it being manufactured? I don't recall seeing any on this blog myself. Maybe I missed it. I've seen some rightfully call out his struggles, but "hate"? When/where?
I'm not worried about his offense outside of his passing. He has had good shot selection but it's been coupled with his bad decision making at time. When he doesn't seem set on scoring and is indecisive he tends to turn the ball over by making a risky pass or showing hesitation in his shot which he then is unlikely to convert.
He shows tremendous confidence in his mid-range jumpers off of screens and after setting up a defender with his dribble. I think it's only a matter of time before we see that in his drives. His passing may take another year to develop but Collins has to continue pressing him. He has been a point guard in high school and the NBA. Obviously he has the natural instincts to succeed as a point and that's exactly we've seen him off the ball so much this year and only sharing ball handling responsibilities. Despite the maturity seen in most of his game, he's still raw there.
How can anyone hate Jrue at this point in his career? He's 21! It usually takes a while for a point guard to develop the full nuances of the game, knowing when to pass and shoot. He's already way ahead of the curve.
I'll be at the game, and I'm psyched. Just my second in person game of the season, but I'm going to every home game this week! Can't wait.