GAME 3: Bucks at Knicks

by Tommy Dee on November 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 am

When: 6 P.M.

Where: Madison Square Garden

Watch: MSG

Starting Lineups:

Bucks (1-2)

PG: Ramon Sessions

SG- Michael Redd

SF- Richard Jefferson

PF- Charlie Villanueva

C- Andrew Bogut

Rest of rotation: Dan Gadzuric, Malik Allen, Tyronn Lue, Charlie Bell, Luc Mbah a Moute,

Knicks (1-0)

PG: Chris Duhon

SG: Jamal Crawford

SF: Quentin Richardson

PF: Zach Randolph

C: David Lee

Rest of Rotation: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Nate Robinson, Malik Rose

Injuries:

Bucks: N/A
Knicks: Zach Randolph (knee, game-time decision), Eddy Curry, Jared Jefferies (leg, out)

Keep an eye on:

Rebounding: Minus Randolph, the Knicks could be in trouble on the boards. But if ZBo goes this is a good matchup against a thin Bucks front line that starts Villanueva at the 4 backed up by the undersized Malik Allen.

Get out early: The Bucks played in Toronto last night and the Knicks should pounce on them early, and see if the Bucks have the effort to come back.

The Other Blog’s Take: From brewhoop.com

“Three Bucks to watch:

  • Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The kid can play.  It doesn’t always show up in the box score–nine points (4/7 fg), two boards and two blocks in 20 minutes don’t scream “game-changer”–but somehow when the Prince is in the game, good things happen for the Bucks and bad things happen for the other team.  Toronto saw it first hand in the fourth quarter when Skiles gave LRMAM a chance to guard Bosh after the Raptors’ franchise player doped Charlie Villanueva into his fifth foul.  Mbah a Moute looked neither big nor strong enough to handle Bosh, yet the rookie from UCLA somehow managed to coax a couple misses from Bosh in addition to helping create a couple more turnovers that led to fast break buckets for the Bucks.  The fact that he calmly dropped a hook over Bosh for a Bucks lead inside two minutes was gravy.
  • Andrew Bogut.  It was a strange first three quarters for Bogut, as Skiles seemed so paranoid about Bogut’s foul situation that he kept him on the bench for most of the second–despite Bogut having just two fouls.  The third was similar, as Bogut was in and out a couple times and had just six points through three.  Things finally turned when Jermaine O’Neal fouled out, leaving the Raptors with no one strong enough to stop Bogut down low.  Bogut dropped in eight as the Bucks came alive, and took turns doing an effective job on Bosh defensively.
  • Ramon Sessions. He lives!  Luke Ridnour‘s back spasms meant not only some PT for Sessions, but a starting spot and 37 minutes against one of the league’s best point guards in Jose Calderon.  The good: Sessions marshalled the offense well as the Bucks raced to an 8-0 lead, and he was also a major factor in the Bucks’ fourth quarter comeback.  The bad: Calderon made him pay all night for his willingness to go under screens, and he was caught hedging on Bosh when Calderon nailed his key three pointer.  His final line of 12 points, nine dimes and two turnovers…”
  • Knicksfan42793

    Tommy, you forgot to change the clock a hour back. Anyways today the Knicks should be able to win against the Bucks. As long as they stop Redd and Jefferson this should be an easy win.

  • Chris Alvino

    I wonder if Curry will see action if Randolph misses the game. I am curious to see how he responds to his benching. He has never had a coach that was serious about benching him. In case Curry hasn’t noticed, D’Antoni doesn’t care who you are when he makes his PT decisions. Maybe Curry has finally figured that out.

    Plus, the Bucks are fairly thin upfront. Curry is not thin. Could be interesting….