WHO: (7-5) @ (5-4) WHERE:Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI WHEN: 7 PM Central TV-Radio MILWAUKEE: TV: FSN North RADIO WTMJ 620 PHILADELPHIA: TV: CSN RADIO WIP 610 PREVIOUS MATCHUPS Bucks: Bucks 80 @ Jazz 100 Sixers: Hornets 91 @ Sixers 103 Streaks Bucks: Lost 2 Sixers: Won 1 Injuries Bucks: NONE Sixers: Samuel Dalembert- OUT (Quad) Probable Starters C: Jamaal Maglorie/Steven Hunter PF: Joe Smith/Chris Webber SF: Bobby Simmons/Kyle Korver SG: Michael Redd/Andre Iguodala PG: TJ Ford/Allen Iverson 6th Men: Mo Williams/John Salmons Coaches: Terry Stotts (1st yr w/ Bucks, 3rd ov. 57-89) Maurice Cheeks (1st yr w/ Sixers, 5th ov. 169-144) Matchup to Watch TJ Ford vs Allen Iverson Ford: AI: 31.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 8.3 APG, 44.1% FG, 27% 3 Pt TJ: 13.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 8.8 APG, 37.1% FG, 33% 3 pt GMan's Predictions Bucks must come out with some energy....because the last 2 games, they have looked DEAD...and TERRIBLE..Philly's D isn't so hot...but so is the Bucks latley. Should be interesting, don't know what to predict Sixers 115 Bucks 109
We really, really need to get a win to secure some confidence. Our defense was HORRIBLE during the west coast swing, and it absolutely has to improve or we're simply not going to be in the playoff race. Bucks 101 Sixers 99
Ford is really the benifactor for the Bucks, when he hasn't played well the Bucks haven't played very well eihter. In the season opener he had a near triple double and made plays the entire game for his team, the Sixers are going to have to contain him and make him make mistakes if they want to win this game.
The Sixers offense is too hot right now in addition with neither team not playing any sort of defense I expect a very high scoring game(which will benifit the Sixers). This is the same team that broke the Sixers heart on opening night, so they will look for some redemption. If Iverson sits(I doubt) the Sixers lost, if he plays I'd say... Sixers 121 Bucks 117 The key for the Sixers will be to rebound the ball. The Bucks on the other hand should just let Iverson get his because in the last game and last season there is no slowing him down, so why waste the energy? What they should do is shut down Korver like they did in the last game and concentrate on role players like Iguodala and Salmons, two guys who could ultimately decide the game. NOTE: Dalembert is a GTD for tonight. There is a good chance he will give it a go.
And the Bucks win, 108-97. Our defense in the first half was HORRIBLE, but we clamped down in the second half. The one fault with Iverson's game is that when he takes over a game, he makes the Sixers much easier to defend. Like usual, he went off against us, with 45 points, but we didn't allow anyone else on the team to score more than 11 points, a major accomplishment if you ask me, after the way Webber lit us up in Philly. Mike Redd had a nice overall game, with 32 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast and 2 stl. TJ fouled out and only had 6 pts and one assist, but Simmons, Smith and Williams accounted for 48 points, 20 rebounds and 8 assists. Bogut just missed another double/double with 9 and 12, and Magloire had 11 and 6. Much better defensive effort in the second half is encouraging, and this was a good win for us because we have to be able to beat similarly talented teams at home.
I was at the game was part of the highfive tunnel got to meet Stotts after the game WHAT A GAME BOGUT PLAYED GREAT! His nose was pretty ugly looking though.
