(20-30) (11-39) <font color="purple">Milwaukee Bucks</font> (20-30) @ <font color="blue">Charlotte Bobcats</font> (11-39) TV: UPN 24 Milwaukee Radio: 620 AM WTMJ WHEN: Tuesday, February 22nd, 2005 TIME: 6:00 PM Central WHERE: Charlotte Colisium, Charlotte, NC Previous Game Nuggets 88 @ Bobcats 94 Bucks 90 @ Knicks 108 Streaks Bobcats: Won 1 Bucks: Lost 2 Probable Starters C: Dan Gadzuric/Primoz Brezec PF: Joe Smith/Emeka Okafor SF: Desmond Mason/Gerald Wallace SG: Michael Redd/Kareem Rush PG: Mo Wlliams/Jason Hart 6th Man:Mike James/Keith Bogans Coaches: Terry Porter (second season, 61-71) Bernie Bickerstaff (first season 11-39; 11th season overall, 349-387). Injuries Bucks- Daniel Santiago- OUT (Corneal Abrasion) TJ Ford- OUT (Neck) Bobcats- Jahidi White- OUT (Shoulder) Tamar Slay- OUT (Foot) THE SERIES Milwaukee leads the series against the expansion Bobcats, 2-0. Mason scored 31 points in the Bucks' 102-100 victory in the first meeting, played on Nov. 10 at the Bradley Center. The Bucks won in Charlotte, 99-92, on Jan. 17, paced by 27 points from Redd About the Bobcats Charlotte ended a seven-game losing streak in the last game before the all-star break when it knocked off the Denver Nuggets, 94-88, behind the stellar guard play of Kareem Rush (20 points) and Keith Bogans (18). Rush scored 14 of his points in the Bobcats' 33-point third quarter at the Charlotte Coliseum. Rookie power forward Emeka Okafor has missed eight games with a left ankle sprain, including the last three, but is expected to play tonight. Charlotte is 2-6 without him in the lineup. The former Connecticut star ranks first among all NBA rookies in points (14.8 per game), rebounds (11.0) and minutes (35.8). "They're a different team without him," Bucks coach Terry Porter said. "They go a lot smaller." Matchup to Watch Michael Redd vs Kareem Rush Redd: 22.2 PPG 4.2 RPG 2.5 APG 45% FG Rush: 11.9 PPG 2.3 RPG 1.3 APG 39% FG Prediction The Bucks head to Charlotte to open the second half. The Bucks should win this game. Key word should....Coach Porter admited that the trade talks have been a distraction to their team, this game will be close, but if the Bucks are distracted? Bobcats will pounce Bucks by 6
Michael Redd erupted for 39 points tonight. Somewhere in Cleveland fans are smiling. You can't help, but cheer for this Bucks team. They are like the no-name college basketball team who pulls an upset in the March Madness tournament. Despite being desimated by injuries, despite all the trade talk surrounding Michael Redd, this team goes out and competes every night and is still in the playoff race. Amazing.
Redd and Mase had great games. Nowadays I'm only watching for Maurice Williams on the Bucks boxscores, and he didn't disappoint tonight. 8 points and 14 asissts. He would be my Most Improved Player of the Year.
BUCKS WIN 112-102 Milwaukee 26 30 31 25 112 Final Charlotte 23 26 37 16 102 Bucks Leading Scorer- Michael Redd 39 pts Bobcats Leading Scorer- Brevin Knight 19 pts Bucks Leading Rebounder- Joe Smith 10 Rebounds Bobcats Leading Rebounder- Primoz Brezec 11 Rebounds Bucks Leading Assists- Mo Williams 14 Assists (CAREER HIGH) Bobcats Leading Assists- Brevin Knight 4 Assists Bucks improve to 21-30 Bobcats fall to 11-40 Next Games: Bucks: vs New Jersey Tomorrow Bobcats: @ New Jersey Friday GMan's MVPs: Michael Redd Notes: The Bucks get a hard fought road victory against a pesky Bobcats team. Desmond Mason added 20 pts 5 boards 6 assists for the Bucks, Joe Smith had 12 pts 10 boards, Mo Williams had a awesome game with 8 pts 5 boards and a career high 14 assists. Interesting quotes from the AP Recap Memo to all interested NBA teams: Michael Redd isn't interested in leaving the Milwaukee Bucks. Redd scored 39 points in his return to Milwaukee's lineup Tuesday night, leading the Bucks to a 112-102 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. It was a timely showcase for Redd, who has been mentioned in trade talks and could be moved before Thursday's deadline. ``I said it all year long and I will say it again -- I am committed to Milwaukee, I want to come back and they have made a commitment to me,'' Redd said. ``They told me they are not going to trade me and I believe that.'' Afterward, coach Terry Porter said the Bucks have no interest in trading him. ``No way,'' he said. ``He is obviously a free agent, but we have expressed to him that he obviously is a very big piece of us going forward.'' Redd said he values loyalty and wants to reward the Bucks for developing his career. ``I want to retire as a Buck. This is a team that took a chance on me five years ago when they drafted me in the second round and I have flourished, my game has flourished,'' he said. ``I am loyal ... all I know is Milwaukee.''
Redd-39 points, f*** yeah. Great way to start off the 2nd half of the season Redd. Mason had a really good game too.
"I want to retire as a Buck. This is a team that took a chance on me five years ago when they drafted me in the second round and I have flourished, my game has flourished,'' he said. ``I am loyal ... all I know is Milwaukee.''[/QUOTE] Cool.
