Bucks Getting Defensive

by Jeff Clark on Nov 7, 2008 8:39 AM EST in NBA Articles

Tonight's opponent, the Bucks, are starting to play defense. Via the Scores Report blog:

Last season, Milwaukee was last in the league in defensive field goal percentage (48.0%), but through five games, they’re holding opponents to 44.2% shooting, which is #14 in the league. New head coach Scott Skiles demands a lot from his players on that end of the court and so far the Bucks are responding with increased effort.

Second round pick Luc Mbah a Moute has outplayed first round pick Joe Alexander thus far. Skiles likes Mbah a Moute’s great defense and toughness, which he learned playing in Ben Howland’s system at UCLA for three years.

BrewHoop has more on their second round find:

Luc Mbah a Moute. It's becoming a broken record, isn't it? Another game, another big performance from the 37th overall pick. Though he missed the potential winner at the fourth quarter buzzer, Luc was again a catalyst and continues to show much more polish on the offensive end than anyone expected with 17 points on a tidy 8/10 shooting, including some big hoops late. And on defense it was the same old story, as he helped contain Antawn Jamison to just 6/19 shooting.

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Mbah a Moute

I’ve said it here before: this kid has the tools to become an extraordinary defender. I’m curious to see on whom is Skiles going to play him.

The Bucks overplay on defense. Skiles instilled the intensity, but the execution isn’t there yet. Nice team to watch though, especially because of LRMAM.

by cordobes on Nov 7, 2008 9:56 AM EST reply actions

The Skiles Effect is real

http://bucksdiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/bucks-fans-can-expect-dramatic-skiles.html

Skiles may have faults, but he gets his players to play defense, and replaces those who don’t. Is it a good idea long-term to play Mbah A Moute over Alexander? Maybe, but Skiles doesn’t give a crap :)

One thing in the C’s favor is (ahem) their favor with the refs. A lot of Skiles-ball is hacking, and eventually getting the refs to recognize it as ‘tough’ and letting more and more go. So if the refs don’t let them get away with it, the C’s will be fine.

management sez: recommend fanposts/fanshots/comments! Click 'reply' when replying to a comment! Flag jerkfaces! Be a 'Nazi' when it comes to thread duplication!

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 7, 2008 11:30 AM EST reply actions

Alexander...

…Is just a bad basketball player. Mbah a Moute is a better player now, will be better next season and in 10 seasons.

by cordobes on Nov 7, 2008 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

gotta love workout wonders

by Jeff Clark on Nov 7, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

Ah, the refs...

… I don’t think their problem is reputation. They simply lack better defenders. They attack the ball a lot, are very vulnerable to backdoors and penetrations and foul a lot on those situations trying to contest shots. When their help schemes become better tuned, they won’t foul so much, but they’ll never come close of being so good defensively as the C’s, at least with the current personnel.

by cordobes on Nov 7, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions