Which fork did we take? - Bucks at Wolves GDT

[60WinTim]

The Wolves took a step down the correct path against Utah. Losing to Detroit was not unexpected, although their performance was less than inspiring.

Tonight we need to see the second step taken down the path towards the playoffs, and not a stumble onto the wrong path.

(I really wanted this thread to keep Abe happy!)

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

New year, new moniker. Bizarro might be the best fit for this strange team that nobody can figure out. Are we a bad good team or a good bad team? Who should be getting minutes? Can we return to playing .500 again? Go wolves??

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Great new moniker, Bizarro Jerry! One of the all-time great episodes, both because of the Bizarro Superman references, but also because of Jerry's girlfriend with the "man hands"!. Speaking of "man hands", it's time for Andrew Wiggins to start growing some.

I called it an outrage when the Wolves were only favored by 1 against the Jazz last week, and it's even more of an outrage that we are only favored by 1 1/2 against the Bucks. We took care of business last week against Utah, and we will again tonight.

Khris Middleton has been hot and needs to be stopped tonight. He has scored over 30 points his past two games, and is making over 60% of his threes the past five games. If I were Sam, I would start with Prince on Middleton and Wiggins on Antetokounmpo, but one of them needs to be in the game anytime Middleton is in. Bayless is their other 3-point threat, averaging 43% on almost five attempts a game off the bench. Nobody else on the Bucks is much of a threat this year beyond the arc, so Sam needs to focus his perimeter defense on these two guys. Inside, it's all about keeping Monroe and Giannis away from the basket, because they are both very efficient when they aren't bodied up.

Milwaukee is a bad rebounding team and downright terrible when Monroe goes to the bench. Wiggins has been more aggressive on the offensive boards recently, and this is the kind of team that he, Bazz and KAT can get some easy putback baskets against.

Vegas doesn't agree, but I'll be very disappointed if we don't win this one tonight.

[60WinTim]

The pessimist would say we started out strong against Detroit as well...

Two early fouls on Wiggins. Bazz in.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

looks like nobody's here, so I'll talk to myself for awhile.

So far, Sam has the boys doing everything we want them to do. Prince is on Middleton as I hoped, and has him shut out in the first four minutes. Wig hasn't taken a mid-range shot yet (four layups and a three), and KG has hit 2 mid-range shots (we allow that). Milwaukee can't rebound and we're up 6-2 on bounds, including 2 offensive. Up 11-2

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The pessimist would say we started out strong against Detroit as well...

Two early fouls on Wiggins. Bazz in.

Tim, I'm giving you credit for that first basket...you shamed Sam into calling a play that resulted in a layup rather than the standard clanked jumper!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Ricky just did what I said he wasn't doing enough...driving to the basket and kicking out to Bazz for what should have been a three (if Bazz was watching the line)

[60WinTim]

Good minutes for Bazz with the starters!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth?!?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Words never heard spoken before: "Bazz with the extra pass!"

It's a Bizarro World tonight indeed!

[60WinTim]

The pessimist would say we started out strong against Detroit as well...

Two early fouls on Wiggins. Bazz in.

Tim, I'm giving you credit for that first basket...you shamed Sam into calling a play that resulted in a layup rather than the standard clanked jumper!

Yup, I was impressed. Plus KAT won the tip, which is almost as rare!