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Friday, Dec 5

RJ leads the way: Bucks TWC boxscore vs. Bobcats

4. Charlie V could not follow up his excellent Bulls game with an above average Bobcats game. Once again, his effort was alright -- he had 6 rebounds in only 19 minutes of action -- but his offensive efficiency was poor. Tonight it wasn't missed shots, it was his other bugaboo -- too many turnove...

By and large, Bucks are gettin the gettables

Traveling around the state, its obvious alot of sports radio commentators don't know or don't care to inform themselves about this season's Milwaukee Bucks. They are not "the same old Bucks" as I keep hearing. People who make such statements are ignorant and should shut up.

Thursday, Dec 4

Strange Heroes: Total Win Contribution Boxscore from Bucks vs. Bulls

If you got annoyed with the terrible broadcast signal FSN was sending out from last night's Bucks vs. Bulls game (was someone purposely unplugging the cord?), you might have read this morning's newspaper or online scorebox and then automatically assumed the Bucks won because: A.) Andrew...

Tuesday, Dec 2

Bucks should inquire about Richard Hendrix

He's just an incredibly productive, efficient player who could be an outstanding backup at either the 4 or 5 position, something the Bucks need desperately. The Bucks should at least ask the Warriors if Hendrix might be available. I doubt Golden State would ask for much, and his value to the...

Beasley another huge bust?: Statistical Analysis of the NBA Rookie Class

3. The Bucks seem to have blown it with their first choice, Joe Alexander, but... like Miami... they seem to have hit on their second round pick, Luc Moute. 4. The worst performing rookie so far, in terms of Marginal Win Score, has been Roy Hibbert, center for the Indiana Pacers. He has been awful.

Monday, Dec 1

Opinion: Comprehensive Milwaukee Bucks statistical analysis

1. The Bucks do not have a single player on the roster who has played above average basketball at small forward. Starter Richard Jefferson has recently dipped below average, and every backup: Michael Redd, Luc Moute, Charlie Bell, and Joe Alexander, has produced below the opposition when...

Sunday, Nov 30

Crushed up front: TWC Boxscore for the Bucks vs. Cavaliers

1. One good thing that happened last night, Ramon Sessions crushed Mo Williams once again. Anyone who says Cleveland is better because they added Mo Williams doesn't know what they're talking about. He's been below average, and the Bucks are better off now and in the future with a thriving Se...

Ranking NBA Starting and Reserve Units by "+/-" per minute

3. Teams with positive production from both units include: the Lakers, the Cavaliers, the Celtics, the Blazers, and the Heat. These teams have to be considered amongst the strongest contenders in the NBA. 4. Here's something scary: not only do the Lakers have the best starting unit on a "+/-"...

Saturday, Nov 29

Comparing Andrew Bogut to Chris Paul using Replacement Value

With that information in tow, I decided to revisit the Andrew Bogut/Chris Paul debate to see whether, adjusting for replacement value, Bogut might look a little better pick in hindsight. Of course, if you were to compare Bogut to the real "other" choice in that draft -- Marvin Williams -- i...

Friday, Nov 28

Quantum of Suckiness: Milwaukee Bucks TWC Boxscore vs. Pistons

My review for the Bucks, on the other hand, is a big thumbs down. Red numbers all over the place on the TWC Boxscore. In fact, the only players to post positive games were, strangely enough, Dan Gadzuric and Tyronn Lue. Gadzuric had a monster night, and let's hope he keeps it up. Lue was okay in 15 mi...

Bucks Win Contributions compared to replacement level players

Click Here to see "Bucks Total Win Contributions over Replacement Levels" New Findings 3. Seen under this light, the contributions we are getting from center aren't horrible, and the contributions from point guard and power forward are superlative.

Thursday, Nov 27

Here are the Bucks weak positions

All props to the Bucks for their start, but as Coach Skiles said in his press conference last night, "We need to be real." The Bucks are 7-10 and in last place in the Central Division, and if you break it down by Win Contribution per position, you find out why.

Wednesday, Nov 26

I figured out the secret to Skiles success

Its a common misconception that basketball defense is about preventing shots. Its about regaining possession of the basketball as quickly as possible without the other team scoring points. Sometimes that means inducing the opposition to shoot... low percentage shots.

Apparently Bucks efforted Camby last summer

According to Yahoo Sports, Bucks General Manager John Hammond made inquiries with the Denver Nuggets last summer regarding the availiability of Marcus Camby. Unfortunately, Yahoo's report doesn't explain what the Bucks offered, or why the Nuggets rejected the Bucks overtures and de...

I would argue Bucks defense is 7th best

In absolute efficiency terms, the Bucks defense is 9th best in the National Basketball Association... that's astonishing enough considering the team ranked 30th in defense six months ago. Only the Lakers, Celtics, Pacers, Nuggets, Rockets, and Sixers have better Defensive PVOAs.

The Miracle Worker needs to conjure an even larger miracle

But now I think the Basketball Gods are asking too much. For the next 10 days the team will be without its top scorer (Michael Redd), its starting point guard (Luke Ridnour), and its most valuable player and ONLY viable center (Andrew Bogut).

Tuesday, Nov 25

Andrew Bogut has come of age

Which brings me to the Andrew Bogut story. Andrew Bogut is having his finest NBA season bar none. His impact on the Bucks is where fans expected it to be (somewhat unrealistically) when the big man entered the Association as the number one overall pick in 2005.

Monday, Nov 24

Time to put Ray Allen in the MVP conversation

Meanwhile, Garnett's numbers have slid a bit, and Pierce's numbers are well down (in fact Andrew Bogut is currently having a more valuable impact on the Milwaukee Bucks than either of them are having on the Boston Celtics). That's not to say either player's numbers are "bad"... they just aren...

Sunday, Nov 23

What's happened to Kevin Love?! (and my other rookie mistakes)

4. Mareese Speights (-0.110)Here, its defense again... this time complete lack of it. Speights offensive production has been excellent. Unfortunately, his counterpart opponents can say the same thing... only much louder. His covers are shooting a nearly astronomical 65% from the field, and are...

Memo to Coach Skiles: The Bucks best line-ups

Bucks fans, you can criticize my reasoning, my productivity, my sense of humor, my basketball acumen... but never say I'm not working overtime to bring you the best Bucks information I can muster. Click here for my Milwaukee Bucks Marginal Win Score per position chart Notes

Thursday, Nov 20

Revisiting my quirky Bogut stat

According to 82games.com and their staff of unusually anal retentive basketball observers, Bucks center Andrew Bogut has attempted 18 jump shots this season and produced 8 points from those attempts. If you're counting, that's a net minus 10 Win Score, or the equivalent of 10 unnecessar...

Bucks doing better than you think, Buckfan

This season, the story has reversed. Even though the Bucks have lost 6 of 8, I believe, they are by and large playing near average basketball... which is a huge improvement for this franchise of late. If you're following my "NBA Advanced Power Ranking" blog, I have the team situated near the midd...

Tuesday, Nov 18

I am launching a new NBA power rankings blog

I'll be doing limited Bucks basketball blogging for a day or two. All of my free time is being invested in the launch of my new basketball blog which I am calling "NBA Advanced Power Rankings". The new blog is gonna be pretty sweet, and I promise that once I get it up it won't take away from my Bucks...

Sunday, Nov 16

Despite the results, the Bucks had a very good week

The interesting speculation is this. The Bucks are playing exceptional defense, but mediocre offense. So what will happen when Michael Redd, the Bucks team's most efficient offensive player, returns? Can he shore up the offense... without harming the defense? If he can, the Milwaukee Buck...

Friday, Nov 14

Ramon Sessions...TO...THE...RESCUE!

Click here to see the TWC boxscore for Bucks vs. Grizzlies 1. Luc Moute +1.3452. Richard Jefferson +0.6223. Andrew Bogut +0.452 3. How about Luc Moute with his Moses Malone act in Memphis? 17 boards, and a lot of them were high, high degree of hustle rebounds. He's awesome.

Wednesday, Nov 12

Bucks bounce back: Total Win Contribution boxscore for Bucks vs. Spurs

1. Andrew Bogut +0.9492. Richard Jefferson +0.9313. Luc Moute +0.598 2. Bogut bounces backAfter an absolutely terrible performance against the Cavaliers, Andrew Bogut bounced back with a huge night against the Spurs. Take away his TWC, or Jefferson's, and the Bucks lose.

Sunday, Nov 9

Defense is carrying the Bucks at the moment

Whatever. The bottom line is the Bucks can be applauded for their defensive effort, but they must find a way to produce better offense. At the moment, the Bucks project out as a 32 win team. If they find offense, that number will rise. Hopefully Michael Redd can help in that regard. And I guess a few...

Saturday, Nov 8

Here's how the Bucks performed relative to the rest of the Association

Footnote: Remember two quick things when your reading the RPI chart, especially the defensive portion. The last number in the column for the Celtic players is a defensive rating for the Bucks. Not for the Celtic himself. So negative is bad for the Bucks. Also, when you see the magnitude of the n...

Friday, Nov 7

Two guys are currently sabatoging the Milwaukee Bucks

1. Richard Jefferson is the Bucks most valuable player so far. His defense has been outstanding and his offense is starting to catch fire. He's resembling the RJ of old, which, if that happened, would obviously be huge for the Bucks. Go Bucks!

Thursday, Nov 6

Be excited, Bucks fans... but maintain reason

There is a lot to be excited about with the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 start. No doubt. But, as Flava Flav says to his hoes, lets "keep it real". Under the Simple Rating System, the Bucks are ranked 11th in the Eastern Conference and are the lowest ranked +0.500 team in the Association by a wide margin.

Check this out, Bucks fans... the Skiles Effect!

At the time, I argued that Skiles alone, through his incorporation of defense, could turn the Bucks into around a 0.500 team -- solely through improved Defensive Win Score (or "Win Score Prevented") and without assuming any improvement in the offense at all.

Sunday, Nov 2

Big Win, Bigger Loss?: Milwaukee Bucks Total Win Contribution boxscore for Game 4

The Milwaukee Bucks quietly recorded a huge bounce back win at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night. But in the process they lost their leader, Michael Redd, to what is being called a sprained ankle. Redd had a big game before the injury, but he certainly wasn't the only Buck who did.

Holy Moute... big road win for the Bucks!

The Bucks were coming off a hard fought home opener against a tough Toronto team... which had to be draining... then turn around and take a night flight to New York... which probably meant they got no sleep... and then they go out, roll up their sleeves, and grind out a win. Now that's Bucks basketball, y'al...

The Bucks' spin on Joe Alexander doesn't pass muster

Last night I was driving back from my brother's house, and I heard "Voice of the Bucks" Ted Davis's pregame interview with Bucks GM John Hammond. To Davis' credit (I think he's a fabulous basketball announcer), he asked Hammond point blank: Is Joe Alexander NBA ready?"

Sorry about that

1. Hey Bucks -- could you commit a few less unforced errors? Jon McGlocklin, ever the Green and Red, was crediting the Toronto defense. I don't think so. Most of the turnovers were purely the result of errant passing, many of them occuring without much defensive pressure at all.

Wednesday, Oct 29

Postgame Notes: Game 2 vs OKC Thunder

Coach Skiles, faced with the same situation and a similarly unready player in lottery pick Joe Alexander, has thus far resisted any political pressure to play Joe Alexander. Playing Alexander would hurt the Bucks and Skiles knows it, and, more importantly, has the juice to avoid it.

Tuesday, Oct 28

Opinion: An awful beginning: Bucks Total Win Contribution boxscore from last night's opener

Click Here to view the Total Win Contribution boxscore from last night's Bucks game. I only finished the numbers for the Milwaukee Bucks. I meant to also do computations for the Chicago Bulls, but I just finished the Bucks computations... and its 2:09 am. Maybe I'll get at it tomorrow.

Monday, Oct 27

Welcome to the Scotty Era in Milwaukee

I wanted to do a full Win Prediction for every NBA team, but time did not permit. Instead, I'll stick to doing one for the Milwaukee Bucks, and possibly I will add predictions for other teams as the day wears on (with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic receiving precedence because...

Who's responsible for Bucks offensive woes?

Later tonight I'm going to assemble a chart showing a number of different preseason statistical calculations I did this weekend for the entire National Basketball Association. Some of them will show some teams who may be on the rise (Indiana, Orlando, New Orleans). But each one them, unfo...

Saturday, Oct 11

Green and Red Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down

Coming out of tonight's latest humiliating exhibition loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Milwaukee Bucks team Win Score average per game for the four preseason games stands at a paltry 24.9, miles below last season's NBA team average of 43.6. I would venture to say you can't win any games in the...

Wednesday, Oct 1

Opinion: Issues and Assumptions re: the 2008-09 Bucks

3. Ramon Sessions. Skiles, in the Dennis Krause interview I saw, never mentioned point guard Ramon Sessions' name. But he kept talking about veteran point guard Luke Ridnour, and how great Ridnour was because he was a "pass first" PG (editorial comment: never mind the damage Ridnour's lack...

Wednesday, Aug 6

Opinion: The Bucks suddenly look SANE!

The one encouraging thing I heard from Hammond was his insinuation that the point guard minutes will be distributed by merit rather than salary. That means the rising young quarterback Ramon Sessions ought to get a fair shot to unseat the defenseless Mo Williams.

Friday, Jul 25

Opinion: Brewers Diary Supplemental: Introducing Baseball "Run Score"

What makes the basketball analytical writing sphere so great, too, is that it is a conversation, not a competition. This isn't the race to split the atom. We are all having fun trying to develop better ways to analyze and understand this great game of basketball -- the people's sport.

Friday, Jun 29

Memo to Larry Harris: an analysis of Yi's actual options

Stories are circulating suggesting that if the Bucks do not accomodate Yi and trade him to a large market team as his agent has demanded, then Yi has some unique options he will exercise that will make it painless for him to extinguish the Bucks draft rights. It is said, for instance, that he c...

Saturday, May 26

Bucks prospects: PG Mike Conley

What I like about him: Teams with good point guards tend to advance in the playoffs, and Conley is considered by many the best point guard prospect in this draft. It appears as though he could upgrade the Bucks significantly at that key position. I love his lightning quickness and unmatched s...

Friday, Mar 30

Pimpin for #10, Bobby D

I want to concentrate on one of the clips called "Champions at Last". Its from the Bucks Radio Network's call of the 1971 NBA Finals which pitted your Milwaukee Bucks against the Baltimore Bullets (now, obviously, the Washington "Wizards" -- God, I hate that nickname). Here is the relevant...