Week In Review: Milwaukee Bucks Ride Roller Coaster Of Emotion
Nov 19, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) defends against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight (11) during first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Wednesday, Nov. 19: Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets
This was one of the more highly anticipated contests for the Bucks this season, because of the return of Jason Kidd to Brooklyn. We’re all aware of the beef Kidd and the Nets have between each other, but Kidd made sure his team was focused on the game at hand. I think they listened.
Milwaukee pulled of a triple-overtime win, defeating the Nets 122-118 in what will surely be one of the most exciting Bucks games you’ll see this year.
One of the most encouraging things I picked up from this game was how Kidd stuck with the young kids for all three overtimes. What was even better was how they responded.
Watching Parker and Giannis give orders, take control, and really handle the overtimes like seasoned veterans put a smile on my face as a Bucks fan.
Milwaukee shot 50 percent from the floor (9-for-18) and made all six of their free throws in overtime. That kind of efficiency is refreshing to see from a team that has had their fair share of struggles closing out games.
Another encouraging sign was how the team regrouped after Brandon Knight missed his wide open layup to win the game in the first overtime. Knight looked dejected after missing his layup, but he was the only one.
Kidd was seen on the sidelines clapping, smiling, encouraging Knight as he walked to the bench. The same could be said for John Henson and veteran Jared Dudley, who met Knight to console him as he walked off the court. O.J. Mayo, who worked out with Knight this summer, gave Knight a pep talk before the second overtime encouraging him to stick with it, to not give up.
While Knight seemed to force some shots in the second overtime, he hit a clutch 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in the second overtime to tie the game at 112. He then hit two big free throws that put Milwaukee up four with five seconds left in the third overtime to seal the game.
Milwaukee was able to rally as a team after Knight’s miss, and I think a lot of that credit goes to Jason Kidd.
However there was one thing I noticed Wednesday night that plagued Milwaukee the rest of the week, and that was how Milwaukee struggles against skilled big men.
The Nets’ Brook Lopez had 26 points, seven boards, and seemed to have his way in the paint most of the night against Milwaukee. This same theme occurred in Milwaukee’s final two games this week.
The win put Milwaukee at 7-5, and traveled to Toronto to play the best team in the East.
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