December 9, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) is stripped of the ball by Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) in front of Bucks forward Marquis Daniels (6) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As statistics, steals and blocks are typically vastly overrated because there aren’t many simple ways to quantify defensive impact. In this game, however, the long arms of Larry Sanders and the quick hands of Brandon Jennings played a crucial role in a 97-88 Bucks win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Jennings five steals indicate well the degree to which Brandon harassed Deron Williams both on the dribble and on passes headed Williams’ way.  Jennings also tallied 25 points, seven assists, and six rebounds while proving to be the best marksman in a first half marred by gruesome shooting performances on both sides.

December 9, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (11) is defended by Brooklyn Nets guard MarShon Brooks (9) during the third quarter of an NBA game at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Sanders finished with a seemingly modest six points and six rebounds (and only three fouls!) in 38 minutes, but his four blocks show the degree to which he dissuaded the Nets from scoring inside. With things clogged in the paint, the Nets were stuck.  The Nets could not hit a jump shot in the first half. They weren’t off the mark; they didn’t even know where the mark was.

Prior to this game, the Nets’ largest deficit in their new home, the Barclay Center,  was 16 points.  Tonight, the Bucks built a 29-point lead midway through the third quarter.  Up until that point in the game, the Nets had converted 14 of their 51 field goal attempts (27%), and they had well earned the boos that rained at that point. Brooklyn improved from that point on, but the deficit was far too big to overcome.

One concern coming into the game was the size advantage that Joe Johnson held over Monta Ellis.  It never materialized — Johnson finished with just 6 points on 8 shots.  In fact, Ellis ended up being the productive post player when MarShon Brooks replaced Johnson and got the task of guarding him in the third quarter.

Brooks, however, did propel the Nets offensively in their failed rally.  He scored 14 points on five shots and nabbed two steals.

John Henson, Tobias Harris, and Samuel Dalembert — the Bucks’ starting front court from recent losses to the Knicks and Timberwolves — collectively garnered one big “Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision”.  The three sat despite a left wrist injury that forced Ekpe Udoh from the game in the second quarter.

December 9, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) is fouled by Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries (43) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ellis scored 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Even better? He only took two shots in the 16-23 foot wasteland of missed Monta pullups.  Everything else was closer to the hoop or three point shots.  He also made 8-of-9 free throws.

After the game, Skiles noted that Ellis was ill during the game.  Please excuse me while I go stash a pair of petri dishes of pneumococcal cultures in the Bucks locker room.

Somewhere it should be noted that Marquis Daniels was solid again.  In addition to being the the do-everything glue guy, he scored 13 points and corralled a team-high seven rebounds.

One final thought: When the Nets pushed back into the game late, Gerald Wallace (16 points, 16 rebounds) was very, very good and Joel Przybilla was the complete opposite.  With Udoh out, Skiles could have gone to Dalembert to match up with Reggie Evans (and later Kris Humphries).  He went to Przybilla, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it had something to do with Dalembert’s remarks about playing time.

A Few Tweets

Brandon Jennings loves playing good basketball in New York City.

— Cole Brown (@colewbrown) December 9, 2012

Other than the initial start of the game, we played pretty well and they didn’t. – Coach Skiles #MILvBKN

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 10, 2012

X-rays negative on Udoh as Bucks win 97-88. Jennings with 26 and Ellis 24. — cfgardner (@cf_gardner) December 10, 2012

And one from yesterday’s Golden State game …

Ooh Andrew Bogut Bobblehead Night! His head shakes whenever someone asks if he’s playing tonight.

— Eric Freeman (@freemaneric) December 9, 2012

Dec. 4, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) shoots a three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Thunder won 117-111. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks (9-9, 8th in Eastern Conference) play the Nets (11-7, 5th) in their first-ever visit to Brooklyn and the Barclays Center. Brooklyn has lost three straight games while playing without center Brook Lopez and bumping into top teams like Miami and Oklahoma City.  Milwaukee is coming off a 108-93 thumping of Charlotte that was much worse than the final score indicated.

Without Lopez, the Nets have turned to Wizards’ castaway Andray Blatche, who has demonstrated nice touch around the rim in a starting role.

Andray Blatche is averaging 18.8 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 53.7% in his four games as a starter this season

— Nets PR Dept. (@Nets_PR) December 8, 2012

Perhaps more impressive:  the Nets are have a better defensive efficiency with him on the court than off.  They yield 100.9 points per 100 possessions with Blatche playing, and 105.2 when he’s on the bench. Starters Ekpe Udoh and Larry Sanders should be able to slow Blatche and Kris Humphries, provided that they stay out of foul trouble as they did versus the Bobcats.

Don’t worry. Jay-Z and wife Beyonce weren’t coming to a Bucks game anyway. Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

The game won’t be shown on local television, so many Bucks fans won’t get the chance to see the team as the take to the herringbone hardcourt of the Barclays Center for the first time.  The radio broadcast starts on 620 WTMJ locally (and nationally on NBA Audio League Pass) at 5 PM CT.

Oddly, the Nets have the first two players to have been fined by the league for flopping: Gerald Wallace and Reggie Evans.  Fines are only given out to repeat offenders after a warning is issued for the first offense.  The second offense merits a $5000 fine.

The Bucks are Nets are a contrast in pace.  Milwaukee is the fifth-fastest team while the Nets are the second-slowest.  Brooklyn is also one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the league, so the Bucks will have to put a premium on hitting the defensive glass.

Last season, Ersan Ilyasova hung a jaw-dropping 29 points and 25 rebounds on the Nets in New Jersey.  He won’t get anything near that in this game, but at the very least, he is finding his comfort zone in the Bucks rotation now that he is coming off the bench.  His 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Bobcats were both season highs, and he pulled off the feat in just 19 minutes of play.

Brooklynettes entertain the crowd with leather and nunchaku. I think I misunderstood the definition of ‘hipster’. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA Today Sports