Jim Boylan used Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings as his backcourt for the game’s final 34 minutes last night.  Each guard played more than 48 minutes in the game, and the plan to use them for the entire second half backfired a bit when they were forced to go an entire overtime session too.  Ersan Ilyasova also played more than 44 minutes in the game.

If the Bucks were concerned about the heavy workload for their trio of scorers, then the Nets must be doubly so.  Deron Williams, in his first game back after receiving platelet-rich plasma injections in both ankles, played a team-high 45 minutes.  If his minutes are cut tonight, the Bucks simply cannot let themselves get beaten by the likes of C.J. Watson and Keith Bogans.  Bogans had two key three-pointers in overtime last night, though the second one was something of a gift: a loose ball after a blocked shot that bounced fortuitously in his direction.

Security:

As a part of the NBA’s upgraded security measures, the Bucks will start routinely screening and wanding at home games beginning tonight.

Trade Rumors:

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says that the Bucks are working the phone lines in advance of Thursday’s trade deadline.

Another team linked to Smith is the Bucks, who are “definitely active,” according to a rival exec. Milwaukee has to decide whether it will make prospective restricted free agent Brandon Jennings available with the point guard having previously expressed that he’s doing his homework on bigger markets

More medallions:

Former VCU stars Larry Sanders and Eric Maynor used the all-star break to take in a game at their former school. School spirit was on display as the pair stuck closely to VCU’s black and gold colors. And is Larry’s medallion awesome? Or is it super awesome?

February 16, 2013; Richmond, VA USA; Former Virginia Commonwealth Rams standouts Milwaukee Bucks forward Larry Sanders (l) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Eric Maynor (r) watch from courtside during the Rams’ game against George Washington

Forget giving the intentional foul. If the Nets are down three on the game’s final possession, let this man guard Joe Johnson! What’s the point of keeping all that defensive glory in the paint if a two-pointer won’t matter anyway?

Johnson has now made 9-of-10 field goals this season in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime in close games (with the Nets or their opponents leading by three or fewer points).  I’d like to see him try getting a fallaway over the outstretched arms of Sanders, though.

Some numbers:

When Reggie Evans is in the game, the Nets collect 54.3% of available rebounds.  When he is out, they only get 49.5%.

He doesn’t do much else on the court, but when a shot goes up, Evans will do whatever it takes to get an edge for position.  Last night, he grabbed Ersan’s hand as a shot went up and yanked him like a rag doll out of the play just as he himself went into it.  Evans finished with 9 rebounds in 19 minutes.

December 9, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) is defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Remember back in 2009 when the basketball world debated whether Chris Paul or Deron Williams was the league’s best point guard? I do.  Seems like a long time ago.  Unfortunately for Williams, that debate ended a while back too.

When Paul hurt his knee in 2010, it looked like the bigger, stronger Williams was the sole choice for Best Point Guard Alive.  But the tables turned shortly thereafter, and it is Williams who has struggled recently — both with injuries and his overall play through those ailments.

When he takes the court in Milwaukee tonight, Williams will be playing for the first time since receiving platelet-rich injections in both ankles a week ago.  The injuries are taking a slow toll on his game.

I can’t jump. … I can’t dunk. Even if I tried, off one leg I can’t dunk. I can dunk off two, but if I tried to jump off my left leg, I can’t dunk, so it’s definitely affected me.

The Bucks are 2-0 in the season series with the Nets that ends this week:  the pair play tonight in Brooklyn, then again tomorrow in Milwaukee.  Even though Williams is expected to play tonight, it is much less clear if he will participate in Wednesday’s rematch.

Along with Brandon Jennings, Williams has been one of the lowest performing starting point guards in the paint this season, converting 51% of his field goal attempts.  His outside shooting has also suffered.  Overall, Williams has averaged 16.7 points (on 41.3 percent shooting) 7.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds this season, a far cry from the days when Deron was an efficient 20/10 machine.

The Nets signed Williams to a five-year, $98 million contract last summer.  Oooofh.

The Bucks likely have a star returning too.  Larry Sanders took part in his first full practice yesterday since injuring his back, and he said that the likelihood of him playing tonight is “70-30“.

Projected Lineups:

Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez
Bucks: Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Ersan Ilyasova, Larry Sanders

Some Numbers:

Ersan Ilyasova had a 25-rebound effort last year against the Nets in New Jersey, but he didn’t do it against Reggie Evans. Evans is a crafty rebounder who knows all the dirty tricks of surviving in the paint.  Ilyasova will have his hands full tonight muscling the full-bodied Evans off the boards.  If he can, the Bucks should have a fair chance winning the rebounding battle with Brooklyn.

Milwaukee has a speed advantage in this game.  They simply need enough defensive rebounds and forced turnovers to take advantage of it.

The Bucks also need to not have Thursday’s trade deadline mess with their collective heads.