This shot didn’t go in. It had twelve others to keep in company. Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

1-14.

Those numbers paint a much clearer story than the final score.  Monta Ellis took 14 shots and hit only one. The shots were every bit as ugly as the math.

The Bucks made their lone appearance on national television for the regular season and they won’t be invited back anytime soon.

Memphis gave Milwaukee every opportunity to stay competitive: They missed four dunks.  They didn’t hit a three-pointer until the third quarter — despite a ton of open looks.  The Grizzlies turned the ball over 16 times and shot 41% for the game.

The Bucks took that low bar and dropped it three notches.

Both Ellis and Jennings grabbed the spotlight in the first half — and promptly melted in it. The pair combined to take 22 shots in the first half and made three. Ellis of course missed all ten of his shots. Jennings threw in a pair of misses on his two free-throw attempts. It wasn’t a performance that would leave a TV audience dying for more. Instead, just dying.

The Bucks were able to weather their struggling guard tandem for a quarter. Despite making only six field goals in the period, a pair of late three-pointers by Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy gave the Bucks a one-point lead after one.

Brandon Jennings took 26 shots and scored 26 points.  His shot selection leaves a lot to be desired, not only because he favors sliding, leaning jump shots off the dribble, but also because those shots — often made before the first hint of a pass — lay the rest of his team’s offense to waste.

Quickly to the tweets…

The Dalembert thing is really getting interesting. He couldn’t help in this game?

— Jeremy Schmidt (@Bucksketball) December 20, 2012

The margin is 8, which is roughly 10x less than what you might think if the scoreboard wasn’t right there on the screen.

— Dan Sinclair (@dan_sinclair) December 20, 2012

Common themes after games like these: “JENNINGS AND ELLIS HAVE NO HELP AT ALL!” Forgotten point: they don’t ask for help or seek to help

— Steven von Horn (@StevevonHorn) December 20, 2012

It’s time to buy a couple of bottles of wine, set the table for a candlelit dinner, and reunite Sanders and Udoh.

— K L Chouinard (@AnaheimAmigos) December 20, 2012

“Monta Ellis” is trending! #YourTicketToAmazing twitter.com/pdschmitt1/sta…

— Preston Schmitt (@pdschmitt1) December 20, 2012

Nov 7, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Scott Skiles reacts during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Bradley Center. The Grizzlies beat the Bucks 108-90. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Any questions?

The Bucks match up terribly with the Grizzlies. Memphis has the bulk, low-post moves and interior passing of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The Bucks do not do well with opponents of these skillsets. (See also: Clippers, Los Angeles). They have Tony Allen to defend whoever gets warm from the Brandon Jennings/Monta Ellis backcourt. The Grizzlies also have have the smooth stylings of Rudy Gay at small forward.

If that’s not enough, the Grizzlies have fresh legs after a night off, they have healthy roster with zero injured players, and they have the best defense in the league by the numbers.

Oh and by the way, this game is going to be nationally televised. Ooofh.

In other words, it’s good that the Bucks won last night.

Projected Lineups:

Grizzlies: Mike Conley, , Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol
Bucks: Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, Marquis Daniels, Luc Mbah a Moute, Larry Sanders

Injury Status:

Tobias Harris (right forearm laceration): out
Beno Udrih (right ankle sprain): out

Some Stats:

The Grizzlies are one of the few teams that force turnovers more often than the Bucks do.

They also crush the offensive glass and win the free-throw battle.  The Bucks will need to do three things to have a shot at winning this game: protect the ball, snag defensive rebounds and push the pace.

If they do those three things and still fail to win? Then the Grizzlies really are the Bucks Kryptonite, even though the Bucks are nowhere near Supermen.