BTBP Weekly Roundup: Filling The Void(s)

Feb 20, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Ennis (11) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Nuggets – Friday, February 20th (BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee)

Thankfully the Bucks did not have to deal with a fellow playoff-caliber team right after the deadline deal. The Denver Nuggets had high expectations coming into this season but have struggled and ended up being sellers instead of buyers at the trade deadline this season. Winning their first game of the season against Denver was important because the next two teams the Bucks played this week have both been playing really quality basketball all season.

The Bucks did not play a great game against the Nuggets but they played well enough, beating Denver 89-81. Denver’s high scorer was Wilson Chandler who scored an inefficient 19 points on a whopping 20 shots (including going an abysmal three-for-twelve from three-point range).

Milwaukee struggled early against the Nuggets but was able to take care of business in a much-better second half, outscoring Denver 47-37.  Milwaukee prevailed through a total team effort: the Bucks six leading scorers were all within five points of each other. That’s exactly the kind of game the Bucks need to play until a new team leader steps up who can take the team’s scoring burden on his shoulders. Right now it just doesn’t seem like the Bucks have someone to do that.

All that means is that the Bucks need to play Spurs basketball for the rest of the season. If any Milwaukee player starts to get selfish and chuck shots the team will probably lose. Unless a Buck (maybe a Greek Buck?) really comes into his own and starts to nail those clutch shots late (and early) in games, the Bucks’ best shot at continuing to win and get a good playoff spot hinges on how quickly the team can gel after all the personnel changes.

The Nuggets presented an easier foe to help ease the young Bucks back into action. The next two games for Milwaukee presented two legitimate title contenders who both know they need to heat up now and get momentum for the playoffs. Could the Bucks pull off a win against the second best team in the NBA?

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