Milwaukee Bucks: Grades from 97-95 win over Oklahoma City Thunder

Milwaukee Bucks. JASON KIDD. B+. Whether it was down to Kidd or the players themselves, the Bucks came out ready to play from the opening tip on Friday, which proved essential to their winning effort. <p>Following a night of infinite strangeness on Thursday, Kidd’s rotation didn’t just return to its previous state, it arguably took on a more logical structure than it has had throughout most of the season to date.</p> <p>Sure, the rotation may have been a little short for the second night of a back-to-back, but at least there were discernible patterns with where Kidd was looking to get his players some rest and maintaining some sort of balance with second unit groups.</p> <p>Although Russell Westbrook got hot and ultimately went off for 40 points, to a man, the Bucks guarded him very physically early on, which was very effective in disrupting Oklahoma City’s rhythm as a team in that first quarter.</p> <p>Of course, it wouldn’t be a close game without some head-scratching free throw decisions from the Bucks’ coach, and considering his foul up by four points against Cleveland recently, his decision not to foul up by three is a complete mystery. Not every coach will foul when up by three, with many preferring to trust in their defense, but the problem in Kidd’s case comes in the inconsistency. He trusts in his defense up three, but not up by four? Okay. Following the no-foul, Westbrook knocked down a three, opening the door for the closing controversy that could have been avoided with a foul.</p> <p>Otherwise, it was a game well-managed, with the only other major mistake on Kidd’s part being not immediately taking Bledsoe out after he picked up his third foul in the second quarter.</p>. Head Coach