Brandon Jennings had a awesome couple of games over the weekend. The two games were very different, but both very memorable, and he
turned some heads along the way.
17 points, 9 ast, 9 boards in 34 minutes. If that isn't a stat line to be excited for I don't know what is. Nine rebounds from a guy who is 6'1''. He out rebounded every forward and center on the team. Kurt Thomas and Andrew Bogut combined for 9 boards. They should be slightly embarrassed at the fact the Young Money schooled them at their game. The opening night was huge for Brandon, establishing himself as the starter. he played for 34 minutes (only Redd played longer). A near Triple-Double in his first game gives the young man some confidence (as if he was at a loss for it) as he goes on to play some of the bigger better guards, like the ones he battled the next night in Detroit.
The next night, in the home opener Brandon didn't pad the entire stat line, but did what he needed to do. He played some tough D and scored. 24/2/3 for a stat line is a bit more of the Allen Iverson-esque stat line people said Jennings would produce, but I'm not concerned about it. On a night that saw Redd actually play defense, resulting in a dunk, and subsequent injury, Brandon put in on the floor and take charge of this team. He got beat up a bit earlier by the Stuckey and Ben Gordon, but the kid showed that determination and grit can pay off.
In that same game we watched the slow-to-adjust Bogut have a rough night. 6 points with 8 boards is great night for Gadzuric, not for Bogut. Speaking of Gadzuric he had pretty good night stepping in down low with 8 points and 5 boards. I know I usually give Danny G a rough time, but he had a good game off the bench, and he deserves his props.
The other star of the night was The Dream Crusher, Hakim Warrick. He kept Ol' Man Kurt on the bench after the first 5 minutes and got the most burn out of any of Our Bucks players. He had a night of 21/5/3. Ten of those points came from the line where he was 10 - 15, not the best, but he got to the line more than any other player on the floor that night. He put it on the floor like RJ did last year and is getting paid a fraction of the price.
Charlie Bell will get the start at SG with Jodie Meeks and Carlos Delfino likely to see time at the 2.
Starting in the PF slot will be Kurt Thomas up against Ty Thomas, expect Hakim to be in the game for Our Bucks early on again.
I think tonight could be the turn around for Bogut as he goes against the wiry Jokim Noah.
I expect the Prince to get a good amount of burn tonight with Delfino's services being needed at SG, look for the prince and Delfino to be all over the non-physically gifted (yet still dangerous) Luol Deng.
Tonight Brandon will have the biggest test of his abilities so far (besides those pesky SAT's) when he goes up against reigning-rook of the year, Derrick Rose (whose had his own standardized test issues). Thus far we have seen Brandon play D, grab boards and score. Tonight he will have his work cut out for him.
Tonight Our Bucks walk into Chicago without our captain,
Michael Redd, but I still like our match-ups, and think we could come out with win. My prediction 98 - 95, Our Bucks win.
So what do you think of our chances tonight, and of Brandon Jennings so far?