Game 29: Portland Trail Blazers vs Milwaukee Bucks | Batum Returns, Miller Trade?
December 20, 2010 — PDXPIPELINEBy Andy Popp
GAME 29: Blazers vs Milwaukee Bucks
December 20, 7PM; Comcast Sports
Related: Trail Blazers Games, Schedule, and WIN Tickets
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Andrew Bogut and the Milwaukee Bucks are in Portland tonight less Brandon Jennings to take on the short-handed Blazers.
The Bucks lost Brandon Jennings to a “fractured left foot – fifth metatarsal” and will have surgery today to correct the problem. He will be out 4-6 weeks. Word on the street is that Keyon Dooling will start in his place.
This is good news for the Blazers, who will be without Joel Pryzbilla, Marcus Camby and Brandon Roy tonight. The silver lining is that Nicolas Batum is back in the fold, after injuring his shoulder against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week.
The Bucks on paper.
Starting five: Ersan Ilyasova, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Andrew Bogut, John Salmons, Keyon Dooling
Off the bench: Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, Luch Richard Mbah a Moute, Earl Boykins, Jon Brockman
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
“Andre Miller is certain to be gone by the [trade] deadline” – John Hollinger
STRATEGY
Both teams are without regular rotation players, this is going to force both coaches to go deeper into the bench for help (the Blazers and Nate McMillian much more-so than the Bucks). Look for the Blazers to go small (not like they have a choice), and look to get out and run the ball. Both Wes Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge should thrive.
LET'S GET RICH
To date: 10-11-1.
Blazers -3. Blazers at home against a bad team. I'll take them.
TRADE ME
Rudy Fernandez
NUMBER OF BACK TO BACKS THIS SEASON (IN SETS)
8
NEXT 5
@ Golden State
@ Utah
@ Denver
vs Utah
vs Houston
BOTTOM LINE
A Western Conference three game swing looms. The Blazers are currently right at .500 (14-14) and a win tonight would give them both confidence and some buffer for the tough road trip.
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More Portland Trail Blazers coverage here by
——Andy Popp
Andy Popp is a Portland native that loves sports and beer. You can contact Andy Popp at either andypopp@gmail.com or BlazersPipeline on Twitter. When he's not at PDX Pipeline, you can find him at lowposts.com.
