{photo: A. McGinnis, TAI}
The Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards were coming out of an official timeout with 7:31 left in their game on Tuesday night with Milwaukee leading 84-61. The Wizards only mustered 31 combined points in the second and third quarters while the Bucks put up 53, and the game was all but out of reach as a result. Still, Wizards coach Flip Saunders wanted to make a last ditch effort at a comeback so he subbed in John Wall, Trevor Booker and JaVale McGee for Yi Jianlian, Kevin Seraphin and Jordan Crawford.
After a made free throw by Milwaukee rookie Larry Sanders, Wall dribbled down the court while being pressured by Bucks guard Earl Boykins and eventually had to give the ball up to McGee. McGee took the pass, but could not immediately give the ball back to his point guard for him to set up the offense because Boykins was pestering Wall as only the 5’5″ Boykins can do. McGee even motioned for Wall to come to him, but no such luck from Wall in getting separation. Instead, McGee, who was just inside the foul line at that point, made the executive decision to not look for anyone else, put his head down and dribble toward basket. Although he was bailed out by a hard foul from Andrew Bogut, he missed both free throws and the possession was wasted.
Conversely, with 6:56 left in the third quarter, Brandon Jennings and Bogut found themselves in a similar situation. Jennings passed Bogut the ball in the high post and expected to get it back, but Wall prevented a return pass from happening. Instead of hesitating, waiting and panicking as McGee had done with Wall, Bogut intelligently waited for Jennings to create an open lane, then he drove decisively and dunked on a flailing McGee.
You’re probably thinking this is yet another Truth About It post dedicated to slamming McGee or one of the other Wizards big men. Not the case. Without Andray Blatche (who sprained his shoulder three minutes into the game and was unable to return), McGee (nine points, 13 rebounds), Seraphin (one point, six rebounds), and Booker (eight points, eight rebounds) did a good job on the boards and occasionally made their respective presences felt. They certainly made mistakes, but Booker and Seraphin are rookies and McGee is still learning. I can’t be too critical of their play … at least not last night.
Tags: andray blatche, andrew bogut, brad miller, JaVale McGee, john wall, milwaukee bucks
