The Bratwurst - Milwaukee Bucks Blog

Down three with two seconds remaining, Mo Williams blows by Walter Herrmann and draws a goaltending violation on a layup to end the game. But Mo would later admit he thought they were only down two at the time.

How is that possible? BAD COACHING!

Beyond the fact that the Bucks went three straight posessions between 1:40 and 1:00 remaining without even getting a shot up, Krystkowiak completely botched the end of this game. Let me count the ways:

1) Why is Desmond Mason in the game instead of Simmons for the final 30 seconds? You need a 3 — should the ball wind up in one of their hands, who would you rather see shooting it from deep? Or, if you really want Mason in for size and rebounding, why not have Simmons in for Bell? You only need one point guard in at a time, and Simmons could box out Gerald Wallace better than Redd can (allowing Redd to guard McInnis).

2) The Bucks were out of timeouts with 18 seconds remaining, but while Felton took his free throws Krystkowiak could have called Mo over to the bench and called a game ending play. The shot clock was off and the Bucks were going to be down no more than three (actually two after Felton missed one free throw). Whenever you are on the road and have a chance to run out the clock on a final shot you hold the ball and do it. Williams was an idiot for taking a jumper with 9 seconds remaining — not only was it way too early, but Walter Herrmann had switched onto him. No way he keeps Mo away from the rim — but with 9 seconds left, Mo should have still been holding the ball at midcourt, wating to initiate a screen-roll play with either Redd or Bell.

3) Even though it is Mo’s fault for forgetting the score at the end, it’s still on Krystkowiak to make sure he does know. Charlotte was shooting free throws in front of the Milwaukee bench. So why is Mo in the lane during the free throws instead of by the bench talking to the coach?

Horrendous end-game execution. Just awful.

In other news, the Bucks did outrebound Charlotte. Congratulations to Andrew Bogut, grabbing 17 boards in a game where he was matched up against Emeka Okafor, who was the 11th best per minute rebounder in the league last season.