Posted: February 9, 2011 10:52 a.m. CT
By TONY SMITH
FOX Sports Wisconsin
1. Big 3 Time -- and I don't mean shooting 3s.
It's time for Salmons and Bogut to lead this team. I know Maggette has been on a tear and scoring the ball but this is not his team to lead. For the good of the team the big 3 must be the leaders. It's time for a big push before the break next week (and beyond that break) if they are going to make the playoffs.
2. Return of the D -- The Bucks held Toronto to 74 points and held Washington to 87 last time. Defense has always been a staple of Bucks basketball -- and is also crucial to this run that the Bucks need to make.
Talking points
* Andray Blatche will be a focal point for the D. He had 23 last time and is a tough matchup at the 4 for any of the Bucks. Ersan Ilyasova will need help from the rest of the team.
* Nick Young seems to always come up big against Milwaukee; he's a scorer at heart and can get hot.
* John Salmons talked about a sense of urgency -- well this game might tell the real story. His play seemed urgent last night but will he pull his team along with him, and will he repeat last night's aggressiveness?
* The Wizards are young and they will turn the ball over, so Milwaukee needs to convert those turnovers into points!
* The Bucks are facing a defensively weak team -- time to get the offense some more confidence before they face stiffer defensive teams. Getting to the line might help. Washington is 11-0 at home when it shoots more free throws than the opposition.
Additional thoughts from Craig Coshun:
Milwaukee's starting lineup last night featured Salmons and Maggette providing some punch off the top. How important is that to continue tonight?
The Bucks broke a four-game losing streak Tuesday
