Live Blog -- Bucks v. Magic

6:02: I will be live blogging the game tonight in the style made popular by profootballtalk.com, that is I will make time stamped comments as events warrant. Lets see how this goes.

6:03: Paschke is calling this the Yi Era. Come on, we don't even know if he can play. And enough with the "billion Chinese fans" references. Nobody in BucksNation cares.

6:05: Could Larry Harris use any more mousse? My God! Who does he think he is?

6:07: I would be stunned if Coach K doesnt turn out a success. You can just see that he has "it", that undefinable quality that the previous 2 Bucks coaches did not have.

6:10: I just received a text message from the Diesel, who is at the game. He says the scoreboard is showing Royal Ivey as a starter. That may just be wishful thinking on the Magic's part. He also says Bogut's jumper did not look good in warmups. Of course, he's a 28% jump shooter, so that's not all that stunning.

6:12: Whoop. Diesel reports that they switched it and now have the proper Bucks starting lineup: Yi, Mason, Bogut, Redd, and Williams.

6:14: Let's Get it on!!

6:16: Van Grundy is coaching the Magic. He did one hell of a job for the Badgers. The guy looks like he sells aluminum siding. Lose the stache, Stanley!

6:18: Diesel reports Yi looks very nervous. Why wouldn't he be? As Paschke has said about 12 times, the "World" is watching him.

6:20: Rashard Lewis is going to be a tough check. Oh, Redd scores. Atta baby! 2-2

6:22: Oh, is Redd a playah. He's got all 4. Yi with a steal! But he walked. Stick with it Yi.

6:25: Mason with a nice athletic play.

6:27: The red sea just parted for Torkuglu. Where's the new defense? Didn't see it there. 15-10.

6:29: Bucks take the lead! Redd enfuego (sp?).

6:33: Bogut cannot take outside shots! He just left an 18 footer 15 feet!

6:36: Tonight's drinking game, every time Paschke mentions Yi and all of his Chinese fans, pound your beer! He's done it about 8 times now.

6:38: Desmond with a spin move. Have we seen Simmons yet? I was on teh phone. Oooh, nice basket cut by Mo for 2. Bucks down 23-22.

6:39: Who the hell for Orlando just airballed a 5 foot shot? Oh, here's Simmons into the game. We hadn't seen him.

6:41: Oh, Mo ties it with a sweeeeet fader. We are tied at the end of the first quarter.

End of First Quarter impressions: Your Bucks 24, Magic 24

I was distracted for most of the quarter, but from what I saw Redd rules, Yi looks surprisingly NBA ready, Mo is "Good Mo" tonight, and Bogut needs to hit the boards and stop shooting from the outside. Live blogging an NBA game is hard! I can't type fast enough to keep the observations game relevant!

6:44: Welcome back Bobby Simmons! He just gave the Bucks the lead with an outside j, his speciality shot.

6:47: Villanueva just got two turnovers on two possessions, a travel and a charge, and he looked clumsy on both of them. They're making him put it on the floor and its working.

6:49: Nice defense by Gadzuric on Dwight Howard! Forced him off balance, and made him leave his hook shot short. We're tied at 27-27. Timeout Orlando.

6:52: Simmons is having a beautiful comeback debut! He even looks more aggressive on the offensive end, which will be key to his success. He's a high percentage shooter, so he needs to pull them more often.

6:54: Simmons just got on the boards for a nice put back! Oh, Magic is up now 30-29. Simmons just hit again!!! He is doing it tonight Bucks fans. Rashard Lewis just answered, but hte Bucks still have the lead.

6:57: Gadzuric just got his third foul in very limited number of minutes. He gone! Bogut back in. Get your head in the game now Bogut.

6:57: Did Bogut just hit a skyhook? Yes! I love it. The Down Under Thunder hook. Your Bucks by 7, Bell just hit a three! In my face, because I've been hating on Bell for so long. Good, I hope he shows me different. Bucks 41, Magic 34.

7:02: Bucks bench outscoring Magic by 12. Do I detect a hidden strength? Shit my cable just went out. You gotta be shitting me!! On Opening Night??

7:04: Alright, I'm back. Unfortunately so are the Magic as they've made a run and taken a 42-41 lead. Yi is back in the game. Lets get the momentum going back the other way. Timeout Milwaukee.

Halftime Bucks 46, Magic 48

Impressions: Somebody wake up Bogut. He's one for six. Yi looks okay, but his stats aren't that great. Redd rules, but I'm uncomfortable relying on him so much. What a return for Bobby Simmons! Great to see. Villanueva has to get it going. Great work on the second chance points.

7:34: P and M are blatantly sucking up to the Chinese audience. Yi isn't playing that well. He's got 2 points balanced by 2 turnovers. Oh, and Pashcke mentioned China again, so drink.

7:50: This game is getting away from the Bucks. They're down 8 with 4:41 left in the third, and just turned the ball over.

7:52: The Bucks need a run. And they need Bogut or Charlie V to show up. Down 11.

7:56: Good God. The offense has gone dead, because Redd has gone cold. We can't be Reddcentric. We're down by 16 with 2 minutes to go in the third. Orlando's on a 19-2 run and they are burying 3 pointers because the Bucks are not defending the arc.

7:58: Mo Williams is having A TERRIBLE GAME. Our "point guard" has taken 14 shots and has a grand total of ONE FUCKING ASSIST!! Oh, he's missed 10 of those shots. He's taken as many as Redd, for God's sakes!!

8:51: In case you wondered where I was, the proximate TV got wrestled away from me when the Bucks went down by 20. Agony, I'm still following it online while the GF watches "I Love New York", perhaps the worst television show in the history of the medium.

8:53 Signing off. I'll have a gloom and doom post tomorrow.