Giving thanks for Redd... and Bogut too!

Eff48 numbers in last night's key matchups

Michael Redd... 31.5

Kobe Bean Bryant... 26.4

Andrew Bogut.....37.1

Andrew Bynum...40.3

Bucks fans, don't underestimate what the Green and Red accomplished by beating the Lakers at the Bradley Center last night. The Lakers may not be the best team in the NBA, but few other teams have played as well as the Lakers have thus far this season.

Last night, however, the Bucks looked like the better team.

How about Michael Redd? Like the song by Stevie Wonder, Redd is staking out "Higher Ground" amongst the pantheon of NBA stars.

Last night he went toe-to-toe with his old nemesis Kobe Bryant and scored a clean knockout. It has become clear now that Redd can attack Kobe effectively off the dribble. Kobe's days as "The Reddstopper" appear to be over. And if not Kobe, then who? Perhaps no one. That's how well Redd is playing.

You can't even beat him any longer with double teams. Now he'll make you pay. Redd continuously punished the Lakers double teams with crisp passing to open teammates for easy scores. Beautiful.

Andrew Bogut also had an outstanding game. Yeah, he got some ticky tack fouls early, but he played well overall. His play in the second half was especially crucial to the win. He played the rising young center Andrew Bynum to a virtual standoff.

Bogut's passing was tremendous, both in the high and low post, and I love his new willingness to release from his man on defense and defend the hoop against opponent drivers. It was also great to see how decisive and self-assured he was on offense late in the game. Sure, he wasn't always effective, but he was always aggressive. Hopefully we are seeing a new Bogut. Keep it up, mate!

There are many other Bucks who deserve praise off last night's win, but I gotta get to bed. Tomorrow (actually today) is the one truly American holiday on the calendar, and by far my favorite. Happy Thanksgiving Bucks Fans!!