The Final Weekly Bucks Report!

Probably. I'm not sure I can put Two Name through the torture of writing one of these again. The Bucks are done and the Crew is about to start. That didn't stop Two Name this week though! Look at the quality analysis and bad ass pictures!

As one season full of high expectations begins this afternoon, the Bucks’ schedule continues to grind to a painful end.
Milwaukee lost three games this week, including Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies at home. Come on! Anyway, instead of dissecting what took place this week, I thought we’d delve into the Bucks’ history book just a bit.
I know things are dire right now, but there is hope for this franchise. It might be tough to feel that way while this team keeps losing, but looking back at some of the guys who have worn a Milwaukee uniform, it’s clear we have come a long way. Let’s take a look at some classic rosters for the Bucks comprised by unforgettable names that always give us a good chuckle.

1992-1993: The most memorable names from this roster were Theodore “Blue” Edwards, Anthony Avent, Alaa Abdelnaby, Lee Mayberry and Alan Ogg. How good was Blue Edwards?

1995-1996: Who can forget the crew of Alton Lister, Eric Murdock, Todd Day and Marty Conlon? They were just a few of the gems on the mid-1990s roster. Vin Baker was the stud on that team, but he had no supporting cast.

1998-1999: Things started getting better just before 2000, but this late 90s roster still had a couple commons. Jamie Feick, Armen "The Hammer" Gilliam, Haywood Workman, Chris Gatling ring a bell?

Bogut actually is alive: Finally, the Journal Sentinel caught up with Andrew Bogut. It only took about a month to get any kind of update on the most important story of the offseason. Sounds like the recovery from his back injury is on track, with no setbacks to report. That is great news, especially as temperamental as back injuries can be. He even shot down the notion that he will have long-term issues because it’s not a nerve or disc problem. Bogut should be able to begin light workouts soon, and I hope he can get his conditioning back in order heading into the Bucks’ offseason program. Two offseasons ago, Bogut focused on weight lifting and conditioning – not playing basketball – and he was bigger, stronger and fresher throughout the season. He played in the Olympics this past offseason, and that extra ball evidently took its toll. Here’s hoping he’s back stronger than ever next season. The Bucks need him badly. By the way, not many guys can pull off a white suit, but apparently the Aussie has no trouble.


Player of the week: After struggling for a few weeks, Ramon Sessions came back strong the last three games. He recorded his first career triple-double against the Lakers on Wednesday and followed it with 18 points, 10 dimes and five boards against Philly. In Milwaukee’s laughable loss to Memphis Saturday, Ramon had 16 points and 11 assists. Really nice week for next year’s starting point man.

This week: Slow week for the Bucks, as Milwaukee hosts Atlanta and Oklahoma City Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. I see an undefeated week on the horizon (Don’t ask me why).

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted on CH generally on Mondays or Tuesdays. This week Two Name takes a look back at the 08-09 year, which is basically over.

As the Bucks’ 2008-2009 campaign painfully winds down, it’s a good time to take a look back at Milwaukee’s offseason moves and assess the impact they had this season and for the future.
Hindsight is always 20-20, but I’m interested to hear how you guys judge a few of the moves during John Hammond’s first year as director of basketball operations. Hammond was busy, whether it was his first draft, trades, or free-agent acquisitions. Obviously, the season has not gone according to plan – mostly due to injuries – but let’s look at what Hammond did before things got underway in late October.
The Draft: Hammond used the eighth pick to select Joe Alexander. It’s hard to judge Alexander at this point because he is a project. The Bucks knew he wouldn’t contribute much this year, and he didn’t do much to justify his draft status. That being said, you did see some of the athleticism that attracted Hammond to the rookie last June.
The one thing I’m not sold on is his defensive ability. The Bucks claimed he could play either forward positions and hold his own. He’s so scatter-brained on defense, and I don’t see any signs of being a premier defender. If a guy as much as raises his eyebrows, Alexander jumps out of his shoes trying to block a shot. Again, he hasn’t had much time to develop his game outside of practice. So, the Alexander pick would garner an incomplete grade in my book.
Hammond did hit a home run with the Fresh Prince, however. Luc Richard easily was the Bucks’ best defender this year, and his offensive game will develop with time. Hammond definitely earns an “A” with this pick, and I’m excited for his future.
Trades: The big trade was acquiring Richard Jefferson for Yi and Bobby Simmons. Let me start by saying getting rid of Simmons made this deal worth it, regardless of how good Yi will become. I was never sold on Yi as a viable starter in the Association, and he never wanted to be in Milwaukee in the first place. The financial gain of doing this deal was the best part of the move. Larry Harris did not know how to manage a salary cap, and the Simmons deal was evidence of that fact.
Now, Jefferson did disappoint me this year. I think he took a backseat to Redd and Bogut early on, not playing his aggressive, slashing style. He picked it up after those two got injured, but he definitely looked a step slower than he has the last couple years in New Jersey. The trade gets a “B” in my book. Jefferson $15 million is going to hurt next year, but I think he will be a solid contributor for the duration of his time in Milwaukee. This is a “B” trade for me.
The other big trade for Milwaukee was getting rid of Mo Williams and getting Luke Ridnour to run the point. I always thought this simply was a move to make way for Ramon Sessions, and that appears to be the case as the season is winding down. Sessions has showed flashes of greatness this season at time, but has struggled as of late. Yet he continues to start and should the rest of the season. I think Sessions is Milwaukee’s point guard of the future, and getting rid of Mo was a necessity for that progression to get underway.
Ridnour was who I thought he was going to be this year. Nothing special. Solid player. I was never a big Mo fan, so this trade is another “B” in my book, simply because Sessions has impressed me enough to justify the move.
Free-agent acquisitions: Francisco Elson, Malik Allen, Keith Bogans and Damon Jones were some of the guys Hammond brought in off the street (Bogans and Jones during the season). None of these guys had real impact. Allen was OK before getting injured. Elson is just a guy, despite appearing to be more than that when he played in San Antonio. I guess the Spurs’ system makes anyone look good. (See Roger Mason this year). These pick-ups really didn’t cost the Bucks anything. I’ll give Hammond a “D” grade for these moves collectively.

What do you guys think of the offseason moves now that the season is coming to an end and you have had a chance to assess their impact?

Rough week: The Bucks had a rough week, building on their five-game losing streak. It’s not going to get any better, with the Lakers on the schedule this week. I really haven’t paid too close attention as of late. It’s becoming painful to watch.

Player of the week: Why not give it to Danny G. after his 18-point, 12-rebound performance Saturday against the Heat?

This week: The Bucks host L.A., head to Philly and host Memphis this week. I see the losing streak coming to an end Saturday versus the Grizz.

Weekly Bucks Report!

The Weekly Bucks Report is still alive and kicking! Two Name is down...but he is not out. He will continue to write the quality analysis we've all grown to love until the Bucks are eliminated from playoff contention. And after that, he tells me he might even want to write about OFFSEASON moves and the like (wow!).

It’s sad to say, but I’m done. I’ve checked out.
I’ve followed the Bucks closely all season, literally watching at least some of every game, but now it’s becoming unbearable. I’m not sure if my interest has waned due to March Madness or the progression of spring training, but it’s difficult to tune in and pay attention to the Bucks lately.
I watched Mike Redd and Andrew Bogut fall to injuries. I watched Charlie V. and Ramon Sessions carry the team for a few weeks. And I’ve seen glimpses of a bright future with Scott Skiles running this squad. But, for this season, I’m done. The Bucks have 11 games remaining – six coming against teams with winning records – and I’ve run out of hope and patience with this season. I guess 71 games was all I could muster.
Sure, Milwaukee still could surge ahead and claim the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. I don’t see it happening, but the possibility exists. But there’s nothing I hate more than jump-shooting, one-pass-and-shoot, no-effort basketball, and that’s what the Bucks have put on display of late. Injuries have decimated the team, and players simply have run out of gas. Everyone knew the Bucks bench was thin at the beginning of the season, and injuries made that point even more evident as the season wore on.
I hung on longer than most Bucks fans did. I know everyone said the season was over when Bogut was ruled out with a fracture in his back. I was in that group at first. But the way the Bucks responded in the weeks following Bogut’s injury was encouraging. The quality of play definitely took me by surprise. Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
I still will tune in here and there for the final month of the season, mostly due to my obligation to the Weekly Bucks Report (as if anyone cares at this point - editor's note: Hey now!). When I do tune in, I will do it with forward thinking in mind. I will envision how the Bucks lineup will look next season and enjoy watching the Fresh Prince and Ramon continue to progress.
Along those lines, it’s time to play Joe Alexander (editor's note: HA!). I want to see some of the raw athleticism that made him the first pick of the John Hammond era. That pick hasn’t been justified this season, but 11 games would be a nice growth opportunity for Joe. Why not play him? It’s time to say bye-bye to the playoffs and look ahead to next year.
Now that I’m done with the current campaign, I’ll use the last couple Weekly Bucks Reports to look ahead to next year and assess the bright spots of this season. I had a lot of enthusiasm heading into the year, but I’m ready for baseball. I’m done with the Bucks, until November 2009, of course.

Bogans back?: Keith Bogans has played well of late, and Skiles has take a liking to the burly guard. I like the defensive intensity Bogans brings to the court. He might be earning himself a roster spot for next season based on his play of late. He’s played tough D, rebounded well and is averaging about 7 points in the month of March. Nothing special, I know, but he could be a solid backup next season.
Player of the week: Charlie V. has dropped off his torrid pace from a few weeks back, but he’s continuing to showcase his talents in a contract year. Big Smooth scored 17 points against Orlando and finished with 26 against Portland. Charlie is heading for a big payday, and he has 11 more games to earn a little more cash.
This week: The Bucks kick of a four-game road trip with games at Toronto, Orlando and Miami. They conclude the trip with a game Monday night at New Jersey. If the Bucks win more than one game on this trip, I would be surprised.

Weekly Bucks Report!

Two Name is back with his best Weekly Bucks Report yet!

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday morning on CH...until the Bucks get mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. But hey...they hold the 8th playoff spot! Where's the love Milwaukee?!

I haven’t written a Weekly Bucks Report since March 1, and while the Bucks’ record got worse and they appear to be running out of gas, they are in the same spot they were back when February expired.
Milwaukee (31-38) is seven games under .500, but somehow, some way, the Bucks still hold the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They lost five of six heading into Sunday’s contest with the Celtics, but the Bucks played solid defense and upset Boston at the BC on Sunday. The Celtics played without KG, but everyone knows the Bucks’ injury situation so there are no excuses for Boston.
The Bulls are a half game behind the Bucks and own the tiebreaker, but Chicago had lost seven straight before beating New Orleans Saturday. Talk about two teams “fighting” for their playoff lives by consistently losing to teams they should be beating. Regardless, no matter how ugly this season will end, the playoffs are still a realistic possibility for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s schedule is much tougher than Chicago’s the rest of the way, but nobody can predict what will happen with these squads. New Jersey and New York are still in the mix for the eighth spot, but I think it will be the Bucks and Bulls fighting until the end. The Bucks host Orlando and Portland this week and then head to the road for four straight games.
The Bucks face Toronto, Orlando, Miami and New Jersey to end the month of March. None of these games are gimmes, but the Bucks should split this trip if they want to ensure that playoff spot. Dwayne Wade has been ridiculous lately, so I don’t see them beating Miami in South Beach. I think the Bucks will beat Orlando at home this week, but the Magic will seek revenge in Florida. So I have the Bucks beating Toronto and New Jersey on that trip.

Playing the lottery: Say the Bucks fail to make the playoffs, who would you guys want John Hammond to draft? You would have to think Blake Griffin and DeJuan Blair would be high on the Bucks’ wish list (and every other team’s, for that matter), but they aren’t realistic possibilities. Blair is reportedly staying at Pitt next year, and Griffin will be the top pick. Unless the Bucks get lucky, there’s little chance they would land the Sooner stud. Who would you want the Bucks to pick if they end up in the lottery?

Bogut update: Why doesn’t the Journal Sentinel give us any update on Andrew Bogut? Is he truly done for the season? What’s going on with his back? Is there a chance he would come back if they made the playoffs? Of course, we’re left to ask those questions and get absolutely no answers from the reporters covering the team? Par for the course. Has anybody heard something that I’ve missed?

Player of the week: Richard Jefferson finally has stepped up to the level Bucks fans expected him to when Yi was sent to New Jersey. He’s averaging about 25 points per game in March, and he’s taking over as the team’s primary threat late in games – at least when Charlie V is off his game or in foul trouble. The Bucks will need RJ to continue his solid play to make the playoffs.

This week: Milwaukee hosts Orlando and Portland this week. I foresee a split, as the Bucks will beat the Magic and fall to the Jail Blazers.

Weekly Bucks Report - Unofficial Chuckie Hacks Poll Edition!

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Monday or Tuesday or whenever I have time at work during the Bucks season. It's written by CH Correspondent Two Name.

Please note Two Name throws up an Unofficial Chuckie Hacks Poll topic...so go on record in the comments section on whether or not you think the Bucks will make the Playoffs this season.

Will they or won’t they?
Let’s conduct a quick, unofficial poll as Milwaukee heads into the final two months of the season. Do you see the Bucks holding onto the eighth and final spot – or moving up, for that matter – and earning a trip to the Eastern Conference playoffs?
I know there’s a mixed reaction as far as whether or not it’s good for the team to face Boston or Cleveland in Round 1, instead of entering the lottery. I, for one, think any playoff experience would be great for this team and the city, but I know a lot of people disagree with that premise. Regardless if you want the Bucks to make the playoffs or not, do you actually see it happening?
I’m going to say, yes. I think the Bucks are playing well enough in a putrid conference to earn a trip to the postseason. Plus, I don’t think the squads behind Milwaukee are good enough to put together any kind of significant run at the final playoff spot. The Bulls appear to be the likely candidate since they made what appeared to be a decent trade last week – acquiring Brad Miller and John Salmons – but New Jersey and Charlotte (yes, the Bobcats) are close behind as well.
The most encouraging sign for Milwaukee is the amount of home games remaining. The Bucks will play 12 of their final 20 games at the Bradley Center. Bad news is many of those games are against strong opponents. The Lakers, Celtics and Portland all come to town, and Orlando visits the BC twice. I still think the Bucks, despite the quality of opponents remaining, will earn the final spot in the East.
As far as moving up in the playoff standings, Milwaukee is two games behind the Sixers, who reside in the sixth spot. Ideally, the Bucks would get out of the seventh and eighth spots – avoiding Boston and Cleveland – but they haven’t been consistent enough to make that kind of run. No matter where they end up, I do think there will be playoff basketball in Milwaukee this year.
What do you guys think?

Skiles COY: I know it seems crazy that any coach running a team with a sub-.500 record should win any kind of reward, but Scott Skiles should be considered for coach of the year honors. The award typically goes to coaches whose teams own the best records in the league, but what Skiles is doing requires more recognition that Mike Brown in Cleveland or Phil Jackson in L.A. I would like to see Phil or Doc Rivers coach a team with the talent level of the Bucks, instead of managing a core group of superstars. Rivers did that in Boston three years ago before acquiring the Big 3, and he won 18 games. Saturday night’s game against Washington is an example of one coach who doesn’t have the command of his players and one who does. Ed Tapscott took over for the fired Eddie Jordan in Washington, and his team owns the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Tapscott still has Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and they showed no interest in playing hard Saturday night. Skiles lost his two best players to injury, but his team looked far and away better than Washington in an easy victory on Saturday.

Friday’s fight: I stopped watching Friday night’s game against New Orleans in about the third quarter, and I missed all that transpired in the last four minutes. Milwaukee overcame a 17-point deficit and nearly pulled out a ridiculous win against the Hornets. Tyson Chandler’s prayer tip-in saved face for New Orleans, but it was good to see the Bucks fight back after playing so poorly for the first 44 minutes of the game.

Player of the week: If Charlie Bell could play like he did before the contract situation a couple years back, it would be a nice boost for Milwaukee the rest of the season. He played well this week, including sparking that comeback against the Hornets with 21 points and five 3-pointers. Bell also scored 19 points in Dallas Wednesday, putting together a decent week.

This week: New Jersey, Cleveland, Chicago and Golden State comprise a busy week for the Bucks. New Jersey and Chicago are important games, as they are the two teams directly behind the Bucks in the playoff race. I see the Bucks going 3-1 this week.

Weekly Bucks Report

After a mid-season break due to the NBA All-Star Game, the Weekly Bucks Report returns in full force. Two Name told me he spent 4 hours writing this post - seriously...and all he wants in return is 1 comment in the comment section...so help the man out.

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Monday or Tuesday on CH.

I basically deemed the 2008-2009 season a lost cause as the calendar turned to February.
That was when we found out the Bucks would be without Andrew Bogut for eight weeks – which will turn out to be the entire season, playoffs or not – with a fracture in his back. Bogut joined Mike Redd on the bench after playing his last game Jan. 31 against Atlanta.
Then Luke Ridnour broke his thumb in practice 10 minutes – literally 10 minutes – after the Bucks traded Ridnour’s backup – Ty Lue – to Orlando for Keith Bogans on Feb. 5. If there’s ever an anecdote to sum up this season and the Bucks’ injury situation, that might be it.
How-evah, the short-handed Bucks have defied the odds thus far and surprised me with solid team play since Bogut and Redd were bench-ridden. Ridnour has since returned, but the play of Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva has helped Milwaukee hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Plus, Richard Jefferson has elevated his play, averaging about 25 points a game in February.
The Bucks are 4-4 since Bogut was declared out for the season, including impressive wins on the road against Detroit and at home against Denver on Sunday. They have lost to solid teams (Cleveland, specifically), but the most encouraging sign is the Bucks never seem completely overmatched. They’ve been in every game and easily could have reversed their fortunes in a couple of those losses.
What accounts for this success?
It has to be a mixture of players stepping up and Scott Skiles implementing a system that makes average players go above and beyond their ability. The way the Bucks pass the ball under Skiles is impressive. An extra pass here and there makes guys like Charlie Bell and Francisco Elson look better than they actually are at times because the passing leads to wide-open looks at the basket.
There’s also something to be said for not having to look for a star player or two on every possession. These guys don’t have feed Bogut in the post or find Redd on the perimeter, so they’re playing a more wide-open style. I don’t know how long this will last. Sooner or later, the lack of depth on the bench will have to bite the Bucks. Right?
They’ve defied the odds thus far. If they continue buying into the style of play they’ve featured since the beginning of February, the playoffs are still attainable, as crazy as that sounds. Especially when the schedule is loaded with home games the rest of the way.
I mean, really, does the Knicks’ roster, one of the groups chasing the Bucks for the eighth spot, really put more fear into your heart than Milwaukee’s? Don’t think so. No matter what happens, it’s just nice to see this team hasn’t gone into the tank, which definitely would have happened in years past.

LBJ in town: Anybody see LeBron score 16 points in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter against the Bucks on Saturday? I couldn’t stand watching fans cheer for him at the BC, but I’ve never seen anyone take shots from such outlandish distances and watch every one go in the basket. James finished with 55 points, including 8 of 11 from 3-point range. Funny this is, despite LeBron going off, the Bucks retook the lead in that game and had a chance to win. By the way, I’ll take Sessions over Mo Williams for the long-term solution at point guard. Mo looks great next to LeBron, but he’s not committed to being a pass-first, franchise point guard and never will be.

Calm trade winds: There was a lot of conversation about the Bucks preceding the trade deadline, but John Hammond stood pat with his overachieving roster. I didn’t have a problem with this. I’m thrilled Hammond didn’t trade Sessions or Villanueva earlier this season, and now I want to see how the rest of the campaign plays out. Hammond knows one of two things: Either he thinks this assortment of players can make the playoffs and wanted to see it through. Or, he knew one move wouldn’t put this roster over the top and make it a sure lock for the playoffs. I assume the most attractive players on the Bucks are Sessions and Villanueva, and Hammond couldn’t justify trading either one of them at this point, especially because the team is in the hunt.

Player of the week: It’s pretty much going to be Villanueva or Sessions the rest of the way, and this week it’s Charlie V. Big Smooth recorded double-doubles against Chicago and Cleveland (17 points, 12 boards, and 26 and 13, respectively), and he finished with 36 points and the game-clinching shot against Denver on Sunday. Charlie averaged 20 points a game in January and is showing no signs of slowing down.

This week: Bucks have a tough trip this week, heading to Dallas and New Orleans. Washington travels to the BC Saturday. I’ll go on a limb and say the Bucks will go 2-1 and surprise us in one of those road games. The Two Name guarantee will continue living in infamy, or shame …

The Weekly Bucks Report Will Not Die!

The Weekly Bucks Report is generally understood to be the best weekly blog piece written about the Milwaukee Bucks. It is written by CH Correspondent Two Name, who somehow managed to stop sniffling about Andrew Bogut's broken back long enough to provide the analysis below. For the time being, it is posted every Tuesday morning on CH.

So, who do you pay? Ramon Sessions or Charlie Villanueva?
That question came to mind after watching Sessions and Smooth keep the Bucks in the game against Detroit Saturday before falling short. Both guys displayed what seems like unlimited potential against the Pistons, and while it would be nice to have them both again next year with a healthy roster, it probably won’t happen. So, who do you want?
With the Bucks hovering around $69 million in salaries this season ($35.5 million of which is in street clothes), there’s no way the man in the green blazer will break the bank and pay the luxury tax. Both Villanueva and Sessions are restricted free agents, and since they will see extended playing time the rest of the year to showcase their talents, both guys will be looking for a nice pay raise.
Charlie V is making $3.5 million this year and has a qualifying offer for $4.6 million next season. Ramon is making a meager $711,000 this year. I think Villanueva’s name and former draft status carries a little more weight than Ramon’s at this point, so it seems more likely that Charlie V will be the one to command more money and play somewhere else next season. But point guards are hard to come by, so if Sessions keeps impressing, someone with more cash than the Bucks could make a run at him.
This is the time when Danny G’s $14 million over the next two seasons really hits hard. If I had to choose, I would let Big Smooth go and focus on Ramon. I think he’s the point guard of the future and will flourish under the tutelage of Scott Skiles. Villanueva has won me over as the season’s progressed, but I think he’s the type of guy who will get comfortable after signing a big deal.
It’s tough to find a 6-11 player who can shoot, rebound and get to the basket, but it’s even tougher to find a floor leader who is committed to being a pass-first point guard. The Bucks have that in Sessions and need to pay him at year’s end. However, the Bucks do have Luke Ridnour signed through next season, so maybe they could give the reins to Luke and find a point guard in the draft. What do you guys think?

Token move: The Orlando Magic needed a point guard. The Bucks needed someone to play shooting guard. Want to make a deal? In a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA, Milwaukee acquired Keith Bogans for Ty Lue this week. The Bucks actually drafted Bogans in the second round of the 2003 draft. They traded him on draft night for straight cash, homey. He is averaging 5 points and 3 rebounds this season, but he is known for tough defense, so we got that going for us, which is nice. Hard to believe, but this guy was the SEC player of the year in 2002-2003 at Kentucky. My biggest memory of Bogans is watching D-Wade and the Golden Eagles oust his Wildcats in the Elite 8 in Minneapolis. I was at the game, and I’m sure I yelled some drunken slurs at him at one point or another. Welcome to Milwaukee, bud. I’m sure getting traded from one of the best teams in the East residing in one of the best cities in the country is sitting well with you right now.

So much for that: Past Weekly Bucks Reports have delved into the rigors of the Bucks’ schedule during the first half of the season. I was waiting for things to even out, and just when balance was about to be restored, 60 percent of the starting lineup is in street clothes. Milwaukee has 18 of its next 29 games at home. Unfortunately, those who pay for a ticket will see good effort every night but not enough victories to keep the Bucks in the playoff race. I consider myself to be a big fan, but I won’t be making the trip from Chicago to see Francisco Elson or Danny G start at center or Damon Jones and Bogans share time at the 2-spot.

Player of the week: Sessions was unstoppable against Detroit on Saturday. It seems like every time he has a chance to shine – see last year when the season was in the tank or when Redd got hurt earlier this year – he proves to be a silver lining. It was hard to eclipse his 24-assist performance against Chicago at the end of last season, but Ramon did by single-handedly keeping the Bucks in the game against Detroit. It was nice seeing someone light up A.I. He’s done it enough to us over the years, especially in the BC.

This week: Another slow week has the Bucks hosting Indiana tomorrow night. Then they don’t play until next Tuesday in Detroit. I guess any practice time would be good right now, seeing as Skiles is coaching with what essentially is a new lineup due to injuries.

Weekly Bucks Report!

And now for the best writing on this site and best Bucks' analysis in the state that nobody comments about! Its the Weekly Bucks Report written by CH correspondent Two Name. The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday morning on CH.

Nobody knew how the Bucks would react after losing Michael Redd for the season Jan. 24 against Sacramento.
The first two games in his absence were disconcerting, as Milwaukee lacked confidence and cohesion while dropping consecutive games to Minnesota and Indiana – two teams with inferior records. Then, the Bucks rebound with wins against Toronto and Atlanta – two rosters that feature more talent than Milwaukee’s. So what team is going to show up the rest of the way?
When Andrew Bogut is healthy and playing significant minutes, I think the team you saw Friday and Saturday will mirror the squad we’ll see for the next three months – and hopefully beyond that. Bogut’s affinity for passing from the post and encouraging team play adds a dimension to this team his replacement cannot provide (Though Francisco Elson should get credit for playing hard in the post in Bogut’s absence).
When you have two point guards on the floor at the same time, which will be the case with Luke Ridnour and Ramon Sessions running the backcourt, teamwork and sharing the ball should come natural. When that happens, guys get easy shots and the void left by Redd isn’t so glaring.
I don’t think Bogut’s scoring will jump significantly, but his presence, like Redd’s, changes the way teams defend the Bucks. Without Bogut, the Bucks will try to get to the hoop with Ridnour and Sessions and knock down jumpers with Charlie V, RJ and Charlie Bell. That can only work for so long, as you saw during the Minnesota and Indiana games.
The last two games were encouraging for the Bucks, and the schedule now lies in their favor the rest of the season. They finished with a 9-9 record through a rigorous January, and they will play seven of their 11 games at home in February.
So, no, Milwaukee won’t be playing for the draft the rest of the season, and they shouldn’t. This isn’t the NFL, where records ensure a guaranteed draft spot. As the Bulls learned last season, anything can happen when ping-pong balls determine a team’s fate.
I don’t care if the Bucks get the seventh or eighth spot and lose to Boston or Cleveland. Any playoff experience is good playoff experience. Plus, a playoff appearance in Year 1 of the Scott Skiles-John Hammond administration would energize the fan base, if only a little bit.

D.G. is AWOL: A Danny G sighting, anyone? After starting for Bogut for most of his time off, Gadzuric hasn’t played the last two games. I guess Skiles saw enough of D.G. hacking guys 10 seconds into games and missing layups following minimal contact. Elson is much more effective and will see more time if Bogut continues to battle back troubles.

Bogut returns, sort of: After missing eight consecutive games with back spasms, Bogut returned to the lineup Friday, playing limited – but productive – minutes. He finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in the Bucks’ win against Toronto Friday. He played another 16 minutes against the Hawks on Saturday, totaling nine points and six boards. Bogut shot 67 percent from the floor Friday and 57 percent Saturday, so he’s picking up where he left off field-goal-percentage-wise. More importantly, his return probably gave the squad a little emotional boost, leading to consecutive spirited victories.

Player of the week: You have to give it to Villanueva after the ridiculous numbers he put up again this week. Here’s a look at his impressive three-game stretch: 28 points and 8 rebounds against Indiana Wednesday; 26 points and 13 boards against Toronto Friday; and 27 points, 7 rebounds and six assists against Atlanta Saturday. I don’t see him keeping up at this pace, but Charlie V is earning himself some big dollars next year after his performance in January.

This week: The schedule lightens up this week, as the Bucks travel to New Jersey tonight before hosting Detroit Saturday. They will win both of these games, running up a four-game winning streak (Editor's Note: Interesting...do I detect the beginning of the Two Name Guarantee?).

Weekly Bucks Report - Injury Time!

We're throwing up the Weekly Bucks Report on Monday this week, due to the Michael Redd injury. Let's see what CH correspondent Two Name has to say about the whole ordeal.

And now, starting at guard, 6-foot-3 from Nevada, Ramon Sessions! No wait, from Michigan State, Charlie Bell! Hold that, Damon Jones! One of those three guys will join Luke Ridnour in the starting backcourt the rest of the season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
After Michael Redd tore his ACL and MCL Saturday against the Kings, the Bucks will be without their best scorer and the focus of opposing teams’ defensive game plans for the duration of the season. Paging Andrew Bogut. Paging Richard Jefferson.
Bucks fans had thoughts of a “Big 3” heading into the season with Redd, Bogut and Jefferson leading the way. But with nagging injuries to Redd and Bogut, and now Redd missing the rest of the season, that potentially potent threesome unfortunately never came to fruition. With Bogut getting back into the mix after dealing with back spasms, it’s time for the Aussie and RJ to take this team over.
RJ has been a nice all-around addition for the Bucks, but you can tell he’s taken a backseat to Redd in terms of asserting himself offensively. Bogut, who shoots 57 percent from the floor, needed to be more aggressive when Redd was healthy. Now it’s imperative that he force other teams to double team him and give his teammates open looks at the basket.
Redd is really good at making something happen out of nothing, whether it’s hitting jumpers or driving to the basket and getting fouled. Sessions is not a shooting guard, though he did play OK when paired with Ridnour earlier in the year when Redd hurt his ankle. But guys like Sessions, Bell and D. Jones (I can’t believe he is going to play significant minutes for the Bucks) won’t fill it up unless their teammates put them in good positions to score.
I thought Redd was playing his best basketball of the season lately. He was driving to the basket instead of setting for jumpers, and he has picked up his defense. I’ve been down on Redd in the past, but you can’t deny how big of a loss this is. But now Jefferson needs to be a more powerful perimeter threat and No. 1 or 2 scoring option for the Bucks.
Jefferson’s 17.3 ppg mirrors his career average. But we need to see the slashing, get-to-the-foul-line RJ that led to a 22.6 ppg average last year with the Nets. If Jefferson can pick up his game and Bogut can stay healthy and become more involved with the offense, I still think the Bucks can compete for a playoff spot in the East. Come on, it’s the East.
Of course, Charlie V needs to continue his torrid pace of late, or at least be more consistent on a nightly basis. And whoever plays shooting guard can’t be an afterthought each time out.
Frankly, I’m more worried about how the Bucks will react defensively without Redd. Sessions is too small to guard a formidable 2-guard in the NBA, Bell is banged up and Jones does not play defense whatsoever. That means The Fresh Prince will be defending shooting guards periodically, weakening the Bucks’ interior defense and rebounding.
Milwaukee has a favorable schedule the rest of the season, but losing Redd is going to be the ultimate test of this team’s depth, something that’s been a question mark all season.

Player of the week: Charlie V. The Big Smooth is averaging 19.1 points per game in January and has played outstanding the last four games, dropping 23, 32, 27 and 18 points. The best part of those performances was he had three 10-rebound games during that span, proving he’s willing to bring it on both ends of the floor. You can forget the Charlie V trade talk now that Redd is out for the year. We need his scoring now more than ever.

This week: A bunch of winnable games this week for the Bucks, with or without Redd. Milwaukee travels to Indiana and Toronto before hosting Atlanta Saturday. Have to win 2 of 3 this week, no questions.

Weekly Bucks Report

Before this week's Bucks Report, I have to remind everybody of 1 thing: the only reason any of us are currently conscious is because Jack Bauer doesn't feel like carrying us. Good lord! How ridiculous was it at the end last night when Jack was filling in the shallow grave dumping dirt right on her face as that FBI chick was still breathing! Incredible. The things Jack Bauer does for this country are ridiculous. What a patriot.

Oh yeah, the Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday and is written by a friend of CH known only as Two Name.

Twelve days. Seven games. Two back-to-back sets. That’s the challenge facing the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks through the rest of January.
The schedule is tough enough. But when you’re playing without the most valuable player on the roster – Andrew Bogut – the challenge is even more daunting. Bogut tried to play through back spasms against Minnesota and Washington, and it might have made the situation even more dire for the long term.
It’s unclear how long Bogut will be out. And the way the schedule plays out for the next 12 days, there’s no time built in for rest. If you look at the schedule in February, for example, there are two stretches where the Bucks have three straight off days. They haven’t had two consecutive off days all through January. They can’t get healthy, and there’s no time to reflect on what has gone right or wrong, whether it’s via practice or film study. (At least I think they study film in the NBA …)
That might explain the win-one, lose-one nature of the Bucks’ play the last few weeks. It’s tough to get an emotional win one night and have to set up and do it again the following evening, especially when you’re playing across the country. There’s no excuse for losing to the Clippers Saturday considering Baron Davis, Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph all were out with injuries.
The next 12 days could define the Bucks’ season. If Bogut is out for the next 10 days, that could spell trouble. The Bucks have to play Dallas this week and Atlanta twice in the next two weeks. But there are winnable games against Minnesota, Toronto and Sacramento mixed in between. They should win four of the remaining seven games in January, with or without Bogut. If they happen to go 1-6 or 2-5, they’re playing uphill the rest of the way in terms of earning a playoff spot.

Interesting nugget: One of the things I love about watching the Bucks with the NBA League Pass is I get the broadcast of the opposing teams for about half of the games. Getting a break from Jim and John is always a plus, and it’s good to hear how other teams’ commentators view the Bucks. Plus, I pick up an interesting stat every once and awhile that our beloved broadcasters never pass along. For example, the Kings’ announcers said the Bucks force the most turnovers of any team in the league. Great stat, though I couldn’t verify it (Editors Note: I've got to stick it to Two Name here for being unable to "verify" the stat. Here's the link. Wow. The Bucks are causing the most turnovers in the league at 16.3/game. BTW...Two Name...it's called the internet. Use it. I found this in 90 seconds.)

Player of the week: Out of nowhere, Scott Skiles decided to play Joe Alexander significant minutes this week, and the rookie looked like he belonged – at least for spurts here and there. He finished with 13 points – on 6-of-8 shooting – and five rebounds against Miami and scored nine points while shooting 50 percent from the floor against the Clippers. While Bogut is out, guys like Alexander need to provide the Bucks with unexpected production of the bench. By the way, check out seejoedunk.com. It’s pretty funny, and Marty Conlon even makes an appearance.

This week: Another busy week for the Bucks, as they host Dallas and Sacramento with Atlanta sandwiched in between. Sacramento should be a lock, and they need to split to the other two games for a 2-1 week.

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday on CH during the NBA season...written by a former WI sportswriter turned FIB magazine writer. He is known only as Two Name.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Bucks at this point in the season is, will they make any trades before the mid-February deadline?
The one player who constantly surfaces in these discussions is Charlie Villanueva. If there is a more polarizing player on this team than the Big Smooth, let me know. You can love Charlie V one game and chastise him the next. That up-and-down performance is what I can’t decide exactly how I feel about the guy.
In my first Weekly Bucks Report, I said Villanueva had the most potential of any player on the roster. I still think that’s true. When he wants to play, he is a potential All-Star in this league – remember, players aren’t voted to the All-Star team based on their defense. Last Monday’s game against Toronto was the perfect example of how good Charlie V can be.
Mike Redd scored 35 points that game, but the Bucks would not have won if it weren’t for Villanueva. He scored 25 points, but his impact went beyond scoring. He grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. Plus, he fought for loose balls and came up with some big plays not reflected in the box score.
Villanueva has scored 23 points or more in four of the Bucks’ last six games. There’s two ways to look at his recent success: His trade value will never be higher, or the Bucks need to be prepared to pay him after his contract expires at the end of the season. Remember, the guy is only 24 and a former top-10 pick.
I know he’s soft and he might get even softer after he gets paid, but you can’t deny his explosiveness off the bench. It’s hard to find a 6-11 forward who can drop 20 on any given night. I think the only way you trade him is if you get a banging power forward who is young. I don’t want Nick Collison or Chris Wilcox in a straight-up trade for Charlie V. I need something more, especially the way he’s been playing lately.
I’m still split on this, but I’m leaning toward keeping Villanueva and seeing how the year plays out. What do you guys think?
Outside of Villanueva, I really don’t know who else John Hammond would trade on this roster. Ramon Sessions has value and would be attractive for many teams, but I doubt the Bucks would part with him, despite rumors. I think the East is weak enough that if the Bucks continue to improve, they could get out of the seventh or eighth spots – avoiding Boston or Cleveland – and build on some playoff experience.

Bogut returns: Bogut came off the bench against Minnesota after missing four straight games with back spasms. The Bucks split those games in his absence, but a lack of rebounding and a viable threat inside offensively changed the way teams approached the Bucks. Bogut responded nicely with 14 points Saturday on 7-of-8 shooting, but he missed two crucial free throws late in the loss to the T’wolves.

Misleading numbers?: Anybody who watched the Bucks fail to stop the penetrate-and-kick game that led to a ridiculous amount of three-pointers against New Jersey and Minnesota would find this hard to believe, but the Bucks are still hanging around the top-10 in defense. Milwaukee was fifth in the NBA in defense last week and the Bucks have dropped to eighth, as of Sunday. That is an impressive statistic, considering the defensive cloud that hangs over this franchise. But they have work to do after two late lapses allowed one team to get back into the game (New Jersey) and another (Minnesota) to steal a victory.

Player of the week: Without Villanueva and his 25 points, the Bucks never would have beaten Toronto last Monday.

This week: Another busy week for the Bucks, as they host Miami Wednesday before heading to the West Coast to face Sacramento and the Clippers. They need to go 2-1 this week, no questions asked.

Weekly Bucks Report!

The Weekly Bucks Report is published every Tuesday on CH...written by a certain individual known only as Two Name.

Anybody who has watched the Milwaukee Bucks this season can’t deny progress has been made since John Hammond and Scott Skiles took over. It’s definitely a new era for this franchise. In the spirit of turning the page on bad times and looking ahead to the good ones, let’s create some New Year’s resolutions for the Bucks that should help them continue to be one of the most improved teams in the NBA. Feel free to add to my incomplete list.
*Never again let Herb Kohl weigh in on personnel moves. After a year of Larry K (a prototype Kohl coach, i.e., cheap) and drafting an overrated player who didn’t want to be here (See Yi), Herbie should stay far, far away from Hammond and his front-office mates.
*Stop teasing your fans by earning eye-opening wins (the Bucks beat San Antonio this week on the road) and following it up with inexplicable losses (they lost to Charlotte Saturday after beating the Bobcats at home the night before by 28 points). Build some consistency and get above that .500 mark.
*Pick up a big man to back up Andrew Bogut. Dan Gadzuric and Francisco Elson are not long-term solutions if Bogut, who has been banged up all year, misses extended time. The Bucks would go in the tank if Bogut had to go on the DL.
*Don’t stop playing defense. Statistically, the Bucks have the fifth-best defense in the NBA. It’s hard to believe, I know, but no stat better explains why Milwaukee is in the playoff hunt.
*Don’t fall in love with the jump shot. Watching the Bucks live two weeks ago really showed me how much motion Skiles implements in his offense. The days of one player dribbling the ball for 10 seconds and then trying to make something happen with the shot clock winding down are over. That being said, the Bucks still get too comfortable with the jump shot and don’t take advantage of the opportunities that this type of offense generates.
*Survive January. Milwaukee has 15 more games in January, eight of them coming on back-to-back nights. Split these games and now we’re talking.
*Though it will never happen, lower ticket prices (Editor's Note: Ha!). I’m not talking about $10 nosebleed seats. If the Bucks want the fans to get on board like they did in 2001, it starts at the ticket window. The NBA is a hard sell as it is. Combine that with a rebuilding team and empty seats is the result.

Need Bogut back: I don’t think the Bucks would have lost to Charlotte in the rare home-and-away weekend set if Bogut wasn’t out with back spasms Saturday. He’s been hurt a lot this year, and when he’s out, defenses don’t have to respect the Bucks’ post offense. It’s no coincidence Mike Redd had a big night Friday against Charlotte and a not-so-big night Saturday. Perimeter defenses won’t collapse and double-team Gadzuric. They will do that to Bogut, which opens shots for Redd and crew.

Player of the week: Mike Redd scored 20 points or more in three of the Bucks’ four games this week. He single-handedly led Milwaukee to victory against Charlotte on Friday with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting, 3 of 5 from three-point range.

This week: The Bucks’ first week of a busy January schedule has them hosting Philadelphia and New Jersey before heading to Minnesota and Washington. Let’s be honest, the Bucks should win all of these games. I don’t expect that to happen, but more than one loss against these D-League teams would be inexplicable.

Weekly Bucks Report

Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in. That's the feeling I've been having about the Bucks as they have quietly begun to put together a nice little season. Two Name tried to drag me to the BC this past weekend to scalp tickets to the Saturday game, and um...all I can say is...thank God we decided to watch it on the big screen.

The Weekly Bucks Report is published early every week at CH...written by a man known as Two Name.

The Milwaukee Bucks are experts at giving their fans a reality check. The latest came Saturday night when Detroit visited the Bradley Center.
This game appeared to be one the Bucks had a great chance of winning, putting the finishing touches on an outstanding couple weeks and a strong home performance to start the season. The Bucks had been playing their best basketball of the season. They were coming off three days of rest and riding a three-game winning streak – five consecutive at the BC.
Detroit, on the other hand, was playing without Richard Hamilton and needed an Allen Iverson buzzer-beater to top Oklahoma City – yes, a last-second win over the freaking Thunder of all teams – the previous night.
Chalk this one up for the Bucks, right? Apparently not. Just when you get your hopes up on this team, they bring you back to earth by laying the egg of all eggs. The Bucks turned in their worst offensive performance of the season, and for the first time all year, I had to question the judgment of coach Scott Skiles.
Milwaukee shot 30.4 percent from the field and only made eight baskets in the entire second half. Imagine going to that game … you just dropped 100 dollars to see eight balls go through the hope in the final 24 minutes – most coming in the fourth quarter with both squads’ B teams logging major minutes.
The Bucks got down 18 late in the third quarter, and Skiles pulled his starters. But he didn’t just sit them for the remainder of the third quarter. He left Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Richard Jefferson on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. I don’t know if Skiles watched the game, but things turned in the Pistons’ favor in a matter of minutes in the third.
In fact, Milwaukee was up 48-46 before missing everything they threw up at the basket. Why couldn’t things turn around quickly for the Bucks, like they did for the Pistons in the third quarter? The game could have turned around with Jefferson, Redd and Bogut on the floor. It won’t happen with Joe Alexander, Dan Gadzuric and Tyrone Lue out there together.
I don’t have a problem sitting your starters if they aren’t playing with energy. But simply missing shots is part of the game, and pros can snap out of those streaks in a hurry – like Detroit did in the third quarter. Bogut was the lone bright spot with 17 points and 10 rebounds (EN: He was only 6-15 on the night...not exactly mind blowing). Why didn’t he return to the game? I was confused, and I’m glad I didn’t pay money to see Gadzuric, Alexander, Francisco Elson, Ramon Sessions and Luke Ridnour finishing the game.
The most disappointing thing about Saturday was the quality of play that proceeded that game. The Bucks had won three straight, including an impressive win Tuesday against Utah. Plus, hitting the road to face San Antonio and Houston riding a four-game winning streak would have given this young team a great deal of confidence.
All that being said, the Bucks are three games under .500 and showing significant improvement. I just thought games like Saturday were a thing of the past. I guess not.

Redd alert: Redd had one of the worst performances of his career Saturday (4 points on 2-of-11 shooting, 0 for 4 from three-point range), and it got me thinking. Has his shooting actually gotten worse? I watched him hoist up 25 shots Tuesday against Utah – 1 of 9 from the three-point line – and Saturday was even harder to watch. Redd is shooting just under 41 percent this season. For his career, he is a 45 percent shooter. His three-point shooting is down 3.5 percent from his career numbers. So he is getting worse. If he can’t hit open shots – he missed a bunch of wide-open three-pointers against Utah and Detroit – what good is he?

Earning freebies: Bogut’s free-throw shooting is still bad, but it’s improving. He’s looking much more comfortable at the line, which is a big plus for the Bucks late in games. Bogut was shooting around 45-48 percent earlier this season, but now he’s around 57 percent. His career average is 59 percent, and he shot 63 percent from the line as a rookie. His form actually is pretty fluid, so I don’t know why he’s not shooting in the low 70s.

Player of the week: Luc Richard’s (EN: henceforth known as The Fresh Prince) numbers are down from the beginning of the year, but his hustle and rebounding was a bright spot against Detroit.

This week: Earning a split on the Texas trip might be wishful thinking, but Milwaukee usually plays well against the Spurs.

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is written each week for CH by a man known in certain circles as Two Name. Its being posted on CH Monday instead of Tuesday this week, because I'm sure tomorrow we'll be spending a lot of time dissecting the important Bears - Packers game tonight (HA!)

The most brutal portion of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2008-2009 schedule is coming to an end, and the team has put itself in great position after the first two months of the season.
Before the season began, it was clear the Bucks needed to hover around .500 through December. If they could do that while playing an unheard of amount of road games and back-to-backs early on, a playoff spot in the mediocre Eastern Conference was deemed possible. Well, at 13-16 through Sunday, the Bucks are the ninth best team in the East. While playoff positions will shift dramatically over the next couple months, the Bucks are in the mix.
You can find some encouraging signs if you look beyond just wins and losses in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks have played 18 road games through Sunday. The only team close to that number is Indiana with 15. All the other teams have played about 12 games on the road thus far. Of those 18 games on the road, Milwaukee has won six.
In my opinion, a team’s ability to win on the road reflects on its coaching and the makeup of its players. With that in mind, only five teams in the East (Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Detroit, New Jersey) have won more road games than the Bucks. All of those teams – with the exception of New Jersey – were expected to contend this year, so Milwaukee is in good company.
Plus, if you look at a team like Chicago, which is ahead of Milwaukee in the standings, you see the Bulls have won only three games on the road. Chicago’s road struggles are just one of the reasons I don’t think they’ll finish ahead of the Bucks.
After getting pounded on the West Coast, the Bucks bounced back this week, winning two of three away from the Bradley Center. Milwaukee beat Miami and New York, with an inexplicable loss to Philadelphia sandwiched in between. Couple that with a blowout win over the Clippers Saturday, and the Bucks have won three of their last four games.
The Bucks host Utah and Detroit this week, and they need to win both of those games. Carlos Boozer is out for the Jazz and Detroit is not the same team with Chauncey Billups, who always killed Milwaukee.

Not so rocky road: The Bucks already have won one less road game than all of last season. I’ve tried my best to forget how bad the Bucks were last year, but seeing stats like that serves as an ugly reminder. Improved coaching and the addition of more experienced players – like Richard Jefferson, a proven winner in New Jersey – has made Milwaukee more confident on the road.

Player of the week: It’s frustrating watching Luke Ridnour shoot as much as he does. I pegged him as more of a pass-first guy, but he does look to shoot – sometimes too often. That being said, he has played well of late, quieting those – including myself – who wanted Ramon Sessions in the starting lineup. In the last three games, Ridnour has averaged 14 points and 5 assists. He has shot an efficient 62 percent from the field over that span.

This week: Bucks need to beat Utah and Detroit to take advantage of some rare home cooking.

Weekly Bucks Report!

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday here at CH. It's written by a man known in certain circles only as Two Name.

You want it. You need it. You crave the Weekly Bucks Report. Admit it. Here at CH...it's all about the Bucks baby!

Andrew Bogut made headlines for the wrong reasons this week, so I have to weigh in on an “incident” during the second half of the Bucks-Warriors game Wednesday night. I have been a Bogut fan since he was at Utah, so a clear bias will ooze out of this Weekly Bucks Report, but I also refuse to let my fanhood stand in the way of the facts. That being said, I don’t quite know what to make of what happened Wednesday in Golden State.
According to a quote by Scott Skiles, Bogut asked to come out of the game before the fourth quarter because he was “tired.” Editor's Note: Wahhhhhhhhhhh! On the surface, this sounds ridiculous. My initial reaction was the same one most people had. No professional basketball player – a sport that provides the ultimate test of conditioning – should be tired after three quarters. Some called Bogut soft; others criticized his ambition after cashing in during the offseason.
One comment that really irked me, however, came over the radio waves when some moron talk-show host said he was done with Bogut and his lackadaisical attitude on the court. He went on to say how Bogut’s demeanor gives him the impression that the former No. 1 pick is disinterested, simply going through the motions. Anybody who watches the Bucks knows the exact opposite is true.
No Buck brings more emotion to the court every night, and the numbers back it up. What’s the one stat that directly coincides with effort? Rebounding. Specifically, offensive rebounding. For some reason, Bogut still does not appear to be a first or second option in the Bucks’ offense, but he doesn’t mope around when the ball doesn’t come his way. Instead, he attacks the offensive glass. Bogut is fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounds and sixth overall on the boards, through Saturday. I would like to ask that talk-show host how a lazy malcontent is grabbing rebounds at that level.
Another stat directly related to effort and a will to win is taking charges. Is there any Buck – or any player you watch on a regular basis, for that matter – more willing to stand in and draw an offensive foul? But he’s just packing it in, right? I think people are correct to criticize Bogut for asking to come out of the game, assuming there was nothing else going on (like an injury). But trying to say that incident defines Bogut’s effort on the court is a complete joke.
Plus, a small nugget in a Journal Sentinel notebook provided a little more insight as to why Bogut might have needed a breather. He sat out practice late this week with a sore, swollen ankle. Is there a connection? Was the ankle bothering him Wednesday, hence him asking out of the game? Hard to say, but requesting the bench definitely juxtaposes the way Bogut has gone about his business in Milwaukee thus far.
Based on Saturday’s performance against Indiana, I have little doubt Bogut heard some of his critics. He finished with 20 points and 20 rebounds, including a surprising 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. The Bucks pulled out a much-needed victory at home.

Goes south out West: The win over Indiana was the only bright spot in a rough week for Milwaukee. The Bucks lost to the Lakers two Sundays ago before losing in Phoenix and Golden State by 15 and 23 points, respectively. The Bucks have spurts where they position themselves for a victory, but a bad five minutes or a cold quarter continues to spell doom. Milwaukee needs to bounce back this week, though three road games won’t make it easy.

Player of the week: Michael Redd didn’t do much other than score – per the usual – but he closed out Indiana with some big three-pointers and finished the week with a 23-point game and two 27-point games after scoring 2 points against L.A.

This week: Bucks need to bounce back after a tough West Coast trip when they travel to Miami, Philadelphia and New York. Milwaukee needs to win two of those three games and then beat the Clippers at the Bradley Center Saturday. Another winless road trip will be difficult to overcome.

Final Editor note: Two Name used the word "juxtaposes." Awesome.

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday on Chuckie Hacks, written by the best former sportswriter in the business, a man known in certain circles as Two Name.

The Milwaukee Bucks are about to enter what could be a turning point in the relatively young NBA season. Unfortunately, the next seven games also could spell doom for this inexperienced squad.
Five of the next six games for the Bucks are on the road, including two on the West coast, which always has been troublesome for Milwaukee. The East coast portion of the upcoming trip is a bit more promising, but the Bucks need to stay afloat the next two weeks or else they will have dug a hole that might prove to be too deep. The one home game in that stretch isn’t easy either, when Indiana comes to town Saturday.
Milwaukee’s two home victories last week were crucial for two reasons: One, the Bucks defeated two teams they can and should beat regularly – Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. And two, both games were played at the Bradley Center, a building with low electricity bills the first two months of the NBA campaign, thanks to the Bucks’ travels.
The Bucks travel to Phoenix and Golden State Tuesday and Wednesday, host Indiana Saturday and head to Miami, Philadelphia and New York the following week. Milwaukee can’t afford to finish 1-5 the next two weeks, which is a realistic possibility. The Bucks will beat the Knicks, but none of those other games can been considered locks. Indiana should be a win because it’s at home, but I fear the Bucks’ record might be a lot uglier after the next six games.
That being said, it’s still pretty early in the season and the schedule will balance itself out, and the Bucks are just outside the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. No reason for playoff talk, but the point is, the Bucks are within shouting distance right now, but dropping nine games under .500 with a poor performance the next six games would be very deflating.

Boards equal victories: Looking at the Bucks’ wins and losses, the one stat that stands out is rebounding. In its wins, Milwaukee is averaging 48 rebounds per game. In losses, the Bucks are grabbing only 40 boards. The importance of rebounding was never more evident than Friday night against the Bobcats. While the Bucks went cold and allowed Charlotte back in the game late, second-chance points proved to be the difference. With Andrew Bogut out against Cleveland at the end of November, the Cavs pounded the Bucks on the boards by double digits and Milwaukee was never in the game, despite the final score. Rebounding starts with strong defense, so it’s no surprise the Bucks’ wins are reflected on the glass.

Redd in rotation: Mike Redd returned to the starting lineup after what seemed like a year-long hiatus due to his ankle injury suffered in New York on Nov. 2. Redd played decent off the bench in his return from injury against Cleveland Nov. 29, struggled against Chicago Wednesday and scored 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting against Charlotte on Friday. Say what you want about the guy, the Bucks need him on the court for the rest of the players to be effective. The threat of his shot does impact the potential of his teammates and how defenses attack the Bucks.

Player of the week: Why not give it to Danny G. The guy is hustling non-stop, and his effort led to positive results against Chicago last week. With Bogut leaving after taking an elbow to the head, Gadzuric stepped in and finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds in only 21 minutes. He shot 4-5 from the field and made 3-5 free throws. If he could give the Bucks even half of this production every night, Danny G would be a nice backup center.

This week: Bucks will struggle at Phoenix and Golden State, but need to beat the Pacers at home on Saturday.

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted every Tuesday on Chuckie Hacks. It's written by a man known in certain circles as Two Name. This week...he delves into "statistics." Yikes.

Rummaging through national coverage of the NBA rarely yields anything of interest to Bucks fans, but power rankings on ESPN.com caught my attention Sunday. I usually dismiss these rankings altogether, but John Hollinger at least uses a unique formula that looks beyond the standings. According to Hollinger’s rankings posted early Sunday, the Bucks were the 13th most powerful team in the Association. (Continue reading after your laughing has subsided). Editor's Note: the Bucks have actually moved up to 12th. With a 7-12 record, Milwaukee was ahead of Phoenix (11-6), Utah (11-7), and San Antonio (9-7). I don’t necessarily agree with these rankings, but the reason the Bucks are ranked that high is their strength of schedule.
According to Sunday’s rankings, the combined record of Milwaukee’s first 19 opponents was .564. The only team ranked higher than the Bucks with a tougher schedule was No. 11 Indiana. The Pacers are 6-10, so Hollinger obviously puts a lot of stock in that statistic or the Bucks and Pacers wouldn’t sniff the top-15.
It’s easy to look at the boxscores or standings and say the Bucks are terrible and headed for another disappointing campaign. That very well could be the case, but it’s tough to judge a team that has not been at full strength since the first week of the season. And, as Hollinger points out, Milwaukee has played some quality competition, with most of those games coming on the road.
Unlike the last couple years, the Bucks seem to be in every game. A perfect example came Saturday night, when Cleveland led by 16 at one point. The Bucks fought back and eventually lost to a superior team, but it was encouraging. I know, moral victories are meaningless. But if the Bucks get healthy and the schedule begins to balance out, so will the team’s record.

Bogut a big loss: Andrew Bogut was off to the best start of his career against Orlando on Monday night before he suffered a bruised knee taking a charge against Dwight Howard. Bogut scored 16 points in the first half and sent Howard to the bench with three early fouls. Unfortunately, Bogut’s willingness to take charges proved costly. I have to think the Bucks would have beaten Atlanta with their center in the lineup. Plus, the Cavs owned Milwaukee on the glass (53 boards to 38), which would not have happened with Bogut on the floor. He is supposedly out 7-10 days, but I doubt he will be back before the Bucks play the Lakers Sunday.

Player of the week: Richard Jefferson averaged an efficient 22.5 ppg in four games this week, shooting a solid 53 percent from the field. Jefferson needs to get more touches offensively, especially with Bogut out and Mike Redd shedding the rust from his ankle injury.

This week: The Bucks finally get a couple home games, as Chicago and Charlotte visit the BC Wednesday and Friday, respectively. Milwaukee then travels to L.A. to get pounded by the best team in basketball. Bucks go 2-1 this week.

Weekly Bucks Report!

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted generally every Tuesday during Bucks season right here at Chuckie Hacks (sometimes later in the day if Woz gets back and has to sleep off two nights of New Orleans nightlife). It is written by a man known only as Two Name, a man Woz personally would have liked to have seen in the Packers defensive backfield last night.

By the time the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers leave the court Saturday night after their Central Division contest at the Bradley Center, the Bucks will have played 19 games in the first 34 days of the season.
During that stretch, 16 of those games will have come on back-to-to back nights, which is not easy in the NBA, especially when the opposing team is coming off a day of rest. And by the way, 12 of the first 18 games will have come on the road. The Bucks are battling this tough schedule without a full complement of players, including their only pure shooter on the roster, which changes how teams defend Milwaukee.
“I’m proud of our guys right now,” GM John Hammond said recently on WSSP. “I’ll put our schedule down – no question whatsoever – against anybody’s in the league right now. What we’ve had to go through this early in the season has been a monster and it’s going to continue to be for the next couple weeks or so.”
All that being said, the Bucks have been hovering around .500 for most of the season. If they can survive another few weeks of this road-heavy slate of games, the Bucks could position themselves within reach of the playoffs.
That might be too much to ask at this point, but remember how young and inexperienced this squad is right now. The invaluable experience of playing and winning some of these road games – albeit against shoddy opponents – can only benefit a team that will be playing much of the second half of the season at home. Plus, if the Bucks continue to play hard and earn the respect of the fans, people eventually will come to the BC and create a decent home-court advantage. (I even have a hard time believing this one, but the Bucks are giving tickets away, and Milwaukee fans love hard-working teams).

No mercy: Here’s another reason why I love Scott Skiles. After playing their worst game of the season in Denver on Tuesday, Skiles had his players come to an early shootaround in Utah before playing the Jazz Wednesday night. West coast trips suck in the first place for teams in the Midwest and on the East Coast, and back-to-backs in the Pacific Time Zone are grueling. So how about throwing a small practice in the mix to show how pissed you are about the previous night’s performance? Imagine Terry Stotts pulling this move? Larry K? They didn’t have the balls or the clout with their players. Skiles does, and his team responded with a strong effort in Utah – Bucks blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to lose, but the coach made his point.

Changing point: When will Ramon Sessions start at point guard? The second-year guard, though it’s his first full season with the big boys, is averaging 15 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 5.6 apg. Luke Ridnour is averaging 10.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 5.5 apg, so the numbers are similar outside of the scoring. But Sessions brings another level of speed and athleticism to the floor. Slow starts are too tough to overcome for offensively challenged teams, so Sessions would be nice to have on the court from the opening tip. Then again, his energy is a welcome sight off the bench, so I’m happy as long as the Razor is logging big-time minutes.

Player of the week: Nobody clearly stood out this week, but after struggling through a 2-point, 3-rebound performance against the Nuggets on Tuesday, Andrew Bogut roared back with three straight double-doubles. He averaged 14 points and 18 rebounds in those games, and his points would be elevated if he could make a free throw once in his life.

This week: After playing in Orlando last night, the Bucks continue their road trip in Hotlanta and Detroit before coming home to play the Cavs on Saturday. Mike Redd might return for the Cleveland game, and I see the Bucks coming away with a big victory in front of what should be a decent atmosphere at the BC with LeBron in town

Editor's follow up note: Two Name...how has there been no mention of Austin Croshere so far?! Didn't he put up like 18 this past week? How was he not player of the week?

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is posted early every week on Chuckie Hacks, which just happens to be the best WI sports blog in the business. It is written by a man known only as Two Name, a man who I'm sure is currently camped outside of Kevin Garnett's house, waiting for the right time to pop out and injure him after he sucker punched Andrew Bogut the other night (Two Name has a little "thing" for Bogut).

The Milwaukee Bucks are a top-10 defensive team. Do you need me to write that sentence one more time? Would that make it easier for you to believe?
I know the Bucks have played only 11 games, but there’s something to be said for the significant improvement on the defensive end of the court under Scott Skiles. This is exactly what I was looking for in what has turned out to be an exceptional choice for head coach. This is why I wanted Skiles and not Rick Carlisle when John Hammond was making the most important decision the franchise had faced in more than a decade.
Why was it so important? Pick the wrong guy, and you risk losing a waning fan base for good. Many Milwaukeeans already had given up hope before last year’s joke for a campaign, and it would have turned even worse if not for a solid start to the 2008-2009 season. The Bucks still are dead to a great deal of fans, and that won’t change for a long time – maybe forever. But I feel the team has at least piqued the interest of those teetering on the brink of Bucks fanhood.
Skiles was the right choice for so many reasons, and the most important of those reasons was putting a respectable product on the court every night. Through 11 games, Skiles and the Bucks have done that, and then some. Look no further than an improved defense to explain how the Bucks have gone 5-6 through 11 games, despite having to play six on the road and a grueling five back-to-backs thus far. That’s unheard of in the NBA in such a short period of time.
The Bucks are ninth overall on defense, one notch ABOVE the Boston Celtics and three spots ABOVE Detroit – teams known for their defensive prowess. Milwaukee is “holding” teams to 96 ppg and 45 percent shooting, compared to 104 ppg and 48 percent shooting throughout all of last season.
Again, this is a small sample set, but the defense has greatly improved, allowing the Bucks to claw back into games they seemingly were out of early on. You can’t cut into leads without getting stops, as too many Bucks fans have learned the past few seasons. The Bucks would not have held off Memphis, beaten San Antonio or fought back against Boston without improved defense. Encouraging to say the least.

Hitting the boards: A key cog in any successful defense is limiting second-chance opportunities (or “reloads,” as Johnny Mac says at least 15 times per game), and the Bucks’ rebounding numbers are encouraging as well. Milwaukee is outrebounding the opposition by almost six boards a game. Drafting energy players like Luc Richard and Joe Alexander have helped this cause. Those two guys, especially, LR, have a knack for getting to loose balls and cleaning up the offensive glass. Andrew Bogut had 15 and 17 rebounds against the Grizzlies and Spurs, respectively, and LR grabbed 17 boards against Memphis.

Bogut answers call: Speaking of Bogut … Skiles supposedly called out Bogut before the Memphis game, asking him to be more aggressive. The 7-foot center answered the bell with two double-double-efforts after that discussion and 20 points and nine boards against a solid Boston interior defense. By the way, did anybody think Bogut never should have received his second technical against the Celtics? He made contact with Kevin Garnett while following through after KG hammers him. Garnett throws an open-hand “punch” but gets to stay in the game, while Bogut exits early. I would have liked to see OT with Bogut.

Player of the week: I’ll give it to Bogut. He looked more like himself after Skiles questioned his aggressiveness. He is setting the tone on the glass.

This week: Tough road trip has the Bucks heading to Denver and Utah this week. New York then comes to town before Milwaukee heads to Charlotte Saturday. Bucks play six of their next eight on the road. Ouch! Bucks will go 2-2 this week.

Weekly Bucks Report

The Weekly Bucks Report is written by a man who is known as Two Name, a man who will get into drunken arguments with you at George Webbs if you even mention that you've "lost interest" in the Bucks. Besides that and his inability to bounce a quarter or flip a cup, he still can write good stuff about our favorite NBA team.

Raise your hand if you have heard of these guys: Brad Newley, Stephane Lasme (don’t even know if this is a dude), Derrick Byars, Stanko Barac, Jared Jordan (obviously no relation to a more famous Jordan, considering his basketball career). None of these cats ring a bell?
These are just a few of the players taken ahead of Ramon Sessions in the 2007 NBA Draft. I understand most general managers consider the second round to be a complete crap shoot, but a gem emerges every once and awhile. And it appears Larry Harris, in spite of all his bone-headed decisions as Bucks GM, found a gem in Sessions.
Harris and the Bucks drafted Sessions with the 56th pick in 2007, behind a stable of foreign no-names and guys who are bagging groceries at an ALDI near you. Even many first-round picks that year are failing to make the impact Sessions has at this point. Remember Alando Tucker? Phoenix picked him with the last pick in the first round, and that guy has fallen off the face of planet.
After watching the Bucks beat Washington and lose to Boston and Phoenix, Sessions continues to be the player that catches my eye. Comparisons are never fair, especially in the NBA. But if you watch Sessions, his game is similar to that of Tony Parker. He’s nowhere near Parker’s level, but his ability (and willingness) to get to the hoop and make all sorts of running, off-balance shots reminds me of the Spurs point guard.
Sessions is averaging 17 points and six assists in five games. He seems to be a decent floor leader and made some impressive passes against Phoenix, including one that led to a dunk by Joe Alexander, who saw his first extensive action of the season against the Suns.
So, let’s pose the question: Would you rather have Mo Williams (14 ppg, 5 apg this season, plus inferior defense) or Sessions as your point guard? As long as Sessions stays committed to developing into a true point guard, I’ll take Razor Ramon. You know Mo can fill it up on any given night, but he’s not a point guard to build a team around. I think Sessions can be, and that’s why the Bucks passed on D.J. Augustin and other point guards in last year’s draft. They already had their point guard of the future, and it’s looking positive so far – even if it’s only a handful of games.
Player of the week: See above. Sessions is giving Bucks fans a glimpse at their starting point guard of the (near) future. Luke Ridnour will continue to start because of experience and because Sessions gives the squad a nice boost off the bench, but there’s an obvious drop-off in speed and athleticism when comparing Ridnour and Ramon.
RJ arrives: We got to see the real Richard Jefferson this week. After struggling through his first couple games as a Buck, he broke out with 32 points against the Wizards. He started 6 for 6 against the Celtics, but cooled off after the first quarter. I still think he should be touching the ball more with Mike Redd out. It seems like his teammates forget about him from time to time. By the way, check out RJ’s wifey. Wow.
Road improvement: A 3-4 record with four of those seven games coming on the road is not bad at all for the Bucks. They won two of those road games after struggling mightily last year away from the BC (7-34, ouch!). Wait, they sucked at the BC, too, but I digress …
Rotating rotation: Still having a hard time figuring out Scott Skiles’ rotation. Unlike almost all NBA coaches, he doesn’t seem to have one. He’s going with whoever is playing hard and scoring points. But I had a hard time with Danny G, Charlie Bell, Joe Alexander, Sessions and The Prince (Mbah a Moute) playing at the same time against the Suns. Not a whole lot of firepower there.
Skiles tried to make a point to his starters by sitting them for a considerable amount of time in the first half Saturday, but you risk digging yourself an Anthony Mason-sized hole with a crew like that playing together.
This week: I have the Bucks going 2-2, beating Memphis and a banged-up Spurs squad, and losing to Cleveland and Boston.

Editor's follow up note: I actually watched the Bucks game Friday night against the Celtics. Now granted I was playing poker at Potowatomi, but I was still glancing at the TV whenever I could. I found myself mildly interested in the outcome. They played hard against the champs and the game was fun to watch (until they got blown out in the 4th quarter). All I can say is this through two weeks in the season: this team is a team you can root for as they appear to be trying to play defense with a non-selfish offensive attack. Baby steps indeed to get interest back in the minds of an average WI sports fan.