November 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The perception out there is that the Milwaukee Bucks have something good going on and Michael Redd would somehow ruin it when he returns. The reality will be different. Yes, the Bucks are one of the NBA's best stories right now. And however spectacular Brandon Jennings has been, the overriding theme has been their team play. They are, the popular thought goes, running smoothly without a guy who needs a lot of shots and impedes the flow by monopolizing the basketball. Truth is, at 6-3, the Bucks have won the games they were supposed to win. They are just now hitting a real NBA schedule. As much as the national media is playing a mulligan for its preseason designation of the Bucks as the ..."
November 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Bucks center Andrew Bogut will miss the next two to four weeks with a left leg strain and contusion, the team announced Thursday afternoon. Bogut missed practice on Thursday and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam. He was injured late in the fourth quarter of the Bucks' 99-85 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night. The 7-foot center was examined by Bucks team doctor Michael Gordon, and the MRI exam revealed the injury. Bogut was off to a great start this season, averaging 16.1 points and 9.2 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game. He had scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds when he left the game on Wednesday after banging his lower leg in a collision with another player."
November 19
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It's a bit scary to play the New Jersey Nets right now, and the Milwaukee Bucks know the feeling. Nobody wants to be the team that ends the winless Nets' losing skid, which was extended to 12 games by the Bucks on Wednesday night. The Nets had just eight available players but served up a first-half scare before falling to the Bucks, 99-85, at the Bradley Center. "We knew coming in they were going to play us hard," said Bucks center Andrew Bogut. "We saw a couple quotes in the paper where they said they had this one circled on the calendar and were going to try to beat us. "We didn't play too well in the first half. But we steadied the ship in the third quarter. Our defense was key in the ..."
November 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Ersan Ilyasova started the first two games of the preseason at the power forward position before going to the bench as coach Scott Skiles shuffled his lineup. Now the 22-year-old may be on the verge of moving back into the Milwaukee Bucks' starting five after several strong performances. Ilyasova played 33 minutes in a key reserve role Monday night and had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the Bucks' 115-113 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks at the Bradley Center. Hakim Warrick has started six straight games at power forward, but he has played just 12 minutes in each of the last two games. The 6-foot-10 Ilyasova sank 7 of 13 shots against the Mavericks, including 4 of 7 from three-point ..."
November 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When George Karl was back in town with the Denver Nuggets last week, he was asked about Brandon Jennings. "I'm not going to go prognosticating on a guy coming in here and making the city of Milwaukee love basketball again," he said. "Wow, I'm not going there." Likely, that was also Karl's way of jealously guarding his legacy. True enough, the Bradley Center has been generally lifeless since 2001, when the streets around the building were abuzz with the vibe created by a high-quality, Karl-coached NBA team. No matter, George. This rookie just might cause Brewtown to re-embrace the Bucks like they haven't been hugged since. "Oh, my gosh," general manager John Hammond said. "What a shot in ..."
November 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Dallas Mavericks' dynamic duo was enough to end the Milwaukee Bucks' home-court winning streak on Monday night. Barely. Point guard Jason Kidd finished with 17 assists, the last one on an inbounds pass to forward Dirk Nowitzki, who sank an 18-foot fadeaway jumper to give the Mavericks a heart-pounding, 115-113 overtime victory. It was a prime-time play by the two Dallas veterans and spoiled a determined second-half comeback by the Bucks (5-3), who had their four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 4-1 at the Bradley Center. The Bucks' best defender, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, had a hand in Nowitzki's face, but the 7-footer's shot hit the back and front of the rim and the backboard ..."
November 16
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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One thing stood out on Brandon Jennings' remarkable 55-point night. The Milwaukee Bucks' 20-year-old rookie truly wasn't being selfish while taking 34 shots in a wide-open game with the Golden State Warriors. He was just doing what his coach and teammates wanted him to do in an effort to hold off the red-hot Warriors, who shot 56% but still were on the wrong end of a 129-125 score Saturday night. The Bucks were missing shooting guard Michael Redd, still out with a knee injury. And center Andrew Bogut had to sit out late in the game because Golden State was playing 6-foot-6 Corey Maggette at the center position, causing severe matchup problems. So who were the Bucks going to call? Who else ..."
November 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Brandon Jennings did not score a point in the first quarter Saturday night at the Bradley Center. So nobody was really figuring he would wind up with a scintillating 55-point outburst, just two off the Bucks franchise record, in leading Milwaukee to a thrilling 129-125 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Jennings scored 29 points in a third-quarter rally and hit 12 of 13 shots in the quarter in a performance that had teammates and fans alike shaking their heads in wonder. "I've never witnessed anything like that," said Bucks forward Hakim Warrick. "He just really put the team on his back. Every shot he shot, you just knew it was going in. "It was just his poise and confidence and the ..."
November 14
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Michael Redd likes what he sees from a young Milwaukee Bucks team early in the season. But the veteran shooting guard would rather be watching less and playing more. That time could come as soon as next week, Redd said Friday, if he continues to make progress after straining his left patella tendon two weeks ago. "That's my goal, to get back out there and play," Redd said of returning during the six-game homestand. "We'll have some practice time maybe Sunday or Tuesday." The Bucks are 3-1 in Redd's absence, and they will be without him again Saturday night when they meet the Golden State Warriors at the Bradley Center. But it's possible he could return to play against Dallas on Monday or ..."
November 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Michael Hunt
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It wasn't like the Milwaukee Bucks woke up one morning with "We Are the World" stuck in their heads and decided to make the Bradley Center a global melting pot. They tried to work the international cachet / marketing angle a couple of years ago with Yi Jianlian, and you saw how that turned out for them. But on Aug. 18, when the Bucks sent Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems to the Raptors for Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic, they suddenly became the league leader in foreign players with seven, almost half the full 15-man roster. An Argentine in Delfino and a Croatian in Ukic. An Australian in Andrew Bogut. A Turk in Ersan Ilyasova. A Cameroonian in Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. And a couple of Dutchmen ..."
November 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Coach Scott Skiles has his Milwaukee Bucks on the rebound, literally. Even though it's still quite early, the Bucks rank first in the league in rebounds per game (47.33) and also are first in total rebounding percentage. The Bucks have grabbed 54.1% of the total rebounds available, including a defensive rebounding percentage of 77.8% (ranking third) and an offensive rebounding percentage of 30.3% (third). The return of a healthy Andrew Bogut, who is averaging 9.2 rebounds, is a big part of the Bucks' sudden dominance on the boards. But others are contributing, too. Power forward Hakim Warrick is averaging 6.3 rebounds, and reserves Ersan Ilyasova (5.8) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (5.3) ..."
November 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It's becoming an effective inside-outside combination for Milwaukee Bucks that will probably only get better as the season continues on. The Bucks held a one-point lead over the Denver Nuggets late in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's game at the Bradley Center when the Bucks dumped the ball into center Andrew Bogut in the low post. Drawing a double-team, Bogut pitched it out to rookie guard Brandon Jennings, who drilled a three-pointer to give the Bucks a 94-90 lead with 4 minutes 7 seconds left. That shot ignited a run of nine straight points that put the Bucks ahead by 10 with 2:41 left. While it might seem like a simple basketball play, it was an indicator of how well Bogut and ..."
November 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Only six games into the National Basketball Association season, the Milwaukee Bucks aren't about to risk pulling any muscles while trying to pat themselves on the back after a victory. Even so, there might be something to be said about the Bucks' ability to hold off the Denver Nuggets, one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, down the stretch for a 108-102 victory Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. The Bucks lost almost all of a 12-point lead they held early in the fourth quarter, but held off the veteran Nuggets in the closing minutes. "There's still a long ways to go," said center Andrew Bogut. "But I think it's a great stepping stone for us to beat a team that was almost ..."
November 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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George Karl said before Wednesday's game that he wasn't sure what impact point guard Brandon Jennings could have on the Milwaukee Bucks. But the Denver Nuggets coach gave the 20-year-old Jennings his due after a 32-point, nine-assist performance by the rookie helped Milwaukee to a 108-102 victory over Denver at the Bradley Center. "He made a lot of open shots tonight; he was very good," Karl said. "We're going to have to make some reads on how to play him next time we play him. You have to figure out if you want to be more physical, more aggressive with him." Karl was most impressed by the way Jennings confidently made back-to-back three-pointers during a crucial stretch of the fourth ..."
November 11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Nobody has to tell Hakim Warrick about the talents possessed by Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. The Milwaukee Bucks forward was Anthony's teammate during the 2002-'03 college basketball season, when Warrick was a sophomore and Anthony a gifted freshman at Syracuse. Together they led the Orange on an improbable run to the NCAA championship, before Anthony left school after one season to become the third pick in the 2003 NBA draft. On Wednesday night, the 6-foot-9 Warrick and 6-8 Anthony will be on opposite sides as the Bucks and Nuggets play at the Bradley Center. "I knew he was a great offensive player, but I think he's really expanded his game," Warrick said of Anthony's progress ..."
November 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Bucks have played only five games. Still, the numbers don't lie. The Bucks are giving up 85.2 points per game. They are the only team in the league that has yet to yield 100 points in a game. And they are off to the best start in franchise history for points allowed after five games. Not bad for a franchise that has not been known for its defense over the past several years. Coach Scott Skiles said there are several factors involved. "Preparation, hard work, everything," he said. "We work very hard at it. The guys are getting good at our schemes. We're contesting shots very well. We've been good on the defensive board. So all the factors you need if you're going to do that, ..."
November 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Backup center Dan Gadzuric signed a six-year, $36 million contract before the 2005-'06 season, a deal that contributed to the eventual firing of former Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris. The 6-foot-11 Gadzuric is still in Milwaukee, with two years left on his deal at the inflated rates of $6.75 million for the current season and $7.24 million for next season. But Gadzuric has decided not to worry about the jokes over his contract or being a lightning rod for criticism. And the 31-year-old native of the Netherlands has opted to go back to the playing style he showed in his early days with the Bucks, when he ran the floor, rebounded and sparked the team in a valuable reserve role. ..."
November 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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General manager John Hammond stressed it during the off-season. The Milwaukee Bucks would need strong contributions from their two picks in the June draft, point guard Brandon Jennings and shooting guard Jodie Meeks. So far, so good. The Bucks are only five games into their season, but both players have helped the team get off to an encouraging 3-2 start. Jennings, the 10th-overall pick in the draft, is the leading scorer among league rookies at 18.4 points per game and ranks second in assists at 4.4. He has quickly fit into a starting role and given the Bucks a much needed energy boost. Meeks, the 41st pick, was inactive in the Bucks' first two games. But a knee injury suffered by veteran ..."
November 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Tom Enlund
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It's not exactly a league-wide trend yet, but it sure does seem to be catching on. We're talking about the switch to afternoon practices. The San Antonio Spurs are the latest team to move their workouts to the afternoon, and the reaction seems to be mostly favorable. While on the surface such a change may not seem like any big deal, NBA players are creatures of habit, and any little change in their routine can be disruptive. Most teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, begin their practices late in the morning. "It's a little different," said San Antonio's Tim Duncan. "I understand what (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) is trying to do, trying to get a little closer to game time where our bodies ..."
November 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It was breakout time for Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jodie Meeks, drafted in the second round to provide another perimeter shooting threat. The former Kentucky star helped fuel a huge first-half outburst by the Bucks as they cruised past the New York Knicks, 102-87, before a Bradley Center crowd of 15,486 on Saturday night. Meeks drilled his first 4 three-point shots as the Bucks jumped on the Knicks, taking a 31-point halftime lead and extending it to as much as 36 points in the third quarter. The 22-year-old Meeks had plenty of help from his teammates, too. Center Andrew Bogut contributed a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds, and rookie point guard Brandon Jennings added 17 points. Ersan ..."
November 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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A much needed jolt of energy came from three rim-rattling dunks by forward Hakim Warrick in the third quarter. Then it was backup point guard Luke Ridnour swishing shots from all angles late in the third quarter and early in the final period. Suddenly, the Milwaukee Bucks' offensive woes had vanished on the way to an 87-72 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night at the Target Center. The Bucks (2-2) shook off their shooting slump with a 54-point second half and continued to play strong defense, limiting the Timberwolves (1-5) to 39% shooting and holding center Al Jefferson to eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. "We finally started making some shots," Bucks coach Scott Skiles ..."
November 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Hakim Warrick moved into the starting lineup Tuesday night as Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles continued to seek a solution at the suddenly troublesome power forward spot. Kurt Thomas, who had started the first two regular-season games at power forward, did not play a minute in the Bucks' 83-81 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Ersan Ilyasova played just seven minutes and lofted an ill-advised three-pointer in the final seconds. Skiles said he expects to keep the 6-foot-9 Warrick in a starting role, at least through the team's games Friday night at Minnesota and Saturday night against New York at the Bradley Center. "We need more out of that spot," Skiles said. "We need to shoot the ball better ..."
November 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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After the curtain fell on last season and the Milwaukee Bucks started looking ahead, it became clear quickly that one of the top priorities would be to fare better against teams in the Central Division. After all, the Bucks finished last in the division for the fifth straight season. "In order to get where we want to go, we've got to be a bigger factor in our division," coach Scott Skiles said then. "That's a given. We can't be in last place in our division and still be a contender. "We have to look at the Clevelands and Detroits and Chicagos and have to be better than the teams we play three and four times a year. We have to try and get better than those teams. Right now, we're not." Two ..."
November 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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A great start for the Milwaukee Bucks had them thinking about finally getting an elusive victory at the United Center. But forward Luol Deng and point guard Derrick Rose paced a second-half comeback as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Bucks, 83-81, on Tuesday night. The Bulls rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit but had to hold on in the final seconds, when the Bucks fizzled on their last possession. Backup forward Ersan Ilyasova was forced far beyond the three-point line and launched an airball with 3 seconds left, allowing the Bulls to beat the Bucks for the eighth consecutive time at the United Center. It was a tough one for the Bucks (1-2) to digest after they got another ..."
November 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Another dunk resulted in another knee injury for Michael Redd. The Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard will be out for at least two weeks after he suffered a strained left patella tendon against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. But Redd's latest setback was not related to the major injury he suffered in January, when he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in the same knee. Instead, it was eerily similar to an injury he suffered in January 2007, when he dunked late in a game against Cleveland and also hurt his left patella tendon. This time he injured the knee while making a right-handed dunk early in the third quarter of the Bucks' 96-85 victory. "It's not severe," ..."
November 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Joe Alexander'sfuture with the Milwaukee Bucks became even more clouded Monday when the team declined to pick up the third-year option on his rookie-scale contract. Bucks general manager John Hammond confirmed that he had spoken to the second-year forward and told him the news. The team faced a Monday deadline on whether to renew Alexander's contract for the 2010-'11 season. By declining the $2.76 million option, the Bucks are making Alexander an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The 6-foot-8 Alexander did not play during the preseason or practice with the team due to a right hamstring injury. The Bucks announced on Oct. 22 that Alexander had aggravated the hamstring ..."
November 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Nobody had to convince Detroit Piston coach John Kuester about point guard Brandon Jennings' promise. And that was before the Milwaukee Bucks rookie took apart the Pistons in the third quarter Saturday night. "He's somebody that can create for himself and create for others," Kuester said. "He's very athletic, and he's playing with a tremendous amount of confidence." Jennings bolted out of the starting gate in his first two National Basketball Association games, averaging 20.5 points, six assists and five rebounds while helping the Bucks split with Philadelphia and Detroit. And now it's on to more challenges this week, starting with a highly anticipated matchup against 2009 league rookie of ..."
November 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Brandon Jennings' opening acts could be tough to match. The Milwaukee Bucks rookie point guard followed his near triple-double in Philadelphia with a stunning third-quarter show as he rallied his team to a 96-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the home opener on Saturday night. Jennings finished with a team-leading 24 points, but it was the way he took over the game that had a crowd of 15,095 cheering for more than American Idol finalist Danny Gokey, who provided the halftime entertainment. The 20-year-old Jennings sank four consecutive shots, including a fast-break layup after he went behind his back with a nifty dribble, as the Bucks quickly turned around an 11-point halftime ..."
October 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Point guard Brandon Jennings nearly tripled his fun on opening night, and he almost made National Basketball Association history in the process. Instead, the Milwaukee Bucks rookie came up just short of a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in his team's 99-86 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night at the Wachovia Center. Jennings' eye-opening performance nearly put him in the company of Oscar Robertson, the former Bucks great. Robertson was the only rookie in league history to record a triple-double in his opening game, an achievement he reached in October 1960 with the Cincinnati Royals. "You've got to be blind not to see some of the gifts he has," Bucks ..."
October 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Michael Redd and Hakim Warrick were practicing again Thursday for the Milwaukee Bucks, and both should be available for the season opener Friday night in Philadelphia. Redd had missed three straight practices due to a strained muscle in his lower back, but the shooting guard said he was feeling better. The 6-foot-9 Warrick returned to practice after missing two days due to neck spasms. "I had a good three or four days to rest it, which was good," Redd said. "I'm glad we didn't have any games this week." The Bucks will be the last National Basketball Association team to start the season and will open with a back-to-back set. After playing the 76ers, they will immediately return for the home ..."