Brandon Jennings Suits Up For Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks drafted point guard Brandon Jennings, and they will get their first chance to see how he fits in when the summer league games start in two days. The Bucks will play five games from July 10th to July 16th. Four games will be played at Cox Pavilion, and one at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Jennings will be on the court, along with Meeks, Mbah a Moute, Alexander, and Richard. Putting the rookie Jennings on the court for these summer games is most important. Milwaukee needs an impact player if they are to reach the promised land. The local Milwaukee press feels that Jennings needs to jump in the drivers seat, and run the show for the Bucks. If Jennings can help fuel Milwaukee Bucks ticket sales, and bring the team a winning record, we might see our team in the playoffs.

NBA Finals

This summer, the Bucks will be in the same place they've been for the NBA Finals every year since Nixon was still kicking over dirty martinis in the Oval Office - on the couch. Even though they didn't even make the playoffs, this basketball fan takes a small amount of satisfaction in this years match-up; David "The Man Behind The Curtain" Stern will have to wait at least another year for his James vs Bryant bonanza.

I would put Lebron James on my squad over Kobe hands down. And I admit, it would have been exciting watching these two superstars go at it - I would have walked to the fridge during high priced commercials along with the rest of America - but there's just something Magic about a team in the Finals that isn't "suppose" to be there. That's what I root for.

Maybe you'll get your LeBron v Kode next year Sterny - Lakers/Knicks in '10.

Milwaukee Bucks Do Not Move Up in the Draft

Milwaukee Bucks fans hoping to see their lottery luck turn for the better, didn't get what they wanted. The Bucks are still in the number 10 spot for the upcoming draft. Blake Griffin will go to the Clippers as the number one pick, unless they trade up or down.

Who will Milwaukee pick in that number 10 spot? Jonny Flynn is one to watch. Syracuse fans know that Flynn is not one to give up during a game. This point guard might fit here in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Bucks Season Reacap

It's tough to be a Milwaukee Bucks fan. Once again we found our team in the basement of our division. Yes, injuries plagued the team this year. Yes, there were real playoff hopes for the team. Losing Michael Redd showed us that this team is not that deep. Lose one great player, and our playoff hopes are dashed. The Boston Celtics are one game away from going to the next round of the playoffs, and they have accomplished that feat with injured stars.

The Milwaukee Bucks final record stands at 34-48. They had the worst record in the division, their longest winning streak for the year was three games, and the Bucks record for road games was 12-29. Milwaukee could have made the playoffs with a losing record. Detroit was the eighth seed with a 39-43 win-loss ratio. That fact makes one wonder what could have been if the injury bug had not struck.

What are the bright spots to build upon for 2009? One can hope that Redd stays healthy. The same can be said for Bogut. The team played hard this season, and few expected the Bucks to stay in the playoff hunt for as long as they did. They won seven more games when compared to the previous year, and the team has meshed well with Scott Skiles coaching style.

I look forward to the NBA draft, and a healthy Bucks squad for the 2009-2010 season.

Bucks Playoff Hopes Fading Fast

I guess that I should be happy that they kept themselves in the playoff hunt for so long. When Michael Redd went out with his season ending injury, I was certain that the rest of the team would fold. With nine games left, the Milwaukee Bucks would have to win a majority of the games, and hope that Chicago tanks.

Meanwhile, The Bucks Face the Lakers on Wednesday night. Perhaps this game would have meant something if our team was free from injury. We might be watching Kobe pick apart a team that has alrady packed it in.

Bucks Win Big In Canada Eh

It has not been a great week for the Milwaukee basketball. Exactly a week ago the Bucks lost by 30 to the Hawks. The following night they won in a nail biter at home against the lowly Kings, but that became a bittersweet victory when Michael Redd landed funny and blew out his left knee. I guess now your Bucks tickets are going to include a Michael Redd fashion show; he'll haul all his best suits out of the closet so he looks sharp on the end of the bench for the second half of the season. Since they haven't won since Redd went down, it could be a long couple of months.

But just when you think you have this team pegged for doormats, they surprise you like they did tonight. The Bucks went into Toronto and got the job done. Led by Charlie V, who dropped in 26 and grabbed 13 boards, the Bucks simply outplayed Jermaine O'Neal and the Raptors. This is a big road win for the Bucks. Another bright spot; Bogut returned coming off the bench. He played 16 minutes, went 6-9 for 13 points and knocked down 8 rebounds. If this team is going to fulfill their backdoor playoff destiny, they're going to need him to be healthy.

Bogut is Back After Back Problem, But the Wolves Still Rally

What is going on with the Minnesota Timberwolves? If you check this link, some insightful Minnesota blogger has pointed out that the T'Wolves have yet to loose a game this year. Normally, I would think this is good news, or at the very least news that isn't bad. The problem is last night's victory came against the Bucks.

The Timberwolves overcame a late third quarter 13 point problem to squeak out with a win. Andrew Bogut returned after missing four games with back spasms but it wasn't enough. The Wolves are hot; they shot over 59% from downtown, they've won 7 out of 10....

Maybe Kevin McHale should have taken the reigns two years ago.

Bucks Split Back-to-Back with Charlotte

It's a classic in the NBA; beat a team on your home court and loose to the same team on theirs roughly 23 hours later. That is exactly how the weekend played out for the Bucks and Bobcats. Normally, you would take that. Especially since it seems that lately these two teams play each other more than the Yankees and the Red Sox.

But I'm guessing the Bucks don't feel all warm and fuzzy. They were beat soundly by a good, but not great, Charlotte team.

The Bucks start a little run tonight against sub-500 teams. They know how that feels, being a sub-500 team themselves. This is a critical stretch; come out of this strong, come out on the other side of 500 and people may start to believe. People may start showing up in real numbers; Bucks tickets may start moving out of the window at the Bradley Center.

But if they don't take care of business, they stand a chance of limping to the end of the season in the company of the NBA underbelly yet again.

Cavs Defeat Bucks at Bradley Center

Why wouldn't the Knicks want to lock up Lebron to a fat multi-year contract when his deal comes with a guaranteed two NBA refs every night?

Thirteen Games In

It's a Friday afternoon, the third week in November. It's cold outside. Sabathia and Sheets are still in the free agent pool. Nobody is talking about Brewers tickets right now. But no one is really talking about Bucks tickets either. The Knicks (6-5) are leaving their hotel for the Bradley Center to take on the Bucks (5-8) in only the 6th home game this season.

I know Bucks fans, the record thirteen games in is not as strong as I would like, but there is reason for hope. By the time you start ripping little paper doors off you advent calendar, the hard-luck Bucks will have already played a dozen road games against seven at home. That includes game in Cleveland, Boston, Denver and Salt Lake City - all losses.

Despite being 5-8, the Bucks have played some inspired ball with a handful of pleasant early season surprises, including the stellar play of second rounder Luc Mbah a Moute. It also seems the Bucks are responding to Coach Skiles no nonsense approach to the game. I'll be watching from the stands tonight as they try to put a fork in the Knicks.

Bucks Split to Open (and melt) Season on the Road

The Bucks lost the season opener in Chicago but won in Oklahoma City to start the season at .500. The home opener is on Saturday night at the Bradley Center against the Raptors. The Skiles era is most certainly upon us Bucks fans.

Remembering the Preseason

Here's one thing the Bucks have going for them; preseason games don't count. In eight tries, the Bucks were only able to come up with one win and they had to drag the Golden State Warriors all the way to China to get it.

The organization starts the 2008/09 season with a new general manager, their 4th in the last decade and a new coach, their 6th in the same time frame. That's a lot of turnover at the top, even for the NBA.

The new guys say they are going to stress team defense. The old guys said the same thing, and we all know how that turned out. As an optimist I'm willing to give them a shot, but during the (remember, it's meaningless) preseason the Bucks were outscored by 114 points. In eight contests, that's an average of 14.25 points a game.

It remains to be seen if Skiles and Hammond are the guys who can really turn this team around, or if this is just another case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

Unhappy Kids Return to School as NBA Season Approaches

I'm Hugh Jass, Milwaukee Bucks fan, and I've recently returned from a 60 day State sanctioned getaway (their decision, not mine) just in time for the upcoming NBA season.

Ed. note: The Brewers finally ended their relationship with manager Nedly Yost today. Check out my buddy Jimmy's blog at Milwaukee's Own Brew Crew and let him know how upset you are because Yost is more loved than Santa Claus around here.

The regular season is about the six weeks away, the pre-season is three. So what's new with the Bucks? Michael Redd has a gold medal, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants are the new Bucks affiliate from the NBA Development League, and Damon Jones is back (although I wouldn't dig that old purple DJ jersey out of the closet if I was you).

So what is the 2008/09 version of the Milwaukee Bucks going to look like? That's a good question....

The Six(ty) Million Dollar Man

When Andrew Bogut's new contract extension is about to expire, Prince Fielder will be blowing out the candles on his 30th birthday cake. Actually, for that to technically happen, the Bucks are going to need to make the playoffs in 2014.

John Hammond signed Bogut to a five-year extension worth $60 million in guaranteed money plus another $12 million built into incentives. The deal doesn't reflect the $6.9 million he'll make in 2008-09, the last year of his rookie deal.

It's been widely believed here in Milwaukee that Bogut has sought a long term deal with the Bucks, despite a couple of extremely lean years. It appears the Bucks feel the same way; the two sides got this extension deal done on the first day after the NBA's "moratorium period."

Bogut certainly has not been without his critics during his tenure in the NBA, but I think this is a smart move by the Hammond Brain Trust. Looking toward the horizon, the thunder from down under is only going to get louder.

Happy Draft Day Bucks Fans

Here's the latest rumour: Yi and Bobby Simmons to the Nets for Richard Jefferson. The Bucks would keep the Number 8 pick. I get the feeling this thing isn't over - stay tuned!

Pieces Of Eight

So there you have it Bucks fans. Once again, the Milwaukee Bucks take a back seat to the Bulls. With less than a 2% shot, the Bulls jumped eight spots to take control of the burdensome numero uno in this years lottery. In doing so, they knocked four through eight (Memphis, New York, the Clippers, our beloved Bucks, and Charlotte) down by one spot.

It's the third time since the NBA lottery started in '85 that the Bucks have walked away with the eight ball. Their picks at that spot have been Todd Day, Vin Baker (who could forget old Vin 'n' Juice) and T.J. Ford. Of those three only Todd Day could be truly labeled a bust. In his defence, those were some lean years in the middle nineties.

Hammond and his staff have a little over a month to contemplate the direction thay want to take with their top ten pick. This years draft appears to have some nice talent. Bucks fans can also expect a modest ammount of wheelin' and dealin' to take place. (One can only hope.)

So everybody relax, get a couple Brewers tickets and take in a ball game, sit back with a cold one and toast the beginning of the John Hammond/Scott Skiles era. The only way to go is up.

Only Losers Win The Lottery

It's that time of the year again Bucks fans. I'm Hugh Jass, recently back in Milwaukee after a nice vacation in the subcontinent, just in time for the annual gathering of the NBA's doormats in Secaucus, New Jersey. Of course, I'm talking about the NBA Lottery - that glorious day where ping-pong balls allow the masterminds that make up the front offices of the NBA's worst teams to decide the fate of the current crop of collegiate and international elite.

The Bucks are lined up at lucky number seven in this year's lottery and are guaranteed a top 10 pick, although they cannot get four, five or six. They have less than a 5% chance at the first or second pick and about a 6% chance of landing at number three. The smart money (a 60% chance) has them staying at seven but they also have a 24% chance of slipping to eight or nine.

Although the Bucks aren't a stranger to the lottery, it's a new deal for recently hired general manager John Hammond. That's generally how it goes when you're part of an organization that makes the playoffs every year - during Hammond's seven seasons with the Pistons they made the playoffs each year, never posting less than a 50 win season.

So Hammonds is on his way to Jersey to participate in his first lottery as a Bucks G.M. For the Bucks it will be their 12th appearance and their third in the last four years. (The Bucks last two lottery picks have been Yi Jianlian with the 6th overall pick in 2007 and Andrew Bogut with the 1st overall pick in 2005.)

I for one have confidence in Hammond. He seems like a sharp guy and he's spent many years in a winning organization. We're about to find out how lucky he is.

Scott Skiles

The Bucks have selected Scott Skiles as their 10th head coach. At the very least, the Bucks new coach has an interesting back story. Is an interesting back story enough to move Milwaukee Bucks tickets next season? That remains to be seen.

Skiles has held two head coaching jobs in the NBA; parts of three seasons with Phoenix and parts of five seasons with the Bulls. Both positions ended with Skiles being shown the door. He's got a head coaching record of .528 and his teams have made the playoffs five times.

Skiles has the reputation of being a no nonsense guy. Some would call him a hard-ass. Others may simply call him an ass. He's had a history of rifts with players over the years. Once he was asked by a reporter what Eddy Curry could do to improve his rebounding - Skiles responded by saying, "jump." He's was involved in a well publicized feud with former Bulls All-Star Ben Wallace over Wallace's wearing of a headband and pre-game music in the locker room. Some believe that eventually led to both men leaving Chicago.

Skiles certainly hasn't yet built the resume of a Don Nelson or a George Karl, but he still has over 100 more games as an NBA head coach then the Bucks' LAST THREE HEAD COACHES COMBINED. At least the new guy isn't still wet behind the ears.

Two more games to go

Only two games left, and I get the feeling that the Bucks aren't going to play .500 ball this year.

So Long, Larry.

It's believed that Herb Kohl was approached recently by Larry Harris asking the senator for a determination on his future with the Bucks. Kohl promptly fired him.

Maybe it wasn't quite that abrupt, but nobody would blame Kohl if it had been. Harris was in the final year of a contract that expires on June 30 of this year. His tenure as the Bucks general manager lasted a little under five years.

At best, Harris was the victim of a handful of big contract signings that frankly didn't work out. That kind of thing can happen to any team. It happened to George Karl (remember Anthony Mason?) At worst, he was simply in over his head, destined to take an annual early summer vacation to the NBA lottery.

Seeing Larry Harris go is somewhat bittersweet. He was with the organization for a long time. His ol' man with the organization for a long time. But the fact remains, the team needs to do a little house cleaning. So Long, Larry. You won't be the last to go.