Two more NBA Playoff games are schedule for tonight. Boston is in Philadelphia with the series tied at a victory apiece. The Lakers are in Oklahoma City down 0-1 to the Thunder. Here are some points to keep in mind.
Chris Paul joins a list of players who turned struggling franchises around.
Source: NBA.com
The Milwaukee Bucks, when it comes to charity, have done a world of good for thousands during their 43-year existence. Their 1988-89 contingent excelled in that category on the basketball court as well as in the community.Source: NBA.com
There are two NBA Playoff games on Tuesday night. Indiana is at Miami with the Heat up 1-0. The Clippers open their Conference Semi-Final in San Antonio. Don't forget to enter your pick for the Bucks Playoff Pick 'em for your chance to win.
Source: Behind the Buck Pass by K L Chouinard
From Twitter: Jon Leuer, Bowfisher - Behind the Buck Pass - Behind the Buck Pass - A Milwaukee Bucks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinions and More
Source: Yahoo! Sports
NEW YORK (AP) Phoenix All-Star Steve Nash and Boston coach Doc Rivers have won awards from the Professional Basketball Writers Association for excellence in their field combined with cooperation with media and fans.Source: NBA.com
As Ersan Ilyasova packed up his locker after the season he left a special gift for one lucky Bucks fan. Enter to win Ersan's game worn shoes!Source: Bucksketball by Jeremy Schmidt
We established that Todd Day was the 19th best Bucks player of the past 20 years. So don’t worry, I’m doing a solid and putting a link to the last remaining Todd Day Starting Lineup figurineright here. But apparently this is the last one left, so don’t delay.
I’ll check this post again next year when it’s still the last one left and still hilarious just for existing.
We’re getting to that point in the year where I’m pretty exhausted about he Bucks. So be prepared for more funny Bucks things I find on the internet in the coming weeks.
And hey, if you click through the site, I’ll get a penny or so of this $1.50. Win and win.
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Source: NBA.com
The NBA Playoffs are at the Conference Semi-Final stage, with a pair of games tonight. Boston takes a 1-0 lead over Philadelphia into game two in Boston, while Oklahoma City opens in Los Angeles with the Lakers.Source: NBA.com
For the second time in as many years NBA fans have seen a No. 1 seed bounced by a No. 8 seed in the opening round of the Playoffs. The first time the Bucks played an opening-round playoff series as underdogs, they did their city quite proud.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Suns point guard Steve Nash and Celtics head coach Doc Rivers were honored Monday by the Professional Basketball Writers Association for their cooperation with media and fans.Source: NBA.com
Sweepstakes open to residents of the state of Wisconsin residing within a 75 mile radius of Bradley Center.
Source: JSOnline.com
Source: Behind the Buck Pass by K L Chouinard
Below is a list of the number of Twitter followers for each NBA team, submitted without (much) commentary. The Bucks have 59,720 followers, ahead of only the Bobcats (56,416). For every follower that the Bucks have, the Los Angeles Lakers have over 40.
Data taken from Twitter.com, May 14, 2012.
At first glance, how much does it matter to be popular on one social media website? (And, to be clear, this is not a critique of the Bucks Twitter feed or the person(s) running it. — the Bucks staff won the Brian McIntyre Award for PR excellence today from the PBWA)
On the other hand, though, low popularity on Twitter is emblematic of a larger problem.
If we were to plot the likelihood of each NBA franchise attracting the next big free agent, would the chart look any different? If we were to plot the number of national television appearances on ABC in 2012-13, would it change at all? Heck, if anything, changing to these variables would necessitate even smaller bars.
Like it or not, the NBA has nurtured a system that promotes haves and have-nots. Upward mobility takes a stunning combination of luck and skill.
The Bucks, the NBA, and Twitter Followers - Behind the Buck Pass - Behind the Buck Pass - A Milwaukee Bucks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinions and More
Source: Bucksketball by Jeremy Schmidt
Jennings fate could mean as much to the Bucks as another lefty a few years back. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Brandon Jennings hit the modest individual shooting goal he laid out for himself before the 2011-12 season.
In fact, were it not for a miserable month of February that seemed to be the perfect storm of attitude and inaccuracy, Jennings would have blown past the 40% shooting mark with ease. After shooting better than 44% in January, Jennings slumped to an all-too-familiar 33.6% accuracy mark in February. He rebounded nicely though, making better than 43% of his shots over the final two months of the season while averaging better than 20 points per game.
He kept his turnovers down yet again. In three seasons, Jennings has a turnover percentage (estimate of turnovers per 100 possessions) of just 12%. No other regular starting point guard in the league that’s started as many games as Jennings has a better turnover percentage since he’s entered. Guys like Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen and Joe Johnson are the ones he’s most comparable with when it comes to turnovers.
So he’s getting better with his shot selection, or at least his ability to make shots, and he isn’t turning the ball over. He’s improving every season and looked like a natural fit for Milwaukee’s faster offense late last season. There are verifiable reasons to be hopeful that Jennings will take another step forward next season.
And that’s where things get tricky.
Another step forward would be great, but it probably wouldn’t be a great step forward. It’s hard to believe that Jennings could suddenly make the leap required to get on the level of an obvious superstar like a Derrick Rose or Steve Nash. He seems to lack whatever so many great point guards before him have had as a passer and he definitely doesn’t have the supreme athleticism some of the league’s best guards have.
The timing here is what makes things really sticky. Jennings will be eligible for a contract extension on July 1. If he and the Bucks can’t reach an agreement, he’ll be a restricted free agent after next season. The Bucks will very soon be faced with a tough decision regarding the point guard that’s become the face of their franchise.
There are no shortage of questions that will hang over that decision.
It’s hard to imagine Jennings as a max player right now, but if he scores better than 20 points per game next season and does so more efficiently? James Harden went to work destroying the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs a week ago and after the game reporters were asking his teammates if he was worthy.
If you’re Brandon Jennings and you hear that James Harden is generating max money talk, wouldn’t dollar signs be dancing through your mind? Harden is definitely better than Jennings right now, but if Jennings keeps getting better he’s likely to put himself on that sort of level. Whether or not the market dictates that he be on that level is another question, but free agency has a habit of inflating the price of a contract rather than deflating it.
The Grizzlies were mercilessly mocked when they gave a then 23-year-old Mike Conley a five year, $45 million extension in late 2010. But that deal didn’t look too bad as Conley battled with Chris Paul in the first round over the past two weeks. Young point guards have a habit of getting better as they go along. How much better is what’s difficult to predict.
Paying a very good player superstar money can scar a team for years. Redd was all the Bucks really had in 2003. He was the star and the Bucks decided they’d pay him like he was one of the league’s stars. It was a risky move and it ended up helping keep the Bucks firmly in the middle of the pack for years to come. Redd’s contract alone didn’t ruin the Bucks for the rest of his tenure, but it came to symbolize all of the mistakes they kept making. Do the Bucks want to get stuck overvaluing their own player again?
John Hammond was asked about Jennings’ contract situation at his end of the season press conference.
“It’s something that we’ll look at and we’ll explore,” he said. “It’s going to have to be a little bit of a two-way street, so to speak. Something that is important to them and important to us. I think that is. But, it’s not something that we have to do. And the one thing that we don’t want to do… And we talked about this. We’ve talked about this for the last couple of years, is not put ourselves in a position where we have to do things. If we have to do things, I think we’re negotiating and working out of a position of weakness.”
Soon enough though, the Bucks will have to make a decision, whether it’s to re-sign, trade or let Jennings walk away.
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Source: Brew Hoop by Steve von Horn
I have a love/hate relationship with NBA Mock Drafts. I love examining the process itself -- like what makes people change their picks and opinions long after the most important aspects of each prospect's career is already in the books (the competitive basketball games they played are scouted and on film) -- but I hate how everything quickly becomes a disguised riff on the what the handful of true experts have to say. Draft Express is better than almost anything else you can read for free online. That's the simple truth.
However, it's also undeniably fun to pick and project players as if we have the experience of a professional scout and the power of an NBA GM.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
NBA MVP Award WinnersSource: Yahoo! Sports
LeBron James wins 2012 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player AwardSource: Yahoo! Sports
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Gregg Popovich doesn't remember calling these San Antonio Spurs the worst defensive bunch in his 16 seasons.Source: NBA.com
There is just one NBA Playoff game on the schedule tonight as The Clippers host game six against Memphis. Los Angeles has a 3-2 lead. Don't forget to enter your pick for the Bucks Playoff Pick 'em for your chance to win tickets to Summerfest on July 4th.Source: Brew Hoop by Steve von Horn
Welcome to the NBA offseason, Milwaukee Bucks fans. It's almost too easy to engage in over-analysis of the NBA Draft. People who have never seen the full compliment of 2012 NBA Draft prospect play for an extended period of time (read: everyone except Draft Express, myself included) will not hesitate to project and pontificate on picks and players with aplomb. It can be....exhausting.
In the spirit of content diversification, Mitchell Maurer and I are prepared to take a left turn from the late-lottery each week and bring you our nominated songs and story links. You will have the opportunity to vote on your favorites, and we will develop bragging rights along the way.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Xavier University has one of the most successful men's basketball programs in recent NCAA history, including a total of 23 Tournament appearances and a run to the Sweet 16 in 2012. Since 2001 Xavier has made the NCAA Tournament every year except for 2005.Source: Brew Hoop by Dan Sinclair
The NBA announced today that Oklahoma City guard James Harden won the league's Sixth Man of the Year award--predictably, in overwhelming fashion. Harden appeared in 62 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season (starting in just two), averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Harden was one of the NBA's best pure scorers, with a .660 TS% that ranked behind only dunkaholic Tyson Chandler. His
Source: NBA.com
There are 3 more first round NBA Playoff games tonight. Philadelphia, Boston and the LA Lakers all have 3-2 series leads with a chance to advance tonight. Last year, all seven series that were at 3-2, were won by the team leading after five games.Source: NBA.com
Senator Herb Kohl and GM John Hammond End-of-Season Press Conference TranscriptSource: NBA.com
On Wednesday night, there are two possible closeout games as the NBA Playoffs continue. New York is at Miami, down three games to one. The Clippers visit the Grizzlies with Los Angeles leading that first round series 3-1. Here are a few Playoff Points.Source: Bucksketball by Jeremy Schmidt
It was a rough season on the defensive end for Carlos Delfino and the Bucks. (Photo by J. Dennis/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Decisions have been rolling in lately.
Scott Skiles will be the Bucks coach. John Hammond will (probably) be the GM. And Herb Kohl will build the Bucks a new stadium with his own money and bare hands. Or something along those lines.
The Milwaukee Bucks roster though, will be in a state of flux over the next few months. Chief among those in flux, will be Carlos Delfino. But he can look in the mirror on that one.
Delfino came to the Bucks three years ago something of a mystery. He’d played four seasons in the NBA and failed to establish himself as much other than an average 3-point shooter. He shot less than 40% and he averaged less than 20 minutes per game for the better part of his career. After his four season in the league, he ventured to Russia where he made a ton of money and played well enough.
Then the Bucks traded for him and turned him into a featured rotation player – a D and three guy. He played defense, he hit threes. He averaged better than 30 minutes per game in two of his three seasons as a Buck and when he’s been healthy, it’s been almost a certainty that he’d be in the starting lineup. He filled the gaps, knew where he was supposed to be and generally didn’t make too many mistakes in his first two seasons.
But the wheels came off last season.
Without Andrew Bogut behind him, Delfino, much like the rest of the Bucks, was exposed defensively. He gambled for steals almost constantly and didn’t come out ahead often enough. Last season, Delfino allowed .94 Points Per Possession (PPP), up from .85 in both 2009-10 and 2001-11. He plummeted from 91 to 120 to 385 in the league in PPP defensively. Milwaukee universally dipped without a center for most of last season, but the effects were most obvious when it came to Delfino. But it wasn’t just players driving by him off a gamble that hurt Delfino.
Delfino allowed 1.19 PPP to spot-up shooters last season after allowing .87 PPP on spot-up shooters in 2010-11. This was the most drastic change, as 3-point shooters abused Delfino. His struggles with spot-up shooters are a terrific example of how the lack of a true center hurt the Bucks. With Drew Gooden as the only option to defend guys like Roy Hibbert or Dwight Howard, Milwaukee had to bring extra help from the perimeter. Delfino was left scrambling back and forth, trying to pressure post players while keeping an eye on shooters on the perimeter. The results were predictably dismal.
Bucks opponents shot 35.1% from behind the arc last season after shooting just 33.4% the season before.
Gooden’s sub-par rebounding year hurt too, as Bucks guards and forwards had to wade into the paint to help secure defensive rebounds throughout the season as well. Offensive rebounds led to open threes and extra points for Milwaukee opponents all too frequently.
A lot of this wasn’t necessarily Delfino’s fault, but if he’s just another cog defensively susceptible to the same problems as his teammates, where does his value lie exactly? A strong month of April brought Delfino up to the 40% shooting plateau — for his career. His athleticism is often referred to as quiet or sneaky, which is another way of saying it doesn’t show very often. He’s pretty much limited to a 3-point shooting and ball movement role offensively.
Two seasons ago Delfino’s absence after a concussion was blamed for some of the Bucks woes. Last season he stayed healthy and the Bucks found themselves in the same place they were in when he was absent. Delfino isn’t a make or break player, he’s just a serviceable backup. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, he’s been averaging 30 minutes per game as a Buck. Delfino enters this off-season an unrestricted free agent coming off a hernia surgery.
If he’s back starting for the Bucks at the small forward spot next season, you’d be wise to avoid holding your breath on that Bucks playoff run the team has been shooting for the last two years.
Shopping? You may as well click through the Amazon banner and support the site then. Also –Twitter.
Jeremy Schmidt writes the Milwaukee Bucks blog Bucksketball.com.
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Source: NBA.com
As Carlos Delfino was cleaning out his locker he found a gift for one lucky Bucks fan. Enter to win Carlos' autographed practice shirt!Source: NBA.com
Sweepstakes open to residents of the state of Wisconsin residing within a 75 mile radius of Bradley Center.Source: Brew Hoop by Frank Madden
SI.com: Bucks reportedly denied Blazers permission to interview John Hammond (via Behind the Buck Pass)
Putting an end to speculation about Portland's interest in Bucks GM John Hammond (for now), Sam Amick reports that the Bucks recently turned down the Blazers request to interview Hammond for their vacant GM position.
While nominally it would have been a
Source: NBA.com
Anyone who has visited the Bradley Center and checked out the rafters has no doubt seen the Milwaukee Bucks’ 1971 National Basketball Association championship banner.Source: NBA.com
The NBA Playoffs continue tonight with three games. Boston, Indiana and The Lakers all take 3-1 series leads into tonight's action. Don't forget to enter your pick for the Bucks Playoff Pick 'em for your chance to win tickets to Summerfest on July 4th.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Villanova University has one of the most successful men's basketball programs in NCAA history. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament 32 times, advancing to the Final Four on four occasions, including the 1985 national championship.
Source: Bleacher Report
This past March, the Milwaukee Bucks did something they haven't done in recent years—get the better end of a trade.
Just before the trade deadline, Milwaukee general manager John Hammond sent forward Stephen Jackson and center Andrew Bogut to the Golden State Warriors.
When healthy, Andrew Bogut proved to be one of the best big men in the league; however, at this point, he seems to be held together by a dab of Elmer's glue and a couple pieces of duct tape. Despite Stephen Jackson's inconsistent effort, he was consistent in his attempt to make head coach Scott Skiles pull out what hair still remained on his shiny head.
With Bogut on the sideline and Jackson in the proverbial "doghouse," neither player was helping the Bucks.
So, Milwaukee's end of the trade looked pretty good when they received Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh in return for the two ineffective players. The trade resulted in the Bucks having one of the quicker backcourts in the entire league in Ellis and Brandon Jennings, but Milwaukee ultimately missed the playoffs with a 31-35 record.
Heading into the offseason, the Bucks face several question marks.
One of the most improved players in basketball, Ersan Ilyasova, just finished the last year of his contract with Milwaukee, and it's unknown as to if he'll return to the team in 2012.
As things currently stand, the Bucks' best two players are 6'1" Brandon Jennings and 6'3" Monta Ellis. While it's been speculated that Jennings will try to leave Milwaukee when his contract expires, he and Ellis both remain under contract through next season. Jennings has a standing qualifying offer and Ellis has a player option for the 2013-2014 season.
If the Bucks are "set" at any one position, it's point guard.
However, they could use help anywhere else.
The Bucks aren't likely to earn the top pick in the draft, they have just a .7 percent chance of doing so. However, their 2.5 percent chance at cracking the top three picks is (poor) reason for (slight) optimism.
In all likelihood, Milwaukee won't be the landing spot for highly-touted Kentucky big man Anthony Davis, but the Bucks could find themselves an immediate starter elsewhere.
Milwaukee's lack of talent across the board provides them the ability to take the best non-point guard available. Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson and Connecticut big man Andre Drummond have both been mentioned as potential top three picks, but I think one of Anthony Davis's teammates at Kentucky would be a perfect fit with Scott Skiles in Milwaukee.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is an elite athlete with a complete skill set, and what sets him apart from most swingmen in the NBA is his motor reminiscent of the Energizer bunny.
As a former point guard, Bucks head coach Scott Skiles values defense and unselfishness above any other single trait, and Kidd-Gilchrist has both. However, for the Bucks to land Kidd-Gilchrist in the draft, the ping pong balls would need to do a big favor for Milwaukee at the Lottery.
The numbers suggest Milwaukee will have to search for a difference maker somewhere around the 12th selection in the draft.
Fortunately for the Bucks, there will be several big men and a handful of guard-forwards available at that point in the draft. As far as post players, college standouts Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Tyler Zeller of North Carolina both figure to come off the board around the 12th pick. Picking in the lottery, teams would prefer for a better result than a Sean May or Tyler Hansbrough, which is exactly what I see Sullinger and Zeller as being.
One post player I like for the Bucks at this point in the draft is Baylor's Perry Jones. While he was very impressive as a freshman in 2010, he failed to build on his first year on campus during his sophomore campaign.
Standing 6'11" with an 7'2.5" wingspan, the super athletic Jones has the ability to play inside and outside on both ends of the court. If Ilyasova signs elsewhere this offseason, Jones's length could be a vital asset for Milwaukee.
As frustrating as it's been in recent years for Bucks fans, John Hammond has weeded through some poor trades and put some solid pieces in place, and Milwaukee will now has the chance to cure some if its deficiencies via the 2012 draft.
Read more Milwaukee Bucks news on BleacherReport.com
Source: JSOnline.com
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Can you imagine how exultant New York Knick fans would be right about now if their team held the three-to-one game advantage the Philadelphia 76ers enjoy over the Chicago Bulls?Source: Yahoo! Sports
MILWAUKEE (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks say forward Luc Mbah a Moute (look EHM'-bah ah MOO'-tay) has undergone successful surgery for tendinitis in his right knee.Source: NBA.com
There are two Playoff games tonight. San Antonio can sweep Utah and the Clippers take a 2-1 lead against Memphis. Don't forget to make your picks in the Bucks Playoff Pick 'em.Source: NBA.com
Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute (6-8, 230) underwent successful right knee surgery on Friday to address his patellar tendonitis, GM John Hammond announced today.Source: NBA.com
We must wait almost a full calendar year to have the possibility to watch the Bucks in the playoffs. But we are still watching in the meantime, with an occasional eye on former Bucks.Source: Brew Hoop by Steve von Horn
Life as a middling, small-market franchise in the NBA can be strange sometimes. Twenty-four-year-old forward Ersan Ilyasova put together a stunningly efficient and effective career-year during 2011-12 that would normally inspire unbridled enthusiasm and elation among the fan base, but in this case it really didn't. There is a good reason why, too. Without a superstar in sight and just two winning seasons in the past 11, the Milwaukee Bucks can't afford to make any mistakes if they hope to rise out of this rut.
That's why the timing of Ilyasova's sudden surge is a cruel joke for Bucks fans. In the
Source: Behind the Buck Pass by K L Chouinard
Photo: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE
According to Sam Amick of SI.com, there are multiple sources who have said that Larry Miller and the Portland Trail Blazers, whose general manager job has been vacant for over a year, requested permission from the Bucks to interview GM John Hammond and were denied.
Bucks general manager John Hammond, who was a finalist for the Blazers’ job in 2003 before it went to John Nash, was a Blazers candidate again this time around. But numerous front-office sources said the Bucks, who were a disappointing 31-35 this season, refused Portland permission to speak with Hammond recently. A Bucks official could not clarify whether that was the case and Miller declined to comment on the matter when reached Friday, but indications are that Hammond will remain in Milwaukee at least one more season with coach Scott Skiles (both have one season left on their contracts).
This development adds to a potential powderkeg of acrimony. The Bucks trio of GM John Hammond, head coach Scott Skiles, and star Brandon Jennings all have a single year remaining on their contracts, and each has gotten brushed off by Bucks management since the season ended. First, there were reports that Skiles wanted a buyout of the last year of his deal, but he was retained as head coach by Hammond and owner Herb Kohl. Then, Hammond de-emphasized the importance of a Brandon Jennings extension in his post-season press conference with Senator Kohl, and now Hammond has lost the chance to interview for a potentially more lucrative deal in Oregon.
Is anyone going to be happy in Milwaukee next season? (Sadly, this statement includes the fans.)
Report: Bucks Refused Blazers Permission to Speak to Hammond? - Behind the Buck Pass - Behind the Buck Pass - A Milwaukee Bucks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinions and More
Source: Behind the Buck Pass by K L Chouinard
April 13, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings (3) walks back to the locker room during second half against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE
Call it ‘Death by a Thousand Tweets’.
It started yesterday with a live-tweet from Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times as he covered the Bucks’ season-ending press conference with the owner, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, and the general manager, John Hammond. The press conference (and most of its resulting media coverage) focused on the future of the Bucks in Milwaukee and the construction and financing of a new arena, but there were also some questions on the direction of the team. Then Woelfel tweeted a key Hammond response.
Well then.
Woefel’s tweet led to a story on CBSSports.com by Matt Moore (in which he incorrectly attributed the story to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) based around the soundbite from Hammond. Another tweeter brought the quote to Jennings’ attention, and Brandon quickly responded.
Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin replied to Jennings that Brandon should find and listen to the entirety of the statement made by Hammond. And then, on the same night, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News spoke to Bill Duffy, the agent for Jennings, who said that was ‘surprised’ by what Hammond said.
In any case, here is the full quote by Hammond on a possible Jennings extension.
It’s something that we’ll look at, and we’ll explore, and it’s going to have to be kind of a little bit of a two-way street so to speak — something that is important to them and important to us and I think that is. But, you know, it’s not something that we have to do, and the one thing we don’t want to do — and we’ve talked about this the last couple of years — is not put ourselves in a position where we have to do things…if we do things where I think we’re negotiating and working out of a position of weakness. So we don’t have to do anything right now in regard to our roster. We want to be smart, we want to be wise and we want to continue to put ourselves in position where when we look at our roster, we can say that players on our roster are good players, players that we want to have here, and players that we consider to be assets and that other teams around the NBA consider to be assets. And contracts are part of that.
To hear the question and response, see the clip below (forward to the 32:00 mark for the semi-audible question, 32:28 mark for the response):
So, in reality, what we have is Hammond being forthrightly honest about his strategy for the direction of the team. He likes Jennings, but doesn’t want to burden the franchise with an unseemly contract.
Hammond would have ruffled fewer feathers with a comment about how much he wanted Brandon back — and he clearly doesn’t gush over Jennings other that to say, “It’s important to us.” But Hammond is also making preparations to do battle with Duffy, and he already has his poker face on, even at an end-of-season press conference.
Let the tango begin.
Brandon Jennings, GM John Hammond and the Milwaukee Bucks: Quotes and Ruffled-Feather Tweets on a Contract Extension - Behind the Buck Pass - Behind the Buck Pass - A Milwaukee Bucks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinions and More
Source: Brew Hoop by Steve von Horn
On Friday morning, Milwaukee Bucks owner Sen. Herb Kohl and general manager John Hammond addressed media at the team's training center in St. Francis regarding a number of compelling issues.
Topics of conversation ranged from the contract status of head coach Scott Skiles, to a potential contract extension for Brandon Jennings, to the quest for a "quality big man" to the need for a new basketball arena in the near future.
On the other side of the jump I've assembled a brief summary of the most important points, and all
Source: Behind the Buck Pass by K L Chouinard
(Photo: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE)
Ersan Ilyasova did not win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award for 2011-12.
Instead, the award went to Ryan Anderson of the Orlando Magic. Anderson received 260 of a possible 605 points, including 33 first-place votes, from a voting group of sportswriters and broadcasters. Ersan nabbed 21 first-place votes on his way to 159 points. Nikola Pekovic of the Minnesota Timberwolves finished third.
If there’s any dissatisfaction to Ilyasova not winning the award, it’s made worse by the fact that:
1) Anderson didn’t really get better; he only put up better numbers by playing more minutes.
2) They play the same position in the same way (the “stretch-4″). And Ersan is better.
Ilyasova played a unique season in the history of basketball, putting up ridiculously efficient numbers in moderate minutes. Winning the award could have upped the ante needed to keep Ersan in Milwaukee; by losing, his free-agent price tag presumably falls. As a result, the Bucks chances of retaining Ilyasova go up, however slightly it may be.
Oddly, Andrew Bogut received a first-place vote despite playing in only 12 games. Not only did he play just a fraction on the season, but when he did, he couldn’t shoot a lick either. (In his defense, he was terrific on defense. Punny, eh?) Whomever came up with Bogues for MIP should have his/her ballot revoked for 2012-13.
Mercifully, Ersan’s margin of defeat was wider than one first-place vote.
Ersan Ilyasova Snubbed for Most Improved Player - Behind the Buck Pass - Behind the Buck Pass - A Milwaukee Bucks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinions and More
Source: JSOnline.com
Source: JSOnline.com
Bucks owner Herb Kohl confirmed at a news conference Friday that general manager John Hammond will not work with a contract extension during the coming season.Source: Brew Hoop by Steve von Horn
On Friday morning, Milwaukee Bucks owner Sen. Herb Kohl and general manager John Hammond addressed media at the team's training center in St. Francis regarding a number of compelling issues. Topics of conversation ranged from the contract status of head coach Scott Skiles, to a potential contract extension for Brandon Jennings, to the quest for a "quality big man" to the need for a new basketball arena in the near future.
On the other side of the jump I've assembled a brief summary of the most important points, and all the most
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