Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeff Engelhardt

Milwaukee Dials Scott Skiles: New Coach Brings New Hope

Jeff Engelhardt — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:07:22 -0400

When watching a Milwaukee Bucks game, fans can expect to see certain things every game.

1. Offensive talent from every position on the floor

2. Horrible defense

3. Lack of team chemistry/non-existent assisting

While the first point is a nice thing to have, the other two were problems that led to a 26 win season. Another dismal year for the Bucks prompted major changes in the front office, leading to the hiring of Detroit Piston's John Hammond.

Hammond didn't take long to make his presence felt as he gave head coach Larry Krystkowiak the boot. He also didn't take long to find a replacement, which brings me to the point of this article.

Hammond made the best first move any Bucks fan could want when he hired Scott Skiles.

The Bucks have been in desperate need of a coach that will bring intensity and defense and Skiles provides both. The former Milwaukee Buck has an impressive head coaching resume that includes 532 career wins and has made five playoff appearances in eight seasons.

Skeptical Milwaukee fans should look no further than the 2006-07 season he had with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were a drastically undersized team with no superstar to be found yet they finished 49-33 and finished third in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls were one of the top defensive teams in the league and found a way to overachieve.

The Bucks have pieces of the puzzle in place. Charlie Villanueva might be ready to finally mature into a reliable threat every night, Ramon Sessions can seriously dish out assists and the future is bright with Andrew Bogut and Yi Jianlian.

Mo Williams, Charlie Bell and most importantly Michael Redd, will have to check their egos at the door and learn to dish the ball while playing hard-nose defense for a full 48 minutes every night.

Everyone has a weakness and Skiles is stubbornness.

While his stubbornness leads to a much more disciplined style of basketball, it seems to eventually wear teams down. Skiles has never been able to get a team over that last hump, but there could be reason to believe that will change.

Skiles has always had a soft spot for the Bucks and he has enough head coaching experience now to learn from past mistakes. This last season with the Bulls should show him that the relationship with players has to be give and take, if he realizes that, Skiles could find a permanent home on the Bucks' bench.

There is no doubt the Bucks will be better defensively and play better team basketball next season. The wild card now will be what roster moves they make, the coaching staff Skiles brings in and what they do in the draft.

The Skiles era looks promising and in my next article I will break down what I expect the initial relationship to be between each player and Skiles when he first takes the helm.

Boxing: April and May Bring Several Noteworthy Fights

Jeff Engelhardt — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:17:30 -0400

College basketball just concluded its biggest event of the season and most sports fans are suffering a letdown. Baseball is only a few weeks in and NBA is still a week or two away from the playoffs, leaving fans with a void that needs to be filled.

So for all you fans looking for a fix, let me suggest the tremendous boxing that will be available without PPV. There are three great Saturdays in a row with some of the world's best boxers on HBO and Showtime.

Here is what to look for:

Saturday April 12 (HBO)

Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) vs. Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KOs). Welterweights

Kermit Cintron (29-1, 27 KOs) vs. Antonio Margarito (35-5, 25 KOs). Welterweights

Saturday April 12 (Showtime)

Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs) vs. Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs). Light heavyweights

Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) vs. Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs). Light heavyweights

Saturday April 19 (HBO)

Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) vs. Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs). Light heavyweights

Saturday May 3 (HBO)

Oscar De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) vs. Steve Forbes (33-5, 9 KOs). Junior middleweights

That schedule is great for any boxing fan and I can promise some of those will be great fights.

*Expect Cotto to KO Gomez in the fifth round. Gomez is like a modern-day Rocky. He is charismatic and he has a lot of heart, but Cotto is one of the fastest, strongest boxers in the world today.

*Cintron via 10th-round stoppage.

I know Margarito dominated him the first time around, but Cintron is starting to reach his full potential. Cintron is much smarter and has learned to use his power while defending and boxing at the same time.

*Dawson via decision.

Should be a good old-school type of boxing match. The first six rounds should be good boxing and the next six should be a slugfest. I think Dawson has more in his tank at this point in their careers though.

*Tarver via eighth-round KO.

Woods is a good fighter but Tarver is a different type of boxer. Tarver has fought uninspired before, but I think he will be motivated and when he is, not many people can beat him. Woods will be overwhelmed.

*Calzaghe via decision.

They both have KO power but they both have strong chins as well. I think this will be like a boxing movie with both guys getting rattled, but never down for the 10. Calzaghe should be conditioned enough to outlast "X.”

*De La Hoya via sixth round KO.

I don't know if the Golden Boy has that golden left hand anymore, but he should be able to put Forbes down without many problems. This is a tune-up for an eventual rematch with Mayweather.

I hope everyone takes advantage of a great month of boxing and enjoys the sweet science.

Kevin Dillard: A Southern Illinois Saluki's Sweetest Dream

Jeff Engelhardt — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:27:12 -0400

I wrote the following article for my college newspaper. I decided to repost it here since I felt it was a pretty big deal a mid-major like SIU landed the best high school basketball player in Illinois.

The Salukis may not have won the big one on the court this season but they were the victors off of it.

SIU is expected to welcome Kevin Dillard, who won Mr. Basketball of Illinois this month, to the team next season. Mr. Basketball is awarded to the best high school player in the state and is decided by a vote from coaches and media.

The Homewood-Flossmoor point guard is in elite company, joining past winners such as NBA players Kevin Garnett, Eddy Curry and Julian Wright and current Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. Most winners have advanced to the NBA since the award's debut in 1981.

Dillard said he wasn't sure if he would win the award but he believed in himself and was honored when he heard he received it.

"I wasn't really expecting to win it but I thought I had a chance," Dillard said. "Based on what my team's record was and what I was able to do I thought I was a candidate for that award."

Dillard is accustomed to proving the critics wrong because he battles bigger players every game. Though he stands at 6-feet and weighs in around 170 pounds, that does not stop him from dominating his opponents.

The soon-to-be Saluki led Homewood-Flossmoor to a 27-2 season while averaging 23.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He also seems to have some "Floorburn U" in his game as he averaged 5.1 steals per game.

Dillard's father, Kevin Dillard Sr., said his son's work ethic doesn't allow him to fail.

"It all started in the summer when he had a fantastic season on the AAU circuit," the elder Dillard said. "He would go to individual workouts any time the gym was open and when the school season started he would stay an hour, hour and a half after workouts to work on drills."

Big universities started taking notice of Dillard during his time on the AAU circuit where he proved he could shine alongside top high school players such as Mike Dunigan, Josh Crittle and Matthew Humphrey.

Unfortunately for schools like Georgetown and Kentucky, which tried to get him late in his high school career, SIU and Chris Lowery already had him on the radar his sophomore season.

The elder Dillard said it was SIU's genuine interest and belief in his son's abilities that attracted both of them to the school.

"It's kind of like going out with a girl. If she doesn't want to go out with you she will be the worst date in the world," the elder Dillard said. "If you're going to be with someone for four years, you want to make sure they're going to want to be with you."

Dillard did not only overcome obstacles on the court but he persevered off it as well. His mother died when he was a one-year-old, which he said resulted in a close friendship with his father that continues today.

Before a game against Rockford Boylan, Dillard had to deal with another loss at the funeral of his grandmother. Dillard used his sorrow as motivation and had one of the best games of his career as he scored 36 points.

Dillard said the adversity off the court has helped him develop into the player and the person he is today.

"I'm a stronger person because of what I have been through," Dillard said. "Everything that has happened in my past, I just dedicate everything I do to that."

Dillard will join Torres Roundtree and Anthony Booker in one of the most highly regarded recruiting classes at SIU. Dillard said he is also trying to convince another Chicago top-prospect Ryan Hare to join the team. Dillard said Hare is expected to make his decision public Saturday.

The title of Mr. Basketball can carry a heavy burden, but Dillard said he is ready to prove his critics wrong again at the collegiate level.

"Now people are doubting me at the collegiate level again," Dillard said. "So I am just going to keep working hard and prove them all wrong again."

Milwaukee Mix-n-Match: Lineup Fixes for the Bucks

Jeff Engelhardt — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:17:31 -0500

Most upper-tier NBA teams can send out the same five guys every night and know they will have results. The bench is there to pick up the one guy who might be having an off-night, or contribute in a specific area of the game like defense, size, or 3-point shooting.

For the Milwaukee Bucks, they do not have that luxury.

The Bucks are not built to win an Eastern Conference Championship, but they have enough weapons in their lineup to be a top-8 team in a mediocre conference. Instead of going the traditional way of a consistent starting five with a set depth chart on the bench, they need to think outside of the box.

Milwaukee has shooters, they have size and agility - and with those three things they can set a variety of starting fives that would match-up better with different squads instead of just having one default starting squad. Here are some lineups I think Milwaukee could try out, after losing four out of five, they might as well try to shake things up.

Shooting Squad --- PG Mo Williams, SG Michael Redd, SF Bobby Simmons, PF Charlie Villanueva, C Andrew Bogut

This is Milwaukee's best chance to stay with a high-powered Western Conference style team. When playing a team like the Phoenix Suns, the only chance to pull out a victory is to outscore them, especially with a weak defensive team like the Bucks.

Williams is one of the better shooting PG's in the NBA. Michael Redd is obviously a shooter and has size for a shooting guard. Bobby Simmons is a great athlete with average basketball ability, and can spread a defense out with his ability to take it to the rim. Charlie V. is very soft for a PF, but has great ball skills for a big guy with a good stroke from the outside. Andrew Bogut is easily the most efficient offensive player on the team and there are very few centers who can stop him when he goes to his left hand.

Who to use it against: Phoenix Suns, LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets

Speed Squad --- PG Mo Williams, SG Charlie Bell, SF Michael Redd, PF Bobby Simmons, C Yi Jianlian

Sometimes you just have to throw out all common sense and try to outrun a team. This lineup seems odd even to me, but if all else fails and you have to do your best to beat your opponents down the floor, this is your best bet.

Williams can hit the transition jumper, Bell is always capable of jumping into a passing lane and starting a fast break. Redd can hurt you in so many ways that you need him out there. Simmons is a pure athlete and can get down the court for the fast-break dunk. Jianlian can take defenders off the dribble and is quicker than Bogut.

Who to use it against: Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets, Seattle Sonics

Half-Court Squad --- PG Royal Ivey, SG Mo Williams, SF Bobby Simmons, PF Yi Jianlian, C Andrew Bogut

This is for your Eastern Conference style of play with a methodical half court set. Ivey is tremendous at understanding his role and playing unselfishly.

Williams can hit from anywhere at anytime and is more willing to make the extra pass compared to Michael Redd. Simmons will never be a threat with his jump-shot, but like I said earlier, he will create open shots for teammates, especially in man-to-man defense. Jianlian is versatile and very coachable, he is willing to play within an offense. Bogut is the finisher, he is the perfect guy to feed the ball down low to in a half-court set.

Who to use it against: Almost all Eastern Conference, especially Chicago Bulls

Defensive Squad --- PG Royal Ivey, SG Charlie Bell, SF Michael Ruffin, PF Yi Jianlian, C Andrew Bogut

I saved this set for last, because lets be honest, the Bucks are horrible defensively.

Ivey is easily the best defensive player on the team and puts tremendous pressure on the ball at all times. Bell is smart enough to position himself on defense, and Redd and Williams are defensive nightmares. Ruffin is great at crashing boards and banging bodies, but he would only get limited minutes because his offense is very lackluster. Jianlian once again is very coachable and always tries to slide over on help side. He has to understand footwork in the NBA better and he will improve. Bogut is the most intense player on the team and never gives up on a play, always good for plenty of boards and a few blocks.

Who to use against: Pistons, Jazz, Bobcats, Knicks

These are some of my ideas to get the most out of a team that has playoff potential. As a longtime Bucks fan, I am used to seasons like the current one, but I would like to see little changes to try and make improvements. Hopefully, I will be able to write a blog about a Bucks playoff series this year, but unless they do decide to try new sets, I have a feeling it will be another lottery pick for Milwaukee.

Siyar Bahadurzada: The Diamond in the Rough

Jeff Engelhardt — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:48:47 -0500

There are fighters who learn to survive on the street and take their killer instinct into the ring or the octagon.

There are fighters who spend countless hours in the gym training and honing their skills until they have mastered the necessary skills to become a champion in the difficult realm of mixed-martial arts.

Then there is Siyar Bahadurzada.

Bahadurzada is still a relatively unknown fighter, even amongst the most dedicated mixed-martial arts fans. But from the moment he enters the arena, he becomes larger than life. He is one of the few fighters who have the "X factor" to be an instant star and the skills to defeat any opponent.

Bahadurzada is a native of Afghanistan where he learned to survive conditions most fighters off the streets couldn't imagine. Bahadurzada said himself that the danger of MMA is what attracts him and without danger in his life, he would not be able to survive. A statement like that is testament to the type of man he is and the experiences he has been through in his life.

Bahadurzada moved to the Netherlands in 1999 where he still lives today. Siyar began to train under Martijn de Jong at the Tatsujin dojo. De Jong is well-respected in the Dutch community as an MMA authority and quickly took Bahadurzada as his top student. Bahadurzada also trains at Team Golden Glory with world-class fighters such as Semmy Schilt, Alistair Overeem and Sergei Kharitonov.

Bahadurzada's top training instruction has led him to a stellar career so far. He has fought his way to a 13-1-1 record and is the current Shooto Light Heavyweight Champion (185 lbs). Shooto has a tremendous track record of producing some of the best fighters in the world including Takanori Gomi, Anderson Silva, Shinya Aoki, "Mach" Sakurai, Caol Uno and Jake Shields.

More impressive is the way Bahadurzada fights. His high-energy style can be compared to Forrest Griffin, but he has the control and confidence of an Anderson Silva. Out of the 13 victories, 10 were due to stoppage. Six wins came via submission while the other four were from TKO stoppage.

It's in his hands where the danger lies. There are hardly comparisons in boxing abilities between mixed-martial artists and pro boxers, but Bahadurzada has counter-punching abilities that can be considered world-class on an MMA stage. There seems to be an internal clock that goes off in him while engaged in the stand up as he releases his hands as his opponent feints or steps back.

His clinch is powerful and his ju-jitsu is slick and fluent. While he does not possess traditional judo techniques, he has shown efficiency in being able to quickly throw his opponent of their feet.

Every fighter has a weakness however, and he is no exception. Bahadurzada is best on his feet when he is on the defensive and counter-punching, but when he initiates he tends to throw wide and keep his hands low. He has yet to be caught and put to sleep, but the possibility is there.

I have no doubt that Bahadurzada would be the most important acquisition the UFC could make. Above Fedor, Barnett, Lindland, and the other big names on the market. This man is easily one of the most dangerous middleweights on the planet and could be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world if given the opportunity to prove himself against top competition.

It's too early to say he would be a threat to the greatest fighter in the world, Anderson Silva, but I am confident within two years in the UFC he would have a better chance than any other fighter to get to that level.

His skill has to be seen to believe. There is something clearly special about this man in his fighting and beyond that. He is one of the select few that were put on the earth to do one specific thing and that is to fight. When he throws punches and kicks, or transitions into submissions, it seems as easy as walking. There is no fear of losing or injury in his approach and he fights by one simple motto.

Preparation, Dedication, Victory...In that order.

This is my first blog on this site and I hope you all enjoyed it. I highly suggest watching clips of his fights on Youtube and if you can order Shooto DVD's because he is worth the time and money.