Milwaukee Bucks: Is Tough Early Season Schedule Too Much?

Troy Sparks — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:26:37 -0500

Too bad, so sad for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Michael Redd still isn't ready to play. Richard Jefferson is holding down the fort as best as he can. They're not grasping the concept of defense yet.

And the Bucks have to play on back-to-back nights at least eight times before year's end.

But there's an upside to this fiasco. Tomorrow, they host the San Antonio Spurs.

Now is the time to kick the Spurs while they're down. They have only won one game. Tony Parker, after scoring 55 points last week, is down for a while. And so is Manu Ginobili. But there's still Tim Duncan and Michael Finley.

I can understand why center Andrew Bogut accepted being benched in Boston, and didn't not playing much in that game. Charlie Villanueva was benched too. Coach Scott Skiles will play whoever knows how to play defense at the NBA level.

If Moses Malone was on the current Buck team, he would've slapped Bogut upside the head for a lack of effort. Sidney Moncrief would've been in Charlie V's grill. Bring back Alvin Robertson, who was on the All-NBA defensive team.

Let's see how the Bucks do this week, starting in Cleveland tonight. And we'll say that the Bucks will lose to the Spurs and the Boston Celtics this Saturday at home.

So who's better at guard, Luke Ridnour or Ramon Sessions? I think Ridnour should continue as a starter and Sessions can come off the bench. In recent games, both have been on the floor together.

Package Redd and Dan Gadzuric and ship them off in a trade. Danny G wore out his welcome, and Redd won't accept being a second fiddle to Jefferson.

If I'm the Bucks, I take my lumps now and rebuild in two years.

Will Richard Jefferson Be a Team Player with the Bucks?

Troy Sparks — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:43:42 -0500

Richard Jefferson thought he was going to stay with one team his whole career. He was wrong.

Jefferson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks from the New Jersey Nets over the summer. The Bucks needed a scorer and got one with all-star caliber.

It seemed that Jefferson was reluctant to come to Milwaukee, but after getting over his frustration he approached the upcoming season like a true professional. Maybe Jefferson realized that it's part of the business, changing locations.

So the question is: Will Jefferson work with Michael Redd?

Jefferson is a small forward who can go to the hoop or shoot the outside jumper. Plus, he has playoff experience because his Nets went to the NBA Finals.

On top of that, Jefferson is a team player. Some of the young Buck players should seek him out for advice on how to be a true professional on and off the court. Jefferson's name won't come up in police records. Both his parents are ministers.

I think Jefferson will play out his contract with the Bucks and hook up with a playoff contender team. Bucks fans should enjoy a player who will score and defend as long as they can.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Troy Sparks

Milwaukee Bucks: Is Tough Early Season Schedule Too Much?

Will Richard Jefferson Be a Team Player with the Bucks?