Milwaukee Breakdown: Bogus Bucks

The only reason the Milwaukee Bucks have a shot of reaching the postseason is because they play in the seeing-is-believing Eastern Conference, where if you can see the final two playoff spots—and the pitiful play of the teams fighting for them—then you too believe that you can sneak into the NBA’s second season.

That’s why Milwaukee’s 99-98 home loss to the Knicks Saturday is so devastating. Home losses are always rough, especially when you blow a 17-point second half lead to one of the NBA’s worst.

Still, with some inspired play and good breaks, Milwaukee can end up as fodder for a Boston Celtics first-round sweep. Let’s see how their roster adds up...

Michael Redd (8-17 FG, 3-6 3FG, 2-4 FT, 3 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 2 TO, 21 PTS), who missed the previous six games with a knee strain, was noticeably rusty early, missing a wide-open three, blowing a layup, missing a catch-and-shoot jumper, and having another catch and shoot squirt out of his hands.

In the fourth quarter Redd finally warmed up, hitting four jumpers in less than three minutes to keep the Knicks from running away with the game.

Redd made several awful passes, had a point blank layup stuffed by Fred Jones, and took way too many quick shots. He was out of control on his right hand dribbles and took several bad shots, including a turnaround step-back three pointer midway through the fourth.

Redd’s gift of shooting is also his curse. He does have the quickest release in the game, but tends to be selfish, dissolving any chances of a team-wide harmonious offense because of his lust to shoot. If his jumper keeps ringing true, there are enough three-point bullets in his cock-and-fire lefty release for Milwaukee to shoot down Chicago, New Jersey, Indiana, et all.

Speaking of a player never seeing a shot he didn’t like, Charlie Villanueva (10-22 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-2 FT, 13 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 TO, 2 BLK, 21 PTS) gave himself the green light from the get go. Pull-up jumpers, left-to-right spinning floaters with his right hand, right hooks—Villanueva abused the slower Knicks front court that defended him.

However, Villanueva was a non-factor when the Knicks put in Malik Rose, David Lee, and Renaldo Balkman down the stretch. Villanueva’s athleticism alone wasn’t good enough to generate shots. His only attempt of the quarter was an ugly step-back jumper with 53 seconds left.

What does it say about a player when he attempts 21 shots during the first three quarters but can only manage an ugly step back jumper in the fourth? Who shoots 22 field goals but only manages two assists and gets to the line once? Who abuses the slow stiffs of the world but can’t sniff the basket against energetic defenders?

I say Villanueva is too soft and too one-dimensional to be a reliable player.

Plus, except for an instance where he anticipated a Randolph spin out of the post and drew a charge, Villanueva’s defense was non-existent, and his rebounds were the result of his athleticism more than his technique, as David Lee, Eddy Curry, and Zach Randolph each took turns pushing him around on the offensive glass.

Desmond Mason (4-7 FG, 7-9 FT, 7 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 1 TO, 15 PTS) excelled on the break, drove strong to the basket, controlled the defensive boards nicely, and played strong defense on Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Fred Jones, and Renaldo Balkman.

With Mo Williams out, Royal Ivey got the start and pressured the Knick point guards from start to finish. Ivey didn’t notch a steal, but he did lead a Milwaukee press late in the third quarter that led to a David Lee turnover and a jump ball after Ivey tied up Jamal Crawford. His offense was non-existent (2-9 FG, 6 PTS), but his offense is gravy anyway.

Bobby Simmons’ (1-5 FG, 5 PTS) confidence is shot.

Michael Ruffin boxed out, rotated, and showed nice awareness coming from the weak side to block a David Lee layup.

Charlie Bell (7-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 3-3 FT, 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 TO, 17 PTS) showed superb handles, got to the lane at will, and finished on the break. He showed great awareness on his drives and played great on-ball defense. In fact, with the Knicks up three and Jamal Crawford attempting to drive past Bell right, Bell stuck his hands out, stripped the ball, and took it coast-to-coast to cut the lead to one. Bell needs to get more minutes.

Yi Jianlian hit a nice one-dribble left pull up jumper and in the post, drove right on David Lee, and spun nicely to his left to earn a foul. Yi’s form on his jumper appears flawless, as does his willingness to box out.

What Yi can’t do his hold his screens or hold position when boxing out because he is far too weak. Yi also couldn’t finish a layup because David Lee muscled him and blocked his shot.

Still, his willingness to box out combined with his length and athleticism allowed him to tower up for five rebounds.

Yi’s defense is still poor, again because of his strength, and also because of his technique. To compensate for a lack of foot speed, Yi turned himself sideways anticipating a Jamal Crawford drive. When Jamal stepped back, Yi was too busy scooting around to close out effectively on Crawford’s jumper.

Yi was also caught in no-man’s land in help situations, neither guarding his man nor stepping up to defend the penetration. Plus his hands were relatively clumsy as he bobbled a number of rebounds and passes.

Still, Yi’s awareness on defense will improve with time, as will his offensive repertoire. If he works out in the weight room diligently in the offseason, Yi can become a ferocious rebounder and shot-blocker.

His handle, his hands, and his on-ball defense have a ways to go, but considering how big of a mystery he was entering the draft, the Bucks certainly didn’t strike out by drafting him. Yi’s upside is enormous.

Even with such a motley and mismatched roster, the Bucks collection of players mentioned above would easily earn a playoff spot if matched with a legit superstar No. 1 draft pick—LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, even Joe Smith.

But instead, the Bucks’ resident No. 1 draft pick is Andrew Bogut.

While it’s true Bogut has an accurate right hook, is an above-average passer for someone his size, and has evolved into a useful shot blocker when catching an opponent from his blind side, Bogut has nowhere near the talent nor the athleticism to be a franchise builder.

Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph pushed him around all game long putting him in early foul trouble. Bogut’s only way to attack back were several right hooks. Anytime his right was overplayed and Bogut came back to his left, he bricked the ensuing shot.

Bogut only gathered in six rebounds (three defensive) in his 26 minutes of action. Compare that with Zach Randolph who, in comparable playing time, grabbed four more rebounds, Or even Yi who, in half the time, grabbed only one less rebound.

No. 1 draft picks are supposed to have more than one offensive move, be more than adequate passers or shot blockers, and better than below average rebounders.

Teams that blow No. 1 picks are doomed to suffer. No wonder the Bucks are hopelessly under .500 even in the woeful East.