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Bucks Stumble In Final Preseason Game
Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon Jennings, center, loses his balance as he faces the defense of the Detroit Pistons during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks closed out their preseason schedule with a 95-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons, but with the season opener now less than one week away, the team still has a few issues to address.
Coach Scott Skiles has been juggling his starting rotation throughout the eight-game preseason, and tried another new look against Detroit with Hakim Warrick and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute starting at the forward positions. It was the first time that Skiles has tried that combination.
Mbah a Moute started the first two preseason games alongside Ersan Ilyasova at the forward spots, but since that time it has been Kurt Thomas and Carlos Delfino. Warrick’s only other start was in Chicago on the second of a back-to-back in which Andrew Bogut was given the night off for rest.
Brandon Jennings started at point guard for the third consecutive game.
With the new lineup in place, the Bucks got out to a slow start. Milwaukee connected on only two of their first 10 shots, and Warrick and Jennings each turned the ball over twice in the opening five minutes of the game. Ridnour quickly replaced Jennings, but didn’t fare much better on this night.
“This was not a great night for Brandon,” Skiles said. “He looked like a rookie out there. But that’s why you play these games, so he can get a further understanding of what it takes to excel at this level.”
Jennings finished with six points on 2-of-9 shooting with six assists and three turnovers in almost 27 minutes on the court. Ridnour only played 13 minutes and had six points, one assist, and three turnovers.
As for the decision of who will start at point guard opening night on Friday in Philadelphia, Skiles said, “it’s not an easy decision, that’s for sure.”
With Delfino suspended one regular season game by the National Basketball Association after getting into it with Pistons rookie Austin Daye when the two teams met a few weeks ago, Skiles indicated before the game that because of the suspension, Mbah a Moute would be starting opening night.
The other starting forward position, however, has yet to be determined, with Warrick, Ilyasova, and Thomas all getting starts during the preseason.
“I think it takes away something from Hak (Warrick’s) game (when he starts),” Skiles said. “His niche in the league has been to come in off the bench and score on second unit guys. That’s been what he’s done well. There’s no secret, that’s what you’re always trying to do as a coach is put guys in situations where they can have the best success, and that’s what he’s done the best.”
Warrick scored eight points, but it was his rebounds that had Skiles concerned, saying “generally you need more than one defensive rebound out of your power forward in 26 minutes of action.”
Ilyasova had a preseason-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds. Thomas did not score, but had three rebounds.
Bogut played nearly 32 minutes, a preseason-high, and finished one rebound shy of another double-double, scoring 10 points with nine rebounds. But the most important aspect heading into the regular season for Bogut is his health after a back injury caused him to miss most of the final three months of last season.
“He’s been waking up every morning feeling good,” Skiles said. “He’s had no effects of anything, and if it happens again tomorrow then I’ll really have a clear head about it.”
Michael Redd also played the most minutes he has all preseason after battling back from two torn ligaments in his knee that he suffered in January. He had a game-high 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting in 37 minutes.
“In the first half he (Redd) had a hard time with his jumper early on,” Skiles said. “But then he started going to the hole like he can. He was going in there strong and finishing, so those are good signs for us to have both those guys healthy.”
