Milwaukee Bucks Thread 2009–2010 (part 1)

[nate82]

Good point. Garnett is one of the most unique players of all-time. He's 7 foot, but he can't weigh more than 235. Probably has a huge part in why he's stayed on the court so long.

 

Maybe Bogut should follow suit and get his playing weight similar to his Utah days, which was about 240. He's transforming into a face-up offensive player anyways.

I was going to say look at Yao for size and weight but they have Yao listed at 310 lbs. Which I find hard to believe. Centers in the NBA are like Catchers and Running Backs in the NFL and MLB. They are the players who usually get injured more often than not. Shaq has also said that he takes some games off where he won't play as much or as hard to rest his body. I believe he stated this when he was with the Heat not 100% sure on that though. But when you look at Shaq's career you will notice that he does have some games where it looks as though he was taking a night off. Which to me is a smart idea for a player that big and what they are doing under the basket. It is rare to expect to have a center play every single game of the year. Howard maybe the next exception to this but I believe even Howard has been hit with an injury.

[BrewCrewForever]

I'm going to the game tonight, hope they can make do without Bogut and Redd. Need Delfino and Warrick to step up. And Gadzuric for that matter.

[sveumrules]

with bogut's injury it makes me scratch my head even more about joe alexander over brook lopez. i don't think lopez is an all star by any means but he is at least serviceable and you can never have enough quality bigs.

[fondybrewfan]

It seemed to me that Jennings really wasn't on his A game tonight (Except for the 1st quarter) and he still put up awesome line of 29/7/4.

 

Delfino looked like he was not interestes in passing the entire night, not sure what was up with that.

 

Ersan is so much better than he was 2 years ago, he looks like a completely different player. If he can keep this up maybe the Bucks can be a legitimate 4-6 seed in the playoffs.

 

They have another winnable game tommorrow

[yoshii8]

Jennings was on fire in the first quarter, and then Skiles kept him out until 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, didn't really make sense to me. Great win tonight, they are definitely more deep than last season.

[statman0007]

Brandon Jennings may well end up being the man that saves the NBA in Milwaukee. If the team had another lackluster year like the last few had been the team would have been in major trouble. Between the economy, Kohl thinking about selling, and the terrible Bradley Center, I'm betting there would have been talk of the Bucks leaving Milwaukee.

[dadofandrew]

The NBA is not viable in the Bradley Center, or at best, it soon will not be. Jennings or no, the city will have to get a new arena, as Tommy Thompson and Bud Selig are nowhere to be found to save the Bucks.

[danzig6767]

Brandon Jennings may well end up being the man that saves the NBA in Milwaukee. If the team had another lackluster year like the last few had been the team would have been in major trouble. Between the economy, Kohl thinking about selling, and the terrible Bradley Center, I'm betting there would have been talk of the Bucks leaving Milwaukee.

I agree and that's not overstating things. Between his immense talent and great personality, he has helped generate a buzz about Bucks basketball that hasn't been around since we made the ECF under Karl. Look at tonights game, the kid put up 29/7/4 and it didn't seem like an abnormally good game for him. Think about that for a 20 year old rookie. He's special, good but not special talents simply can't do what he's done through his first 10 games of a rookie season. Plus, he's doing this after spending most of last year watching games on the bench in Europe.

 

If Brandon had the look just at me attitude that many proclaimed before the draft, the city might not embrace him closely even if he performed great like he has. He is nothing like proclaimed though, Jennings seems like a grounded kid who wants to be great, but share credit with his teammates and badly wants to win. If the front office over the next few years can put a really good team around Jennings, that kid is going to own this city like no athlete has here in Milwaukee for quite a long time.

[danzig6767]

The NBA is not viable in the Bradley Center, or at best, it soon will not be. Jennings or no, the city will have to get a new arena, as Tommy Thompson and Bud Selig are nowhere to be found to save the Bucks.

It is true that at some point, a new arena will have to be built for the Bucks to stay here long term. That said, there are other cities in the NBA with very poor fan bases and/or need a new arena. Memphis has major problems drawing fans and interest. Sacramento badly needs a new arena also and has major problems drawing fans. Charlotte is another city with a terrible fan base. Milwaukee needs a new building. The problem for the NBA though is even if some of these teams wanted to move, there aren't exactly a line of viable cities with an arena that want an NBA team. MLB has/had some of the same problems when trying to blackmail cities into funding new stadiums. At some point, a time gets reached when there are more current teams sticking a gun to the head of taxpayers than there are viable cities wanting a pro sports teams that also will provide a free stadium.

[nate82]

The problem for the NBA though is even if some of these teams wanted to move, there aren't exactly a line of viable cities with an arena that want an NBA team. MLB has/had some of the same problems when trying to blackmail cities into funding new stadiums. At some point, a time gets reached when there are more current teams sticking a gun to the head of taxpayers than there are viable cities wanting a pro sports teams that also will provide a free stadium.

Vegas is probably the most likely destination for a team atm for the NBA. Other than that I don't see any other city that will be able to take an NBA team.

[dadofandrew]

Danzig is correct, the downturn will likely give the Bucks a few more years to convince the city/county they need a 21st century arena. That said, Vegas and Kansas City (arena complete, needs a tenant, almost had the Penguins) are viable options, and more will pop up.

[RockCoCougars]

After the thugfest that was the All Star game in Vegas a few years back, I really doubt that the NBA will put a franchise there. I would also think that the Donaghy gambling thing would also cause them to shy away. To me, there just aren't many places that make sense to relocate a team. Kansas City isn't exactly a huge market and has had and lost the NBA already. Louisville would make some sense to me since they are basketball crazy there, but it's a small market with a strong possibility that the NBA would play second fiddle to UL and UK.

 

If Jennings keeps this up, I have a feeling that things will take care of themselves for keeping the Bucks here.

[danzig6767]

I really wonder though if Stern will ever actually locate a team in Vegas. My gut feeling is he won't, but he won't come out and say that so he can have it lingering as a threat for teams needing a new building. The big problem for owners and pro leagues is obviously the economy. They lucked out by getting the stadium/arena building crazy done when the country, states, and cities were all pretty much doing well financially in the mid to late 90's. Now though, states and cities are broke all over the place, there is almost no chance to justify spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a facility for a sports team when at the same time services are being cut all over the place. That's a good thing IMO, i just wish years ago that more cities said no to the leagues and dared them to move as threatened. No chance at all that the leagues could have come close to finding new homes for all the teams they were threatening. Plus, in some cases, they'd be moving teams from larger markets to smaller ones.

 

As for the Bradley Center and a new building, the only hope i can envision is if somehow it's funded by Potawatomi in return for a downtown casino. A tax for a new arena just will never pass here that i can see.

[bullox]

After the thugfest that was the All Star game in Vegas a few years back, I really doubt that the NBA will put a franchise there.

Let's remember who the big problem was who made all the noise - Pacman Jones, an NFL player. What happened at the All Star game could have happened during a boxing or MMA fight, or any old weekend as Javon Walker might tell you.

 

It had nothing to do specifically with the NBA. It's people not being able to take responsibility for their own character.

 

UNLV has done quite well in this city. I would love to see an NBA team come here. I was almost hoping for the Bucks to move here, but I am just as happy (actually moreso) that they have a new spark in Jennings who could really start to bring crowds back to the BC.

 

Edit: as far as gambling concerns, these have not stopped Boxing matches and MMA fights from coming here on a regular basis. This city is actually one of the safest in defending against that sort of thing, based on the nature of the city. There is more of a focus on preventing fixed sporting events here than anywhere else in the country.

[nate82]

It is time though for a new arena not just for the Bucks but for the Admirals and concerts. The last time I went to a concert at the Bradley Center I was uninspired. The seating is just not that great for a concert setting at all. Unless the performer is directly in the center of the arena it is just a horrible experience. They are definitely going to have to either remodel the Bradley Center rather soon.

 

I believe I read somewhere or watched something where the Bradley Center is starting to show its age and is in dire need to be updated. I have always hated watching basketball games at the Bradley Center it just never feels like a basketball arena feels more like a ice hockey arena than anything else to be honest. I wouldn't mind Potawatomi funding the arena to get a downtown casino it would probably be a better idea than building a new one based on tax payer dollars. Once the Brewers got Miller Park I knew there was just no way that the Bradley Center would be remodeled or a new arena would be built.

[Invader3K]

The idea on approaching the Potawatomi to build the new arena is an interesting one. I'm not sure if they would go for it, but if you let them build a new casino and have the naming rights to the new arena, you would think it would be something to consider.

[davego]

Very interesting idea to have the casino build an arena. If they can have gambling on or near the site, it could be a windfall.

[Invader3K]

Have any local politicians or others actually put forth this idea, or is it just something discussed here?

[NeedMoreFans]

There have been numerous proposals regarding the BC. I have heard that a new arena would be built to the north of the BC, and then Potawatomi would take over the BC and convert it to a casino. I have also heard (but discussions died a couple of years ago) that the BC would merge with the Wisconsin Center District, which would give more flexibility in remodeling. But the WCD was hit hard before the economy tanked, so that won't happen.

 

I know they are looking for a private donor to fund a new arena. I'm not overly surprised the Senator hasn't come forth for a new arena...he forked out a bit for the Kohl Center and wants to sell the team.

 

Regarding the comment about it having the feel of a hockey arena and not a basketball arena... If I remember correctly, the Petits built the building with the intention of securing an NHL team. I think they were hoping a team would move to Milwaukee. In the late '80s, teams weren't moving around like they did in the mid-90s, so the only way he was going to get one would be through expansion (which the NHL did in '93), but the franchise fee was too high. I remember at the time, the Admirals were out-drawing a lot of NHL teams, so a team made sense at the time.

[dadofandrew]

The BC was built to be a hockey arena first and foremost.

 

I believe I have heard of the casino idea before, but if so, I'd forgotten about it. If that's what it takes, get it done. No way the city is going to fund it...they complained about infrastructure when the Petits built the BC for free.

[davego]

I know Memphis is not real good, but if they can pull this one out tonight it will be a pretty solid start to the road trip.

[statman0007]

Ho hum, another game, another 26 points for Jennings

[bbrauch2000]

The Bucks had absolutely no right winning this game tonite. Delfino was missing in action and we got destroyed down low. This was just an extremely well coached game. With two of our best scorers out, Skiles ran the offense to get shots for Bell in the highest percentage situations he could. Ridnour was great. Kurt Thomas was as good as we can hope for. Jennings is incredible.

 

I'm on cloud nine right now

[bobbledude25]

How good has Ersan been? I love that dude...looking like Jason and all...can't wait for Gadzuric to leave

[Gobias Industries]

Amazing that a guy with a million miles on him (K Thomas) is still light years better than Gadz. Even when Bogut comes back, Kurt should be the backup C. He's way too slow to play the 4 anymore anyways. GREAT game from him.

 

Ersan is a hell of a rebounder. And he's almost like having an extra lottery pick because he's still so young. If he was eligible for the draft last year, there's no doubt in my mind he would have been one. Thank you Larry Harris!

 

Meeks has yet to find his shot. Funny as that was supposed to be his "skill" coming into the NBA. I like the rest of his game though. Hopefully he finds it soon, because he's getting a ton of open looks.

 

Once we're at full health, I think Delfino is the odd man out. He'll probably still start and get about 15 minutes, but he'll hardly ever close out a game. He doesn't do anything great, or even pretty good for that matter (very overrated defender).