Can't we implode the Bucks?

[jaybird2001wi]

I have been a "fan" of the Milwaukee Bucks for years since it is my hometown and I always want to be an all-Milwaukee fan. There was only one time where I was a fan of another NBA team and that was during the Bulls dynasty because I had such a love for the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen because they were exciting players and had a group of exciting role players like BJ Armstrong, Craig Hodges, etc.

But I have to confess something, I have not seen a full Bucks game on TV in years because watching them is about as exciting as attending a Common Council meeting debate about TIF funding. The announcers bore me, the team bores me and there is absolutely no exciting or standout character.

Michael Redd may score a lot of points, but that is all he does. He doesn't play defense, he takes himself out of the game when he doesn't have the hot hand and has absolutely no presence in the community. They have a prima donna backup point guard in Charlie Bell who cried when the Bucks chose to focus its efforts on Mo Williams last offseason and too many big men (one overpaid in Dan Gadzuric, who is absolutely useless) who can't even defend a flag pole.

This team is boring and despite its young talent in Andy Bogut and Yi, they still can't win games consistently. Why do we even bother watching this team anymore? Jim Paschke is a very professional broadcaster, but my goodness he has absolutely no clue on how to make things exciting and his relationship with his sidekick Jon McGlocklin on air is like watching two people study in a library with too many long awkward pauses.

Can't we at least get somebody with a sense of humor for once to broadcast games and a flashy personality and former Buck as the color commentator to at least instill some fun into the TV games again?

 

Herb Kohl should seriously just send Yi, Bogut and Desmond Mason (I chose him because he seems to actually enjoy living in Milwaukee, unlike 90 percent of the team and does solid community work and seems like a friendly guy) outside and implode the rest of the team.

They need to start over from scratch outside Yi, Bogut and Mason and get guys who can actually play exciting basketball. I knew this was going to happen the minute the Bucks lost in Game 7 against the Sixers nearly seven years ago in the Conference Finals. The team just collapsed and became a shadow of its former self.

 

I also have questions regarding the NBA as well:

1) Why does Isiah Thomas still have a job?

2) How come players with absolutely no talent bring in $10-15 million a year and becomes a total jamming point for teams way over the salary cap? A year or two ago, a team basically GAVE the Celtics a draft pick (Rajon Rondo) just so they can take on Brian Grant's hideous salary.

3) How come Joakim Noah has nappy hair?

4) Why do NBA owners continually recycle God-awful General Managers who have proven track records of running teams into the ground?

5) When will the Bucks get a backcourt guy who actually has ALL the tools, including defense and great passing moves?

6) Will a GM ever be dumb enough to hire Chris Ford as coach again?

7) Will Latrell Sprewell return to the NBA because he "doesn't have enough money to feed his kids?"

8) Will Shaquille O'Neal ever co-exist with an All-Star teammate for more than five years (see: Anfernee Hardaway, Kobe Bryant; future: Dwyane Wade?)

9) Can someone put a muzzle on Charles Barkley?

[trwi7]

Why Mason? He sucks, a shell of his former self. Anyways Kohl is an idiot, he won't change anything.

 

As for your questions on the NBA.

 

1. Because James Dolan is an idiot.

2. Lots of players who bring in that much (Theo Ratliff for example) got those contracts on what they once were and now they either saw their skills decline dramatically or got hurt.

3. Well I can't really answer this without writing a novel about my hate for Joakim Noah so I'll just pass on this question.

4. Don't know.

5. When Kohl actually lets the general manager make moves instead of interfering on everything.

6. What is Chris Ford up to these days anyways? I can't imagine it's anything in basketball.

7. No he's pretty much done.

8. No, Shaq is done. Once his contract runs out he's going to retire, he has nothing left.

9. Charles Barkley is awesome. I love listening to him.

[danzig6767]

The Bucks situation is so similar to the Packers in the late 70's and 80's. Bad leadership from those in charge of the franchise left the team a rudderless ship just floating around in the water.

 

Until Herb Kohl hires a quality GM and lets that person make the moves he sees fit vs Kohl and his cronies thinking they are qualified to do so, the odds of the Bucks leaving the muck they are stuck in are slim.

[crewcrazy]

Isiah Thomas still has a job because all the Dolans care about is making money, and despite how terrible the Knicks have been in recent years, they still fill the Garden for nearly every game. Knicks fans are some of the most dedicated fans in the league, and they'll show up for every game even if it means booing their own players during starting introductions (loudest boos, in descending order: Isiah Thomas, Jared Jeffries, Eddy Curry, Q Richardson, Marbury...Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Renaldo Balkman are the only three players on the roster that no one totally hates). Dolan won't fire Isiah because he's still making money hand over fist and he's never cared about bad PR (just take a look at the sexual harassment lawsuits this past fall). The only way Isiah stops coaching the Knicks is if he steps down, and there's no chance he'll do that because he knows that he'll probably never get a meaningful NBA job again.

 

And really, for being such a bad coach and GM, he does have a knack for drafting good players -- he'd be a good college talent scout for someone, but he doesn't deserve to get much power after effectively wrecking the CBA, Toronto, Indiana, and now New York. He's drafted some good players (Robinson, Lee, Balkman, Channing Frye who he traded for Zach Randolph, etc.), but it seems like he's never really connected with his players well and lets the inmates run the asylum. If the Knicks had any foresight, they'd get rid of Isiah as fast as they can, trade their overpriced long-term contracts for expiring deals and draft picks, and clear capspace for 2010 when LeBron James hits the open market.

 

Of course, with Isiah still running things, they're more likely to trade for Bobby Simmons or something.

[Baldkin]

Anyone seen who's been running point for the Blazers and leading them to victory after victory?

 

Yeah. Steve Blake.

 

Good thing they got rid of a solid backup point guard in favor of a guy might end up with the worst shooting % since the shot clock was put in.

[trwi7]

Anyone seen who's been running point for the Blazers and leading them to victory after victory?

 

Yeah. Steve Blake.

 

Good thing they got rid of a solid backup point guard in favor of a guy might end up with the worst shooting % since the shot clock was put in.

 

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are leading the Blazers to victories, not Blake. Blake didn't want to be here and his play showed it. That piece of trailer trash can stay as far away from Milwaukee as he wants for all I care.

[jason21nl]

Anyone seen who's been running point for the Blazers and leading them to victory after victory?

 

Yeah. Steve Blake.

 

Good thing they got rid of a solid backup point guard in favor of a guy might end up with the worst shooting % since the shot clock was put in.

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are leading the Blazers to victories, not Blake. Blake didn't want to be here and his play showed it. That piece of trailer trash can stay as far away from Milwaukee as he wants for all I care.

I don't care much about the Bucks, but I can't stand Blake. Couldn't stand him in college, and that has never changed. As far as the Bucks now, they are just horrible.

 

[paul253]

Another problem with the Bucks is that the city doesn't really care for them. Look at all the other sports we have going in winter....MU, the Wave, the Admirals, UWM, and of course the Packers. I personally could care less if the team packs up and moves away. The NBA has got to be the most boring sport out there (not including soccer)

[brewcrew00]

Let the Bucks go, bring in the NHL.

[patrickgpe]

guys i am done with this team. I have always been a fan but unless harris and kohl make some huge changes in the next month there is no sense in spending any time or money on this team. Only a few years ago i would watch everygame on tv and now i have to be really bored and there is nothing else on tv for me to check them out. It just seems like the same garbage happens every night. They dont ever go inside, mo is always looking to shoot before pass, and when redd can't make his shots we are doomed. I would really like to see Mo moved for a true point guard that would actually look to go inside to Bogut and Yi.

[trwi7]

guys i am done with this team. I have always been a fan but unless harris and kohl make some huge changes in the next month there is no sense in spending any time or money on this team. Only a few years ago i would watch everygame on tv and now i have to be really bored and there is nothing else on tv for me to check them out. It just seems like the same garbage happens every night. They dont ever go inside, mo is always looking to shoot before pass, and when redd can't make his shots we are doomed. I would really like to see Mo moved for a true point guard that would actually look to go inside to Bogut and Yi.

 

Mo is passing more, Bogut is taking the most shots in his career, Yi can't do a damn thing inside yet. Harris also can't make any moves unless Kohl and the three stooges approve so don't get your hopes up.

[davego]

I try hard to be a Bucks fan...really hard. I'm old enough to remember the Division titles and running up against Boston and Philly...seems like a really long time ago. Every year I talk myself into '45 wins!'...Kind of like convincing myself Sean Berry was a great pick up, or that Lenny Harris really is 'a weapon.' Getting harder to do...NBA just seems so dang hard to bring your team back once it slips into lottery mode.

[patrickgpe]

Mo is passing more, Bogut is taking the most shots in his career, Yi can't do a damn thing inside yet. Harris also can't make any moves unless Kohl and the three stooges approve so don't get your hopes up

mo is 13th in the nba in assists which is better than i though he was doing. Bogut has been a larger focal point of the offense since Stotts was fired. I just would like to see more. I'd like to see CV get more playing time cause he has been more effective than Yi.

[FVBrewerFan]

Herb Kohl won't let Larry Harris blow up this team and start over, simply because Harris may not even be here next year. I don't think he wants to let a lame duck make any drastic roster moves. For those of you that don't care about the Bucks, I wonder if your opinion would change if they were one of the contending teams? I'm sure not all of you, but winners always attract fans. I'm not a big NBA or NHL fan, but if Milwaukee had a winner in either sport I would be a bandwagon fan.

 

As it stands now, the Bucks have no identity, no direction, and no buzz about them whatsoever. Now, take all that along with how Milwaukee is perceived by players, coaches, front office talent, etc. Takes someone special to get that turned around.

[patrickgpe]

well in 2001 when they were in the eastern conference finals there was buck fever in this city, to an extent that i have never seen it before or since. The problem for me is that i find nba basketball borning, but enjoy watching the bucks. When they are not playing good though its really less fun to watch. Also when you have 2 college teams in the state that will make the tourney, it doesn't help the bucks.

[Mr QL]

The Bucks just really need to settle their arena issue. Herb won't sell and probably rightfully so until the Bucks future here in Milwaukee is safe. Whatever they have to do, whether it's putting a bandaid on the Bradley Center and building a new place gotta do it. The team can't really move forward until this is resolved. It would kill me to see this turn into a Seattle situation.

 

But yea I still watch pretty much every Bucks game. I'm a masochist I guess.

[fondybrewfan]

Really the only reason I ever watch games is because of Andrew Bogut. It seems to me that he is an entirely underutilized player on the team. It has gotten better in the last week or two but it is only a matter of time before Redd and Williams start jacking up shots again like their is no tommorrow. Redd has got to be one of the most over rated players in the NBA and Williams is decent but he will never be a pass first PG. Our team right now would probably be better with TJ Ford running the show instead of Mo Williams even with TJ's recent injury issue. Villenueva has been a collossal dissappointment. It also doesnt help that Harris threw awful contracts and Gadzuric and Simmons.

[sgtcluels]

Let the Bucks go, bring in the NHL.

Amen! But the NHL needs to contract not expand. Maybe we can steal one of the crappier clubs away.

 

[thablingster]

I've always said until the Bucks dedicate to playing defense (and stop TALKING about dedicating to playing defense, because the current dedication they have is pathetic) they'll always be a bad team. They're too jump shot oriented and don't really play hard down in the post, never really have. They have good pieces with Bogut and Yi, but Yi is much more of a large SF than a PF, he's soft. Same thing with Charlie V. We don't have a true point guard, and Michael Redd either scores 40 or goes 6-27 shooting. It isn't hard to see how this team loses, but it is difficult to say how they can change it other than personnel and true dedication to change, which ultimately comes from the front office which right now doesn't seem like it wants to change.

[brewcrew00]

Let the Bucks go, bring in the NHL.

Amen! But the NHL needs to contract not expand. Maybe we can steal one of the crappier clubs away.

 

 

Nice thought, let's end the attendance pain in Nashville, Phoenix, or Florida. How amazing it would be to have hockey in Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Columbus, and St. Louis. I can dream, right?

[Invader3K]

Anyone know the real story on why the NHL doesn't have a franchise in Milwaukee already? I've heard the Admirals are part of the reason, but I don't really know the whole story.

[Chio151]

I think the Bucks could leave the state and 90% of the population wouldn't know the difference.

 

It's sad, because this is an area with great sports fans.

[TooLiveBrew]

[Redd] has absolutely no presence in the community.

 

I know you're frustrated, but this is patently false. Aside from all the work he does back in Columbus, OH, at the very least you could recognize the work he did this past Thanksgiving & Christmas.

 

Caption from the photo linked for "Christmas":

 

 

Michael Redd (L) of the Milwaukee Bucks and his with wife Achea ® present a gift to a member of the Lavarnway Boys and Girls Club during a Holiday Party hosted by the Michael Redd Foundation at the Bradley Center December 18, 2007 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 

On top of these two visible events, knowing how unassuming Redd is, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that he does a lot of work for which he desires no public attention... just like many other pro athletes.

 

Sure enough, from his NBA.com player profile:

 

"donates money to the Ashburn Youth Center, Destiny Youth Plaza and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee ... along with teammate Bobby Simmons, distributed over 300 turkey dinners in November of 2005 and 2006 to families in need at the House of Peace"

 

From a Journal-Times Online article on charitable acts by local athletes:

 

Milwaukee Bucks star guard Michael Redd and his wife, Achea, distributed bicycles, dollhouses, etc., to 100 members of the Lavarnay Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee.

 

 

Lastly, from the JS Online article linked above under "Thanksgiving":

 

 

"Earlier this year, Redd and his wife, Achea, 27, formed the Michael Redd Foundation to formalize some of the giving. It paid for the nearly 150 boxes of food - each with the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal - that he handed out Friday afternoon along with turkeys donated by Pick 'n Save and Honeysuckle White.

...

This was Redd's fourth year helping at the House of Peace, a Capuchin Franciscan ministry at 1702 W. Walnut St. He began with a prayer. Then people filed past his table as he greeted them and autographed photos of himself that were taped to each box's top. Students from Messmer High School and Divine Savior Holy Angels High School helped people get and carry their turkeys and food boxes."

 

 

You can say a lot of things about Michael Redd, but 'he doesn't have a presence in the community' isn't one of them.

[bbrauch2000]

i've been to all but 6 of the home games so far this year and the bucks need to build around Mo, Yi and Bogut. CV has regressed every year in the league and Redd is a very valuable asset to deal. This year is a lost cause. If we can get rid of one of the two terrible contracts on the books "simmons and Gadz" we would be aces

[brewcrew00]

Unfortunately this year isn't a lost cause, they are only 2.5 back from the playoffs.

 

Also, you can't really say Charlie V has regressed every year in the league, as he's only played two years. Far too short of a time frame to judge wether or not to move a player.