The AP reports: Randy Foye scored 10 of his career-high 32 points in overtime to help the Minnesota Timberwolves finish a forgettable regular season on a winning note, 110-101 over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. In what might have been the end of Larry Krystkowiak’s only full season as coach, the Bucks blew a 16-point third-quarter lead and let Foye and the Wolves blow by them in extra time. Milwaukee (26-56) closed by losing eight straight and 12 of 14… Bogut had 24 points and 15 rebounds, and rookie Ramon Sessions scored a career-high 25 points to go with 14 assists… Al Jefferson finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the game.
Category: Milwaukee Bucks Blog
Bucks blog – Milwaukee Bucks blog
Apr. 14: Bulls 151, Bucks 135
The AP reports: The Chicago Bulls couldn’t miss, thanks to the defensively inept Milwaukee Bucks, who haven’t been able to stop anyone all season. Luol Deng scored 32 points and Ben Gordon added 29 as the Chicago Bulls barely fell short for most points in franchise history in a 151-135 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night… Chris Duhon had 22 points and 15 assists for Chicago, which fell five points short of its scoring record of 156 set March 16, 1984 at Portland, and four points short of its regulation record set against Phoenix on Dec. 4, 1990… The lone bright spot for the Bucks was rookie Ramon Sessions, who set a franchise record with 24 assists, three more than Guy Rodgers had in Milwaukee’s sixth game as a franchise on Oct. 31, 1968 against Detroit. Sessions also scored 20 points—the first 20-20 with points and assists in franchise history.
Apr. 12: Nets 111, Bucks 98
The AP reports: Richard Jefferson scored 24 points and Vince Carter added 21 as the Nets beat Milwaukee 111-98 on Saturday night, spoiling Bucks general manager John Hammond’s first game watching his new team play… The Nets had 34 assists and 14 turnovers, with three of their leading scorers spending the game making plenty of passes. Carter had 10 assists, Devin Harris had nine and Jefferson had seven… InsideHoops.com Stat Note: For the Bucks, Ramon Sessions had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists.
Apr. 11: Celtics 102, Bucks 86
The AP reports: Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 10 assists and the Celtics coasted to a 102-86 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night. The Bucks made more moves off the court than on it: They announced the hiring of former Pistons vice president John Hammond as general manager during the third quarter… Kevin Garnett scored 12 points with eight assists, leaving with 5:30 left in the third and Boston leading 72-47… Michael Redd scored 18 for the Bucks, Andrew Bogut had 14 and Ramon Sessions scored eight with 14 assists as the Bucks lost their fifth consecutive game. Michael Ruffin had nine rebounds off the bench despite a sprained ankle.
Bucks name John Hammond general manager
John Hammond has been named General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced tonight. Hammond brings over 29 years of basketball coaching and administrative experience to the Bucks and spent the past seven seasons in the Detroit Pistons organization as the Vice President of Basketball Operations.
“We are pleased to have John Hammond assume leadership of our basketball operations, effective immediately,” Bucks President Herb Kohl said. “He is a proven NBA talent who has played an essential role in a winning NBA organization. We look forward to John’s contributions to our franchise.”
During Hammond’s seven seasons in Detroit, the Pistons won 50-plus games for all seven seasons, won six Central Division titles, made five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances (2002-03 through 2006-07), and amassed an overall record of 330-158 (.676), including a league-best 64 wins during the 2006-07 season. The Pistons also made two NBA Finals appearances (2004, 2006) and won an NBA Championship (2004) during his six seasons as vice president.
“I want to thank Senator Kohl for the opportunity to be the general manager of the Bucks,” said Hammond. “I had the pleasure of working under one of the best executives in the game today in Joe Dumars and I thank him for the opportunity he gave me to be a part of Detroit’s winning tradition. The Bucks are a history-rich franchise with amazing fans and I look forward to the challenge of bringing a championship back to Milwaukee.”
Hammond’s recent stint with the Pistons was his second. His association with the franchise began in 1994 when he was hired as a scouting director. Doug Collins appointed him as an assistant coach in 1997, a position that he remained in until 1999. When Alvin Gentry replaced Collins as Detroit’s head coach, Hammond was appointed as his top assistant. Detroit made three playoff appearances during Hammond’s tenure as an assistant coach (1996, 1997 and 1999), winning 54 games during the 1996-97 season.
The 53-year-old Hammond worked as a lead assistant coach under Gentry for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2000-01 season, his second tour of duty with that club. He also worked for the Clippers from 1990-93 as an assistant coach to Larry Brown. The team made two consecutive playoff appearances (1992, 1993) during that time. Hammond began NBA career in 1989 as an assistant coach and scout with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, helping assemble their roster during the team’s inaugural season.
Prior to entering the NBA ranks, Hammond spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State where he helped lead the school to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths (1986, 1987 and 1988) and an NIT invitation in 1985. He also spent two seasons at Houston Baptist (1981-83), two seasons at Nebraska (1979-81) and three seasons at the high school level in the state of Nebraska.
Hammond is no stranger to the west side of Lake Michigan. He grew up in Zion, Illinois and attended Greenville College in Illinois where he earned his Bachelor’s degree while lettering twice in basketball and serving as a student assistant coach.
Apr. 9: Raptors 111, Bucks 93
The AP reports: Chris Bosh did his part to end Toronto’s slump. He would like the fans to do theirs. Bosh had 32 points and 11 rebounds and the Raptors ended a three-game losing streak with a 111-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Anthony Parker added 18 points for the Raptors, who have struggled despite clinching a playoff spot last week. Toronto lost 15 of its previous 21 games. Fans booed the Raptors after their last home loss and didn’t make much noise Wednesday night. “It was quiet. Could you hear yourself talk?” Bosh asked reporters… Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva had a season-high 38 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers. He scored 25 of Milwaukee’s first 29 points.
Apr. 8: Celtics 107, Bucks 104 OT
The AP reports: Sure, Doc Rivers could have summoned his Big Three off the bench to reclaim the big lead they’d built earlier in the game. All three Boston Celtics stars certainly wanted to get back on the floor. But Rivers didn’t want to play them in the first place on Tuesday, so he decided to let his reserves handle what suddenly had become an unexpectedly close game. It took overtime, but Boston’s bench managed to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-104… Bucks center Andrew Bogut provided some comic relief from what has become a lost season for Milwaukee, joking about his triple-double Tuesday—points, rebounds and turnovers. “My offense was terrible,” Bogut said. “I felt like a little kid out there.”
Apr. 6: Pacers 105, Bucks 97
The AP reports: Reserve point guard Travis Diener scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-97 Sunday night. Diener, who averages seven points per game, made five of six 3-pointers in the final period. “It was big time for us,” said Danny Granger, who led the Pacers with 27 points… The Pacers shot 5-for-23 shooting in the third quarter, but 13-for-21 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit… Mike Dunleavy had 17 points and seven assists and Jeff Foster had a season-high 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers, who have won eight of 11. Redd led Milwaukee with 24 points and Charlie Villanueva added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who have lost six of eight. Bucks point guard Mo Williams sat out with an abdominal injury.
Apr. 4: Pacers 105, Bucks 101
The AP reports: Mike Dunleavy had 27 points and 11 rebounds and the Pacers kept their faint postseason hopes alive by edging the Milwaukee Bucks 105-101 on Friday night… Ramon Sessions came off the bench to spark the Bucks in the closing seconds with two layups and a free throw. Michael Redd, who led Milwaukee with 28 points, converted a layup with 11.4 seconds left to cut Indiana’s lead to three, but Dunleavy made one of two free throws to seal the victory… Troy Murphy scored 17 points and Danny Granger added 13 for Indiana, which has missed the playoffs the last two seasons… Andrew Bogut added 21 points and 16 rebounds for Milwaukee.
Yi Jianlian out for season
Milwaukee Bucks Director of Player Personnel Dave Babcock announced today that rookie forward Yi Jianlian (7-0, 238) will miss the remaining eight games of the season after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee during the Bucks win over Washington on Wednesday, April 2.
Yi, 20, underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam yesterday afternoon. After evaluation and further testing by Bucks orthopaedic physician Dr. John Heinrich, M.D., it was determined that a period of 2-3 weeks will be needed to rest and rehabilitate his injured knee before returning to basketball activity.
In 66 games this season (49 starts), Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. Among rookies who qualify, he ranks T-7th in scoring, 5th in rebounds, 2nd in free throw percentage (.841), 5th in blocked shots (0.85) and 7th in minutes played.
Yi was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December when he averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots in 16 games. He scored a season-high 29 points in the Bucks 103-99 win over Charlotte on December 22.