If you figure the chances of hitting a free throw are 60%, then my math suggests that missing 7 in a row only happens once in 610 instances.

If you perhaps adjust for the Bucks skill levels, calling it 50%, then the unlikelyness drops to one in 128.

Either way, 7 in a row is mighty rare.

aussie fan

could have been bigger. There were at least 3 pick and rolls in the second half where I thought Jennings should have given up the ball to Bogut instead of challenging one or two defenders for his own (contested) shot attempt.

I think Jennings is a decent team player for a rookie PG, but I still think he wants to get his at times when the offense dictates someone else should get the shot. Hard to tell if this is more learning curve or selfishness….or some combination of both.

Anyway, despite the sloppy play, what I like most about the Bucks games is that they generally compete every minute. They are in most games and they usually play good team ball. I didn’t comment about this at the time, but I’m mad as heck that the refs didn’t call that offensive foul on Kobe at the end of the other game. That was a great game and it sucks that the refs f’d up that call.

You guys are totally missing the real story from last night. 41 minutes for Redd? The only possible reason why he played that much is that the rumors that he asked for a trade are true, and the organization is showcasing him and showing the league that his knee is better. Skiles simply would not play Redd that much in any scenario where he wasn’t on fire, but especially when he is coming back from an injury. And despite the message board mumbling that Redd has no trade value or interest, the Bucks wouldn’t be showcasing the guy if they didn’t think that there was a legit chance of dealing him.

“The only possible reason why he played that much is that the rumors that he asked for a trade are true…”

Don’t think I agree with the “only possible” part of that. Though it may be true. It does seem that there’s something going on behind the scenes with him. He doesn’t play like he’s really glad to be back with his teammates. He plays like he wants to demonstrate he can play, and that he can play the “right way.” Maybe like you say he and management have agreed a trade would be best, and they’re trying to make it possible. (At one point I was saying Hammond wouldn’t trade Redd just to trade him; the trade would have to make sense for the Bucks. Now it seems they might trade him for a used tampon.)

Another less significant interpretation could be that management/Skiles haven’t been pleased by Redd’s I-decide-and-I’ll-come-back-when-I-damn-well-choose approach to returning to action. Think he’s been too cautious. So now when he says he’s back, they’re going to use him to the max. Along the lines of You Say Your’re Ready, Prove You Can Still Play!

Whatever’s going on, my compass has turned from pointing to Hammond seeing Redd as important in the Bucks’ short-term plan to thinking that the marriage is likely over. The facts don’t dictate that, but the feeling suggests it.

Hunter11,

Which is more likely, that the Bucks played Redd for 41 minutes because they are trying to show that his knee is healthy? OR that Skiles played Redd for 41 minutes because he was trying to win the game? I would argue that if Skiles was coaching in “must win mode” that he would not have played Redd that much. Especially considering how slow and robotic Redd is playing these days.

The mistake that many of you guys are making, is that the only trade that could possibly happen are ones that you think up. And while we certainly have sniffed out trades in the past, the overwhelming majority of them break out of nowhere and even after they are announced we still don’t understand what one or more of the teams were thinking.

I don’t have anything other than opinion to stand on here, but Redd’s big minutes last night in a sloppy game were very uncharacteristic (by Skiles) and it is undeniable that Redd’s dominance of the ball, poor shot selection, and alpha dog self perception are ruining the chemistry, defensive presence, spacing, and scrappiness that made this team so fun to watch all year.

Chuck, I agree with your “feeling” that this marriage is over. I have followed the Bucks for over a decade, and I can tell something here has changed.

Hunter, as for your question about possible trade destinations, I don’t have the time to play with the trade checker right now. But Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, and Dallas are four teams that could possibly find themselves in a position where they would be interested in a year and a half of Redd (thinking that as a sidekick, his shooting would increase their title chances). Furthermore, Golden State, New Orleans, Philladelphia, Toronto, and Washington are five more teams that might waive the white flag in the future and try to dump long term contracts with Redd’s shorter deal.

Are any of those scenarios probable or likely? No. But the NBA is crazy, and there are more than a couple awful GMs. Three way deals are not out of the realm of possibility either.

Frank,

The only part of your take I disagree with, is when has Skiles ever coddled a player’s ego? He once answered a Chicago reporter’s question on what Eddy Curry had to do to become a better rebounder with “jump”. He would stare down Jamal Crawford and Tyson Chandler during games. Heck, its well known that Jason Kidd hates Skiles to this day for stuff those two got in to in Phoenix. And probably the third most well known legend/urban myth/fact about Scott Skiles (1. most assists in an nba game 2. sweetest combover in league history) is that he once challenged Shaq to a fight in practice his (Shaq’s) rookie year. Furthermore, we have seen nothing up to this point during his tenure in Milwaukee with Bogut, RJ, or any other player that Skiles buys in to, caters to, or subscribes to the tier system.

So that is why I can’t read in to this as “a nba coach giving in to his star”…

All this to say: I can’t see Skiles catering in to Redd for any other reason than Hammond and/or Kohl have promised him that there is a light at the end of the tunnel (a move by the trading deadline) if he can keep him on the court. Because as of right now, as of the last month, there is nothing Mike has done to justify big minutes

Maybe Skiles just recognises that Redd is valuable to the team and he’s giving him minutes to get back into shape/rhythm. Sure in the short term it might hurt (maybe not against the Pacers) but it would be worth the time spent in the long run.

Bogut had a big game. I assume part of that was the Pacers not being able to effectively double team Bogut. A big part of beating double teams is having viable kick-out options. It seems like Redd was the best such option last night.

Shouldn’t have hit that return. Delete above if poss.

The rotations are erratic. Maybe because Skiles isn’t getting what he wants from his group. Delfino has games where he makes shots, gets assists, and pulls heads up plays. Followed by games where it looks like his operating system needs a reboot. Others are erratic too.

Skiles has been open (perhaps too open) about sitting players if they don’t do it right during a game. Seems like he’s doing something like that from game to game.

Maybe he’s also trying an erratic assortment of moves trying to find the one that gets them to the next performance level. This is a group with significant mental blocks (demonstrated in small part by the 7 missed free throws) and maybe rotational shock therapy is a current prescription…