• Andrew Bogut's sore knee will keep him on the shelf for 7-10 days according to John Hammond.  For more details, check out Bogut's new and rather excellent blog, which pegs his return as 1-2 weeks away:

  I have a left knee bone bruise, along with a joint effusion. Basically the hit I took has created fluid and the fluid is moving around in there causing stiffness and pain. I tried to play the second half but there wasn't a chance I could move towards that knee little own jump or push off it at all So I was left with no other choice but to leave the game early. We are currently in Atlanta and I had a MRI this morning which confirmed the above. The doctors and physio's we have looking after us have suggested a 1-2 week off time. Not the best news I wanted to hear. I cannot stand missing games especially due to injury, it really frustrates me. I've been playing through a fair number of injuries lately, and against the Magic I finally started to feel good again.

  Losing Bogut has to be the worst possible news the Bucks could get, not only because Bogut's arguably the team's "best" all-around player at this point, but also because the gulf between Bogut and the Dutchmen who back him up is so massive (sorry, Dan and Francisco).  While the Bucks have made do without Michael Redd by playing Ramon Sessions, Charlie Bell, and occasionally Richard Jefferson at the 2,  they simply don't have the same flexibility at the center position. 
  
  Without Bogut and Redd, the Bucks would deserve a parade for winning any of their remaining games this week--in Atlanta, in Detroit, and home against Cleveland.  But Skiles will at least have the opportunity to go smaller against Atlanta and Detroit, neither of whom plays with a typical back-to-the-basket center.  While Gadzuric will likely start, don't be shocked to see Charlie Villanueva or Malik Allen playing some center against Al Horford and Rasheed Wallace.  Expect Joe Alexander to also see more regular minutes. 
  
• BrewHoop favorite Rob Peterson of NBA.com has a great look back at the incredible career of Oscar Robertson, who celebrated his 70th birthday earlier this week.
  

  Imagine our bemusement, then, to know now that Robertson averaged a triple-double for the first five NBA seasons with 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game in 384 games. Stick that in your trophy case for a moment and gawk at it: 30, 10 and 10, every season for five years.
  
  Could you imagine what ESPN would do with Oscar if he played today? They'd probably give him his own channel. He would own Nike ... and adidas. In this Internet world of today, how huge Robertson would be in Europe or China? And how many articles would be written about him opting out of his contract in 2010?

• The Bob Boozer Jinx writes that the Bucks might as well wave the white flag without Bogut against Atlanta, Detroit and Cleveland--but that makes next week all the more important. 
• Tom Enlund looks at the Bucks' early rebounding success. Kudos to Enlund for looking beyond raw rebounding numbers, which is what most in the media are still stuck on doing; because of differences in pace and field goal percentage, rebound rates offer a much better barometer of a player or team's proficiency on the glass.  As we noted last week, the Bucks are getting good rebounding rates from virtually every position, which Skiles echoes:

  "We felt Bogut and Charlie V., statistically, are good rebounders," said Skiles. "But we didn't plan on Mbah a Moute being able to go in there and get a 17-rebound night, or 10 in the first half, some of the things he's done. I don't know how anybody could plan on that.
  
  "Richard was coming off a year where he averaged a little over four rebounds and he's over five, almost at six which is where we'd like him to be. Each guy is chipping in a little bit. (Ridnour) has always been a pretty good point guard-rebounder which is a little bit surprising. And Ramon is too. That's how you end up doing it. If each guy gets one more a game, it adds up."
  
  "We work at it and we're conscientious about it."

• Alex has collected all the latest power rankings right here, where the Bucks rank anywhere from 12th (Hollinger) to 21st (those damn bloggers).  And be sure to also check out Ty's advanced power rankings blog--he's got the Bucks ranked 17th right now.
  
• The Bratwurst notes that the new-look Bucks are boring--in a good way.

Among the many sobering lessons learned by Bucks fans in recent years: few commodities are as precious in the NBA as road wins.  That means a nervous 101-96 overtime win in Memphis should suit the Bucks just fine, even if Scott Skiles might have seen his blood pressure rise a bit in the process.  Yet again the Bucks dug themselves a deep hole early, falling behind by as many as 16 in the second quarter--before storming back with a 27-15 third quarter that tied it going into the fourth.  But unlike against the Spurs on Wednesday, the Bucks couldn't hold off a late Grizzlies' comeback, blowing an 84-76 lead with 2:26 remaining, in no small part due to turnovers on three of four possessions. 

But just as all was looking lost, Ramon Sessions (20 points, six boards, four assists) stepped up to drill a triple from the top of the key, giving the Bucks a new life that they made the most of in OT.  Following an O.J. Mayo miss and a desperation heave by Sessions to end regulation, the teams traded baskets in OT before the Bucks pulled away in the final minute.  For Memphis, Mayo was the man early with 15 first half points (and 25 total) while Rudy Gay took up the burden late (24 points), but the Bucks' more balanced effort managed to eke it out.

Three Bucks

• Prince Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.  Charlie Villanueva's future as a starter is looking decidedly bleak right now, as CV's pulled hammy paved the way for the Prince to set new career highs in both points (19) and rebounds (17).  As you might guess from his ugly shooting line (6/16), Mbah a Moute didn't have his jumper working, but the good thing about energy guys is that they don't really need it to contribute.  The Bucks outworked the Grizz on the glass all night long, with Mbah a Moute single-handedly outrebounding Memphis on the offensive glass (ten to eight).  Time and again he wriggled past Darrel Arthur, Marc Gasol and Hakim Warrick to snatch Bucks' misses, earning the Bucks' crucial second chances on a night where they made just 39% of their shots.
  
• Ramon Sessions.  OK, I think we can safely say that Sessions' Rookie-of-the-Month performance last April has now been validated--this kid's very much for real.  Playing in just his 25th game as a pro, Sessions made 8/16 shots and was again the major catalyst off the bench before joining Luke Ridnour in the backcourt in crunch time.  Just as importantly, his three with 9.2 seconds remaining kept the Bucks alive when their collapse seemed imminent.
• Luke Ridnour.  Though Richard Jefferson led the Bucks in points (26), differential (+14), and also hauled down ten boards, let's take a moment to acknowledge Ridnour's rock solid performance: 14 points, six boards, seven assists, and zero turnovers.  Sessions has deservedly been getting all the buzz of late, but Ridnour was a steadying influence all night and iced the game by going 6/6 from the line in the final minute of OT.

Three Numbers

• 62-36.  The Bucks utterly annihilated the Grizzlies on the glass, outrebounding them by 26 in total.  In fact, the Bucks grabbed nearly as many offensive rebounds (23) as the Grizzlies managed defensive boards (28), a feat I can't recall happening anytime recently.  The Bucks' poor shooting certainly created more opportunities to chalk up rebounds, but full marks to Mbah a Moute (17 total), Bogut (15), and Jefferson (10) for outworking their opponents all night.
• 7.  Bogut continues to struggle to find ways to get involved offensively, though 5/8 fg would normally suggest he needs the ball more. Still, it's hard to argue that with a straight face on a night when he also racked up seven turnovers. 
  
• 48:35.  Jefferson tallied more than a full game's worth of minutes for the second time this season, the OT game against Washington being the first.  And while his stroke was eluding him (8/26 fg, yikes), Jefferson has clearly become the Bucks' undisputed leader with Michael Redd on the sidelines--playing big minutes, being a go-to guy late, defending opponents' top wing scorers, and frequently taking his younger teammates aside for veteran wisdom.  At this point he often gets by more on savvy than pure explosiveness, but Jefferson has also shown a renewed effort on the defensive end and on the glass.  So far, so good.
  

Three Good

• Road wins are good wins.  Yes, I'm going to say this every time the Bucks get one.  The Bucks now have three road wins in six tries; they need just four more wins away from the BC to match their paltry 07/08 total of seven.  And while great teams might have the luxury of complaining when they win ugly, the Bucks should be thrilled to escape Tennessee with a win.
  
• Kiddie patrol!  With Redd and now Villanueva on the shelf, there's been plenty of opportunity for Sessions, Mbah a Moute, and Joe Alexander (who also was productive in his 13 minutes) to earn playing time in Scott Skiles' rotation.  And let's give the new coach plenty of credit, too.  Bulls fans were almost taunting us in the preseason that Skiles would prefer guys like Malik Allen and Tyronn Lue over talented but inconsistent youngsters, yet aside from the opening couple of games there's been very little of those boring old vets--and justifiably so.
• Ready to rebound.  The Bucks aren't exactly deep up front, but that hasn't prevented them from being among the league's best on the glass.  The key?  Getting above average rebounding from basically every position.  Going into tonight's game, Bogut ranked 8th out of 47 centers, Villanueva 5th out of 69 PFs, Mbah a Moute 6th out of 51 SFs, and Ridnour 6th out of 65 PGs.  Jefferson, Sessions, and Alexander are also all average or better.

Three Bad

• Sweating with the Oldies.  Like most fans, I admit to being rather biased when it comes to the bench: I'd much rather deal with the rough edges of Sessions and Alexander than watch steady-but-perpetually-below-average guys like Allen, Croshere, and Lue.  So I won't worry too much about Allen and Croshere getting some early but unproductive minutes in Memphis, though the Bucks will likely need them to contribute at some point.
• Lucking out.  Marc Iavaroni doesn't have a ton of job security in Memphis, and the Grizzlies' offensive strategy might give you some idea why.  After riding Mayo's hot hand early, the Grizz got away from the early ROY favorite for long stretches of the second half, despite the Bucks' struggles to contain Mayo in basic PnR situations from the top.  Instead, the Grizz allowed the disappointing Mike Conley--who still can't shoot or get to the rack against NBA defenses--to handle the ball most of the time.  That greatly simplified the Bucks' task.
  
• Bell's blues.  Charlie Bell's stroke still doesn't look right, which becomes all the more troubling given the Bucks' lack of scoring depth without Redd and Villanueva.  In spite of back-to-back solid efforts against Cleveland and Phoenix, Bell's 0/4 effort in Memphis now has him shooting just 32.7% for the month of November. 

The Bucks brought their modest two game road winning streak to Boston Friday night, but alas: the Celtics don't ball like the Thunder and Knicks.  The Bucks jumped out to an early 25-12 lead and kept it close for three quarters, but the Celtics finally turned it on in the fourth and pulled away for a 101-89 win at the newish Garden. It was befittingly all about balance for the Celtics, who got a perfectly-rounded 18 poinst, 10 boards and seven dimes from Paul Pierce, in addition to 16/9 from KG and 54 points from their bench.  Richard Jefferson again led the way for the Bucks, tallying 20 points (8/15 fg) and five boards as the Bucks' were again missing Michael Redd.

Three Bucks

• Richard Jefferson. When the Bucks were racing out to their early lead, it was all about Jefferson.  He again had it going early, scoring 14 in the first quarter and just as importantly all that offense seemed to distract Paul Pierce, who had a quiet first half.  Unfortunately Pierce and the Celtics woke up in the second half while RJ couldn't sustain the Bucks' flagging effort. 
  
• Luc. Another night, another solid effort.  Mbah a Moute chalked up nine points and nine boards in 23 minutes, and held his own when matched up with Pierce and Garnett.  To be honest I would have liked to see more of Luc against Pierce, but Skiles understandably preferred to give the nod to Jefferson most of the night.  His burn was also somewhat limited by Charlie Villanueva getting almost 35 minutes.
• Joe Alexander. Normally this section is reserved for the Bucks' best performers, but on a night when few guys were at their best let's talk a little about the Bucks' lottery pick.  With the Celtics winning by double digits and Skiles probably looking ahead to tomorrow night's home contest against Phoenix, Alexander played the final 5:34 of the game and finally broke his NBA good egg by draining a three from the left wing.  A couple times Alexander made quick attacking moves that drew help defenders, allowing him to find an open man. 
  

Three Numbers

• 11.  A big part of the Celtics' terrific defense is the way they defend inside, and 11 blocks--seven by Kendrick Perkins--show just how tough they can be.  Defensive Player of the year KG set the tone early by blocking Bogut's dunk attempt in the opening minute.
• 28.  It wasn't quite the 37 assist night the Bucks had on Wednesday, but the Celtics' 28 dimes were more than enough tonight.  Especially in the second half, the Celtics were finding daylight on the perimeter and using the Bucks' collapsing defense to find open teammates inside.  As a basketball fan you have to appreciate it; as a Bucks fan not so much.
• 0.  Alex mentioned in the preview that Ramon Sessions came into the game averaging 8.3 apg, but that number will fall to 6.3 following Sessions' 11 point, zero assist, five turnover outing against Rajon Rondo and Eddie House.  Though he had some nice aggressive moves into the lane, Sessions couldn't get teammates involved like in the previous three games, in large part due to that stifling Celtics defense.

Three Good

• Starting Fast. A couple days after racing to a 15-point lead early against Washington, the Bucks seem to have developed the nice habit of starting fast, and that carried over to the world champs' house, too.  Riding Jefferson's hot hand, the Bucks surprised the Boston faithful by leading 25-12 mid-way through the first and 30-23 at the end of one.  That means the Bucks have now won the first quarter in four of their six games and trailed by just two in the other two games (Chicago, Toronto).
• VNuv's Bottle of Windex.  I expected the Celtics to post Garnett more than usual given Villanueva's normally soft defense, but Villanueva managed to stay in the game if for no other reason than he brought energy to the glass.  He finished with 12 boards, with six of them on the offensive end. 
  
• Garbage Time.  Wait, this is a good thing?  Well, when you're on the front end of a back-to-back, there's a slight silver lining to having your scrubs play the final six minutes--it affords the regulars a bit more rest.  Bogut had trouble with the C's interior defense (11 points, 4/11 fg) but only played 26 minutes anyway, so he should be reasonably fresh for Shaq and company tonight at the BC.  Jefferson played 33 minutes following his 49 minute effort on Wednesday.

Three Bad

• Ball Movement.  The beauty of the Celtics' defense isn't that they have five lock-down defenders, but that they always seem to know when to double, when to hedge, and when to gamble in the passing lanes.  They're particularly good at clogging up the middle, which begins with Rondo's perimeter defense--by never losing his man, Rondo allows his big guys the ability to help more selectively, rather than having to try to erase hismistakes.  So after the Bucks racked up a delightful 37 dimes on Wednesday, the Celtics lived up to their reputation as the Bucks managed only 17 assists against 22 turnovers.  With Bogut struggling to find a rhythm, the Bucks could have really used Redd, as they seemed to run out of ideas offensively in the second half.
  
• Garbage Time.  The good news is the Bucks got to rest some of their big guns for tonight's game against the Suns, but the bad news is of course that they had to throw in the towel in the first place.  While that happens to most opponents at the Garden, it was also the first time in six games that Skiles has gone to his scrubs in the fourth quarter. 
  
• Double Dutch.  In the first half Skiles brought Francisco Elson off the bench to defend Garnett, an interesting matchup given the history between the two.  Shortly thereafter Dan Gadzuric joined Elson on the court, which I believe marked the first time the two Dutch big men were on the court together at the same time.  The Netherlands only got a brief glimpse of the Bucks' double Dutch lineup, however, as Gadzuric exited less than two minutes later.  Given Gadzuric's less-than-cerebral style, I've been somewhat surprised by Skiles' preference for him over Elson, but tonight we saw a decent reason why as Elson went 0/5 in 13 minutes.

Celtic's Blog has recruited blogs from around the web to preview every NBA team, so today we're taking our shot.  Check out a complete listing of Southwest and Atlantic previews here.

Last Year's Record: 26-56

Losses: Mo Williams, Desmond Mason, Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons, Michael Ruffin, Royal Ivey (maybe not a "loss" per se)

Additions: Richard Jefferson, Luke Ridnour, Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Tyronn Lue, Malik Allen, Francisco Elson, Adrian Griffin, the expiring contract of Damon Jones

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

The Bucks' offseason as usual saw plenty of turnover, but the biggest difference might be behind the scenes.  John Hammond's hiring in April set about a much-needed overhaul of the front office and coaching staff, with former Suns and Bulls defensive mastermind Scott Skiles taking over for the overwhelmed Larry Krystkowiak days after the season ended.  The Bucks were last in defensive efficiency in 07/08 and haven't finished in the top half of the league in defensive efficiency since 1991, so Skiles certainly has his work cut out for him.

The big on-court difference will be at small forward, where Richard Jefferson should provide a huge upgrade over the Desmond Mason/Bobby Simmons platoon the Bucks used in 06/07. But while Jefferson scored a career-high 22.6 ppg last year, his once-stellar defense and rebounding have dropped off noticeably the past couple seasons--skills that Skiles will hopefully help him rediscover in his new digs.

The other major deal of the offseason saw mercurial point Mo Williams shipped to Cleveland for the talent-challenged but cap-friendly package of Luke Ridnour, Adrian Griffin and Damon Jones.  Williams was never lacking in ability but his shoot-first, defend-last partnership with Michael Redd was a disaster the past two seasons, so the Bucks will be hoping that the deal will represent addition by subtraction.  In spite of Ridnour's less than stellar credentials, it's somehow difficult to imagine the Bucks being worse with Ridnour than they were under Williams, which speaks to just how hapless the Bucks were in Williams' two years as starting PG.

The Bucks also added West Virginia jumping jack Joe Alexander (8th overall) and UCLA jack-of-all-trades Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (37th) in the draft, which left some scratching their heads since the two forwards were chosen just hours after Jefferson was acquired from New Jersey.  While neither looks to be an impact player--Alexander looked raw in Vegas while Mbah a Moute's offense will never be a calling card--expect both to make a bid for rotation minutes.  Mbah a Moute could even nip ahead of his more highly-touted teammate if the preseason is any indication.  Alexander missed two games with an abdominal injury and looked rather lost until he sparked the Bucks to their first preseason win on Wednesday in China. 

Mbah a Moute meanwhile has led the Bucks with 34 mpg in the preseason, struggling as expected with offensive efficiency but gaining Skiles' trust with his defensive versatility and hustle.  In other words, he could be the next in a long line of statistically underwhelming "Skiles types" who get minutes despite conventional wisdom suggesting they shouldn't (see Duhon, Chris).

2. What are the team's biggest strengths?

While they haven't played a minute of regular season ball together, Jefferson and Redd should provide loads of wing scoring, something the Bucks could use following a season in which they ranked a disappointing 21st in offensive efficiency and were among the league's worst at both getting to the line and connecting from distance.  In recent years Redd has been the only Buck capable of getting to the line with regularity (6.8 fta/g), so Jefferson's ability to draw fouls (8.3 fta/g) should bring a little more self-sufficiency to the Bucks' attack. 

At center, Andrew Bogut continued his development in 07/08, averaging 16.3 ppg and 11.6 rpg after the all-star while also adding a shot-blocking element to his game.  Granted, the Bucks weren't winning games while he was excelling statistically, but it was still enough to earn a $60 million offseason extension that will keep him in Milwaukee for the long haul.  Bogut's unlikely to ever be a number one offensive option, especially with Redd and Jefferson on the court, but Skiles appears optimistic that he'll see plenty of post touches to better balance the Bucks' attack. 

Still, how far Bogut develops from here will come down more to him than his coaches or teammate.  Improving his accuracy from the line (just 58.7% last year) and adding a vaguely reliable 12-15 footer would do wonders for his game, though even without those skills he's developed into one of the league's most promising young bigs.  He shot threes with surprising accuracy for Australia at the Olympics in Beijing, so Bucks fans can once again hold out some hope that Bogut will finally rediscover the shooting touch that he actually showed a fair bit of in college.

3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses?

Frontcourt depth was a problem last season and swapping Yi Jianlian and Michael Ruffin for Malik Allen and Francisco Elson won't do anything to change that.  Meanwhile, Dan Gadzuric has gone from a highly productive role player to a vastly overpaid bench warmer who isn't likely to turn things around with his 30th birthday now in the rearview mirror. At the very least Bucks fans can hope that Skiles will scare him away from shooting the turnaround jumpshot that he has developed a startling affinity for in recent years.

Aside from Bogut, Charlie Villanueva is the only other legit talent in the 4/5 rotation, and as such he'll have every opportunity to win major minutes following a disappointing 06/07.  His inconsistency and defensive lapses could also land him in Skiles' doghouse, but CV enters camp healthy and he should be hungry, too--restricted free agency beckons next summer.  Villanueva continues to be one of the more enigmatic players in the league, but that's not exactly a compliment.  Time and again he'll wow you with a smooth drive, no look pass, or floater that few players his size have any business making.  Yet all too often he flatters to deceive: his post game is unrefined outside of a righty push shot and his unreciprocated love affair with the three point shot contributed to a rather miserable true shooting percentage (50.2%), for a man of his size and skill level.  And that's not even mentioning his defense, which could be described as indifferent at best.

The point guard position could also be an adventure, as the Bucks will likely start Luke Ridnour ahead of veteran Tyronn Lue and one-month wonder Ramon Sessions.  Ridnour struggled mightily in Seattle a season ago, so the Bucks will have to hope that a return to good health and a better supporting cast will aid the 27-year old recapture the form that helped Seattle win 52 games in 2005.  Despite the gaudy stats he put up in April 2008, Sessions could find minutes hard to come by if Skiles opts for the veteran Lue as the primary backup.  Either way, the Bucks as of now have three backup-quality point guards.

Perhaps most importantly, on-court chemistry was severely lacking for the Bucks in 07/08, and the flurry of offseason changes won't simplify Skiles' task of creating a more cohesive unit on both ends of the floor.

4. What are the goals for this team?

With the East still weak outside the top five, the Bucks, like most everyone in the conference, will be gunning for a playoff spot--even if they've become disinterested in talking about it.  Still, fans might have to settle for more incremental improvement considering the club has won just 54 games combined over the past two years and once again underwent a major facelift in the offseason.  Skiles' Chicago teams were perennial slow starters and his first Milwaukee squad will likely be no different, as the Bucks will play 20 of their first 33 on the road.

Predicted Record: 37-45

On paper, the Bucks would appear to at least have the talent to compete with teams like the Wizards, Hawks, Bulls, Heat, Wizards and Pacers for the final East playoff spots. That's not an overwhelming endorsement considering none of those teams is close to legitimate contention, but the Bucks can at least consider themselves in the mix.  Then again, you could have made the same argument in previous seasons, when various combinations of injuries, coaching, inexperience, and terrible chemistry doomed the Bucks to mid-lottery purgatory.  

Since the Jefferson trade and Skiles hiring, I've generally felt like this was a 35-40 win team, though so much has changed on and off the court that the Bucks could certainly surprise either way.  The team's sluggish start to the preseason has tempered even those modest expectations a bit, but on some level that's not surprising given the broad scope of changes that happened in the offseason. 

Still, if Redd and Jefferson can stay healthy and develop well-defined roles while Bogut puts together an entire season similar to his last few months of 07/08, the Bucks should at least be respectable for a change.  A lot will also come down to Skiles' ability to bring his new club together, while x-factors like Villanueva and Sessions will also be worth keeping an eye on.  Playoffs in Milwaukee?  It won't be easy, but Skiles should at least give them a chance.

The ant with the mad dance skills. (link-tip: Ball Don't Lie)

• If the mildly disturbing video introduction isn't quite enough, feel free to meet the Forte Wayne Mad Ants mascot: The Mad Ant, a.k.a. Nightmare Ant. Trouble following? Forte Wayne is the Bucks new NBDL affiliate.
• Vote in our latest poll, which asks: Who's the best Buck? Andrew Bogut leads at time of this post.
• SI.com's Paul Forrester offers well-reasoned analysis as he contemplates three challenges that Scott Skiles faces.
  
• SI.com's Chris Mannix pens an article about Richard Jefferson moving forward from the Nets.

  "You know, I was frustrated," said Jefferson in a telephone interview. "But now I'm excited. People misconstrued that I was unhappy going to Milwaukee. Man, I was unhappy about leaving the only team I had been a part of. I was the last one standing from the team that went to the Finals, the guys that won three straight division championships, the guys that made the Nets respectable -- and respectable for a long time. I didn't want to go. But it wasn't about Milwaukee."

• The Bucks don't have a high ceiling according to Dime. Their best-case scenario doesn't include the playoffs. Worst case scenario = worst in the league.
  

  How good is Richard Jefferson? When he had Jason Kidd and Vince Carter running 1-2 to his 3, the Nets seemed to peak at a second-round playoff exit. In RJ’s new home, the Ramon Sessions/Michael Redd backcourt doesn’t quite measure up to Kidd/Carter. Is Jefferson good enough to vault the Bucks into the playoffs on his own? Not really.

• Dime poses the question: Which new NBA offseason acquisition will have the biggest impact? Joe Alexander tells Dime it's Richard Jefferson, in between raving about Ramon Sessions.
• Dime also reports that Alexander, apparently inspired by Nas, is voting for Obama in '08.
• Dime is attempting to determine the best backcourt of the last 20 years. The '00-'01 duo of Sam Cassell and Ray Allen is up for consideration.
• Tim Chisholm of TSN reports the Bucks are finally moving forward.
• Hoopsworld offers a generally favorable Bucks preview.
• ESPN.com's John Hollinger doesn't get the additions of Francisco Elson, Tyronn Lue, and Malik Allen.
• Bob Wolfley of JS Online reveals the Bucks regular season television schedule, with 70 of 82 games to appear on FSN Wisconsin.
• Yahoo's Bucks report notes former assistant coach Brian James is rumored to replace the Phoenix-bound Scott Williams as television analyst.
• NJ.com's Dave D'Allesandro reveals that after a busy summer, former Buck Yi Jianlian is exhausted in Jersey.
• Ty at Bucks Diary wants native Milwaukeean Carl Landry back in town.
• The Las Vegas Sun's Rob Miech writes the Bucks are working out former UNLV point guard Kevin Kruger.
• The Columbus Dispatch reports September 5 is Michael Redd Day in Columbus, Ohio, as declared by Mayor Michael B. Coleman.
• A couple weeks ago we linked to a JS Online story reporting Charlie Villanueva working with a shoe donation program. Skeets at Ball Don't Lie explains CV is still making a difference.
• Thanks to Kelly Dywer for the generous words about BrewHoop in Ball Don't Lie's rundown of the best Bucks blogs.
• A little off-topic, but entertaining nonetheless: The Denver Egotist breaks down (okay, tears apart) the new OKC Thunder logo. (link-tip: TrueHoop)

• Jorge Sierra at HoopsHype reports free agent big man Francisco Elson is "leaning" towards the Bucks, while also weighing offers from the Hawks and FC Barcelona. Especially with Chris Andersen and Kwame Brown now off the market, Elson's one of the few proven free agent big men still available.  And with 13 men currently on the roster and only $2.06 million available under the luxury tax, the Bucks will need an affordable big like Elson to fill their need at PF/C.
  
  The major concern is that while Elson was solid in 05/06 and 06/07, starting 41 and 54 games in Denver and San Antonio respectively, he suffered a major dropoff last year. His PER tumbled from 11.26 to just 6.84 while splitting time between San Antonio and the rebuilding Sonics. At the age of 32 he's not getting any better, so the Bucks would have to hope that Elson's 07/08 was more of a fluke than an indication of his imminent decline. As a mobile big man who can guard both big positions, Elson would provide cover at the 4/5 much like Brian Skinner did two years ago.  And he would put the Bucks in the unique position of having both of the NBA's Dutch big men. We might have to start printing up some "Double Dutch" t-shirts.
• Check out the Olympic hoops broadcast schedule.  Coverage of Team USA's opener against China starts at 9:15 am CT on NBC, while Andrew Bogut and Australia open group play against Croatia at 7 am.  You'll have to watch online to catch that one. 
• Nike has a pretty cool Marvin Gaye-inspired promo of Mike Redd and the 2008 edition of Team USA.