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The Woelfel World of Sports
December 2008
Friday December 26, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 8:54PM CST on December 26, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL With the Milwaukee Bucks playing their best basketball of the season, having won five of their last six games, one of the last things you'd expect is personnel changes. But the Bucks will be adding a player to their mix today when veteran guard Damon Jones joins the team in Milwaukee. And more changes could be in store. Jones was acquired in a multi-player, multi-team trade in August, but has stayed away from the team after he and the Bucks mutually agreed he wasn't in their plans. Bucks officials even conceded they were trying to trade Jones and there was even speculation they would pay a portion of his $4.4 million salary for this season. But the Bucks haven't found any takers for Jones and now apparently have had a change of heart about him helping them in some manner. Bucks coach Scott Skiles had little to say about the decision to bring in Jones besides, "I know Damon is a high-level NBA shooter. That's where he's kind of made his mark.'' Mark Termini, Jones' agent, was also rather tight-lipped about the situation. "We'll continue to explore all options ... in a positive manner,'' Termini said. Jones, 32, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. He was then dealt to the Bucks in a trade that also brought Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin to Milwaukee. In that same transaction, the Bucks sent guard Mo Williams to Cleveland and Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City. The Thunder also obtained veteran forward Joe Smith in the deal. While all of the aforementioned players have played for their respective team this season, Jones hasn't. He's been inactive for all of the Bucks' 30 games while working out first in Las Vegas and then in Houston. How much Jones plays for the Bucks could hinge on the health of guards Luke Ridnour and Charlie Bell. Ridnour was sent home from practice Friday with flu-like symptoms, and he has also been bothered by back problems. "Nobody knows how hurt he's been,'' Skiles said of Ridnour. "He probably shouldn't have played in several games. "But he's an unselfish guy, so he played anyway.'' Bell, meanwhile, has also been plagued by an assortment of injuries, the most prominent being his knee and ankle. He hurt his knee against Utah Tuesday night and didn't practice Friday. Bell said it was unlikely he would play Saturday night against Detroit at the Bradley Center, not because of his sore knee but because of his surgically-repaired ankle. While Bell and Ridnour have health and injury issues, Tyronn Lue doesn't have either. But Lue's status appears to be up in the air as well. It is believed the Bucks have an offer on the table from the Los Angeles Lakers for Lue, with the Bucks receiving veteran big man Chris Mihm in return. There have also been rumors that Lue could be dealt to Oklahoma City, perhaps as part of a package deal with teammate Charlie Villanueva. The Bucks are looking to solidify their power forward position and the Thunder have three power forwards that may interest the Bucks: Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox and Smith. Villanueva has played well this season, averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds -- despite playing only 22.6 minutes a game. But Villanueva's minutes have recently taken a nose dive. "I played four games in a row of 30 minutes or more,'' Villanueva said after practice Friday. "Then, the next four games, I'm under 20 minutes. "It's frustrating. I don't know what to say. But I'm not worried. We're winning, and we're not winning by a little. We've been blowing out some teams, so I can't complain. "I just want to win.'' There has also been scuttlebutt Villanueva could be involved in a multi-player trade that would send him to Houston. In return, the Bucks would possibly receive reserve forward Carl Landy, who was a prep star at Milwaukee Vincent High School. The 6-foot-9 Landry is averaging 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20.8 minutes a game.
Monday December 22, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 4:57PM CST on December 22, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL
Most of the Milwaukee Bucks coaches and players had already departed the premises.
The only ones remaining on the basketball court at the Cousins Center – the Bucks’ training facility in St. Francis – were rookie forward Joe Alexander and a camera crew from NBA Entertainment.
With cameras rolling, Alexander put on a show. The highly-athletic Alexander did a myriad of scintillating dunks that would have undoubtedly brought nods of approval from Dr. J. or Air Jordan if they were in attendance.
The 6-foot-8 Alexander repeatedly rose gracefully above the rim before throwing down a thunderous dunk.
One time, Alexander took a few steps before ascending to the point where his head was level with the rim.
Alexander then banged his forehead against the rim not once but twice while delivering a dunk.
Standing at the opposite end of the court, Bucks center Andrew Bogut thoroughly enjoyed Alexander’s gravity-defying feat, so much so that he wanted to see Alexander do it again.
And Alexander did. Many more people may get the opportunity to see Alexander's high-wire act in February during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.
Alexander is one of three NBA rookies who'll compete for a spot in the Slam Dunk contest. The other two rookies are guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder and swingman Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The winner will be determined in fan voting at http://www.nba.com/
Alexander, the former West Virginua standout who was the eighth overall selection in last June's NBA draft, said he'd love to showcase his dunking skills in Phoenix.
“I’d like to be in the dunk contest very much,’’ Alexander said. “I’m very excited about possibly being able to do that.
“I’ve have a lot of different dunks. Now I might have that chance to bring them out for others to see.''
Alexander said his vertical leap was measured at 38 inches at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando last summer, but added his vertical leap is even higher than that.
“It’s really 55,’’ said Alexander, laughing. “Nah, it’s about 40. It’s definitely higher than they measured at the combine.’’
So, who is Alexander’s all-time favorite dunker?
“Takayo Siddle,’’ Alexander said.
Takayo Siddle?
“I swear to God,’’ Alexander said. “He’s a point guard at Gardner-Webb. He’s 5-10. He dunks through his legs. … He’s ridiculous.’’
While Alexander is fired-up about the possibility of being in the Dunk Contest, it doesn’t preoccupy him. He’s got more pressing concerns -- like being a better basketball player and contributing more for the Bucks.
While several of his fellow rookies are garnering major minutes and already making an impact, Alexander’s minutes have been sp#####.
He’s playing behind a talented veteran in Richard Jefferson at small forward and gets spot minutes at power forward behind Luc Mbah a Moute and Charlie Villanueva.
Alexander has appeared in 24 of the Bucks’ 29 games and is averaging 4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 11.9 minutes.
“I’m not frustrated,’’ said Alexander, who’ll turn 22 on Dec. 26. “I knew coming in that I would have things to learn.
“If I didn’t have anything to learn, then I would have averaged 50 points a game in college.
“And I’m not frustrated that the other (rookies) are doing well. We had a good class coming in. Everyone expected a lot out of this class.
“We knew we had guys who could make immediate impacts and that’s what has happened. They have delivered.
“I thought of myself right from the start as someone who was going to need time to develop. That’s the way I’ve always operated in high school, in prep school, in college.
“It’s no different in the NBA. It’s going to take time to develop, but I’ll be all right.
“I feel I’m improving every day.’’
Bucks coach Scott Skiles concurred, saying Alexander is gradually making the transition from the college game to the pro game.
“He’s coming along,’’ Skiles said. “In the last month, he’s been much better in practice and I’ve tried to spot play him.
“I thought he played well in the fourth quarter the other night (against the Clipppers). He does some things.
“But he’s in a tough spot. He’s got some quality guys in front of him and he’s got a lot to learn.
“But he’s very athletic. He’s got excellent speed. He jumps well, he’s got a quick first step. He’s a fantastic athlete.''
And, as those who were in the Cousins Center gym last week will attest, a fantastic dunker.
* Do the Bucks have any interest at all in veteran point guard Stephon Marbury, who has fallen out of favor with New York Knicks?
"I don't want to comment on that,'' said Skiles, who coached Marbury several years ago in Phoenix.
You can safely interpret that as a no.
Skiles said he didn't have any idea where Marbury, who was selected by the Bucks in the 1996 draft beforebeing immediately dealt to Minnesota for Ray Allen and Andrew Lang, would win up.
I've been told Miami, Boston, Phoenix and perhaps Toronto could be Marbury courters.
* Former Bucks head coach Larry Krystkowiak won't be joining the Oklahoma City coaching staff after all.
Two weeks ago, it appeared Krystkowiak was going to accept an offer to become an assistant for Thunder, whose head coach is Scott Brooks, a friend of Krystkowiak’s.
But the word now is Krystkowiak, who has one year left on his contract with the Bucks, has declined the offer.
Krystkowiak and his family have been living in the Milwaukee area, but are expected to move to the San Diego area.
Monday December 15, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 3:11PM CST on December 15, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL
After watching another Green Bay Packers’ debacle Sunday, I’m more convinced than ever that general manager Teddy “Bear’’ Thompson’s decision not to acquire Tony Gonzalez was a stroke of genius.
After all, the Packers' talent and depth was abundantly evident on two plays during the game.
The first one came when starting tight end Donald Lee inexplicably ran smack into wide receiver Donald Driver while running a “pattern’’ in the end zone.
The other one came when backup tight end Jermichael Finley faked out everybody – especially his teammates when he didn’t line up in the proper position on a key third-and-goal situation from the five-yard line.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy was so delighted with Finley’s latest, greatest move that he personally greeted him on the sidelines after the play.
I couldn't hear what McCarthy said, but I'm just assuming he asked his rookie tight end what he could get him for Christmas -- like a one-way ticket out of Green Bay.
In the meantime, Gonzalez, that supposed over-the-hill tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, had another productive afternoon.
Gonzalez caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown against San Diego.
That gave the 32-year-old Gonzalez 84 catches for the season.
That’s 34 – repeat, 34 – more catches than the Packers’ dynamic tight end corps of Lee, Finley and Tory Humphrey COMBINED.
That also gave Gonzalez 941 pass receiving yards for the season. That is nearly 500 – repeat, 500 – yards more than all of the tight ends Thompson has on his roster. Friday December 12, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 5:42PM CST on December 12, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL
During the summer, Milwaukee Bucks management conclusively showed how much faith they have in young center Andrew Bogut.
The Bucks presented the 24-year-old Bogut with a guaranteed five-year, $60 million contract. He can earn an additional $12M in bonuses.
The Bucks brass obviously liked Bogut’s growth – he has steadily improved in each and every season – and they liked his potential.
At times this season, Bogut has shown he is worth every single penny he’s receiving. He has emerged as a top-shelf rebounder, averaging 10.4 per game. That’s the ninth-best average in the NBA.
During a seven-game stretch, from Nov. 12-22, Bogut was exceptionally good on the boards. In that span, he had five games in which he grabbed at least 15 rebounds, including 20 against Utah.
But while Bogut has been a factor, if not a force, on the glass, his offensive game has become surprisingly stagnant. After averaging 14.3 points a game last season, Bogut is averaging 10.9.
In the last five games, Bogut’s offensive production has dropped even more as he averaged just 9.2 points. That included a five-point effort against Charlotte and a six-point outing against the Los Angeles Lakers.
So, what’s the problem?
Injuries are a part of it. Bogut’s been slowed by ankle and knee problems. He’s also had to cope with an excruciatingly painful migraine headache, one that temporarily rendered the left side of his body virtually numb.
Bogut is to blame, too. A stand-up guy, Bogut admitted he hasn’t been as aggressive in going to the basket, and that he’s passed up open medium-range jumpers.
“I definitely have to be more aggressive,’’ Bogut said Friday after a practice at the Cousins Center. “There’s no doubt about it.
“I need to demand the ball better, and I have to figure out when to duck in from the weak side. I was speaking to coach (Scott Skiles) and a couple of assistants during practice today where there are times when I need to make a better effort of not just standing on the weak side and expecting someone to shoot it and duck in and be a tiger inside.
“So I definitely have to work on it.’’
While Bogut acknowledged he was partially to blame for his offensive slump, his coaches and teammates are partially to blame as well.
Bogut is one of the best field-goal shooters in the NBA and easily the best on the Bucks. He is shooting a lofty .549 from the field – 11th best in the league.
Yet, going into Saturday night’s home game against Indiana, Bogut ranks only sixth on the team in shots attempted per game.
Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson, understandably, rank first and second: Redd takes an average of 15.1 shots a game and Jefferson takes 14.9 shots.
Both Redd and Jefferson are established veterans, and both are proven, quality starters. But Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions are neither.
Yet, Villanueva is averaging 12.1 shots a game, and Sessions is averaging 11.3 shots while playing mostly reserve roles.
Even Luke Ridnour, who has a reputation of being a pass-first, shoot-second point guard, is averaging hoisting up 9.47 shots a game.
And Bogut?
He putting up only 8.6 shots a game. Inexplicably, he hasn’t put up more than nine shots in any of his last six games.
For the Bucks to have a more balanced scoring attack, where their opponents aren’t allowed to primarily concentrate on shutting down the Bucks’ perimeter game, Bogut simply has to get more touches.
Does that mean Ridnour and Sessions, who generally run the Bucks’ offense, have to be more conscientious of getting the ball inside to Bogut?
Does that mean Skiles has to make Bogut a bigger component of the offense and run more plays for him?
I say yes.
Skiles says no.
“When you’re 7 feet tall in the NBA game and not being productive, a huge, huge, huge percentage of the time it is your problem because you can always go to the board and get an offensive board and put it back in,’’ Skiles said.
“You’re always getting your touches … you can always run the floor. When you’re a big man in a big man’s game, you control your destiny and how you play.’’
And right now, neither Bogut nor the Bucks are playing well.
Wednesday December 10, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 12:22AM CST on December 10, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL
When the Green Bay Packers selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall selection in the 2005 NFL draft, I didn’t think it was a good pick.
I thought it was a great pick.
The Packers needed an heir apparent to Brett Favre and Rodgers was clearly the best player on the board – especially considering that in the weeks leading up to the draft there was considerable speculation he was going to the first pick overall.
While the Packers were extremely lucky and fortunate to land Rodgers, he was fortunate to spend his first three seasons in the NFL learning from The Master – and I’m not referring to Mike McCarthy.
By being Favre’s understudy, Rodgers learned the nuances of the game. And he learned about the importance of physical and mental toughness from one of the toughest competitors the game has ever seen.
All of those things helped Rodgers enjoy a relatively-successful first season as a starter. And it would have been an exceptional season if he had shown an ability to lead his team to comeback victories.
Last Sunday, against Houston, Rodgers was seemingly in the perfect position to do that. The game was tied at 21-21 and the Packers had the ball at the Texans' 32-yard line.
But Rodgers couldn’t seal the deal. Instead of getting rid of the ball on second down, he took a sack that resulted in a nine-yard loss.
Then, on third-and-26, he came up short again, throwing a measly three-yard pass to Donald Lee.
The Packers were forced to punt and the Texans went on to win, essentially squashing the Packers’ postseason dreams.
Rodgers also had a chance to rescue the Packers the week before against Carolina. But in overtime, Rodgers horribly overthrew a wide open Greg Jennings on an out patter before throwing yet another horrible pass that was intercepted.
Those weren’t the only times, however, that Rodgers failed to step up in critical situations. In four other games, he had a chance in the fourth quarter to lead his team to victory. In each instance, the Packers were either tied or within a score.
The Packers lost all six games.
After Sunday's loss, Texans defensive back Dunta Robinson made a rather revealing comment about his team's defensive approach toward the Packers, one that clearly didn't reflect well on Rodgers.
Said Robinson: “Stop the run and let Aaron Rodgers beat us.’’
You can safely assume more teams will mimic the Texans’ strategy -- until Rodgers proves them differently.
Wednesday December 3, 2008
Posted by: gwoelfel at 3:40PM CST on December 3, 2008
BY GERY WOELFEL
The Milwaukee Bucks seemingly can’t shake the injury bug.
While Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd are expected to return to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls at the Bradley Center, the Bucks aren't likely to have the services of Charlie Bell.
Bell, who filled in at shooting guard for Redd when the latter missed 14 games because of a high right ankle sprain, flew to Indianapolis Tuesday night to have his surgically-repaired right ankle re-evaluated.
Bell had a battery of tests done on his ankle and the results were encouragng: the ankle hadn't incurred any further damage.
Yet, Bell left practice Tuesday limping noticeably. Bell told me he hasn't been close to 100 percent healthy all season and is still experiencing chronic pain in the ankle area.
In other words, Bell has been taking one for the team. If Redd had been able to play, Bell, in all likelihood, would't have been playing, especially major minutes.
Because of his condition, there are indications Bell will be inactive for Wednesday nigh'ts game and could be sidelined indefinitely.
The good news is Redd, the Bucks’ leading scorer (21 points) who came off the bench in the Bucks’ last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night, is likely to step back into the starting lineup.
The news regarding Bogut is also good. The Bucks young center, who was off to the best start in his four-year pro career, had missed the last three games because of a bone bruise in his left knee.
Bogut is averaging a double-double so far this season: 11.4 points and 10.9. In the three games prior to his injury, Bogut was outstanding, having averaged 14 points and 18 rebounds.
Just how bad has the Bucks’ injury bug been? Only one starter – Richard Jefferson – has played in all 19 games. |
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