The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

BY GERY WOELFEL

MILWAUKEE -- Going into the NBA season, one could safely assume the Bucks would experience their share of peaks and valleys.

After all, they had two new starters – small forward Desmond Mason and power forward Yi Jianlian – who would need some time to jell with the rest of their teammates.

What’s more, Larry Krystkowiak was beginning his first full season as an NBA head coach and had installed new defensive and offensive schemes.

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Bucks, now about a fourth of the way through their season, have been on a roller-coaster ride

Their ups have included a five-game winning streak and victories over such playoff-caliber teams as Dallas, Cleveland, Chicago and the Lakers.

Their downs have included a five-game losing streak with embarrassing losses to dregs like Seattle and Portland and New York.

But while the Bucks are a work in progress, they may have taken a significant step toward becoming a more stable, not to mention a more formidable team with team Wednesday night at the Bradley Center.

They beat the Orlando Magic, the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind Boston, and they beat them convincingly. And they did it collectively.

Yes, Michael Redd was brilliant: 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. “Give credit Michael Redd,’’ Magic coach Stand Van Gundy said. “He didn’t force the shot; He made the simple pass and they (his teammates) made the shots. He is one of the great shooting guards in the league.’’

But Redd’s supporting cast played up to its capabilities, too.

Point guard Mo Williams found that elusive balance between a scorer and passer with 17 points and seven assists; rapidly-improving center Andrew Bogut didn’t back down against his more highly-touted counterpart, Dwight Howard, and outplayed him for most of the game; Yi shot the ball without hesitation and buried his open shots in playing arguably his best game with the Bucks; Desmond Mason, while not having a good shooting night, was active defensively, and Charlie Bell, who has been in a funk for most of the season, played like the Charlie Bell of last season, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds.

When the Bucks cast aside their personal agendas, when they maintain their focus, when they play unselfishly – as they did against the Magic – they are an entertaining and formidable team.

But when they don’t …

+ Bobby Simmons, who had missed the last three games on the Bucks’ West Coast because of personal reasons, returned to action against the Magic.

Bucks officials have steadfastly refused to comment on Simmons’ absence and Simmons politely declined to talk about the matter after Wednesday night’s game.

However, it is known Simmons didn’t left the team because of any physical problems – he had foot and ankle surgeries during the off-season – or because of any other team-related issues.

Rather, Simmons spent time with a close friend who was going through an extremely trying time.

+ Yi had plenty of friends and guests at the Bradley Center. Besides his parents and girlfriend, a legion of officials from the Chinese Basketball Association were in attendance.

“He had a nice contingent of friends from China here, so it was fitting he had a good game,’’ Krystkowiak said.

+ The Bucks are a Jekyll and Hyde team when it comes to playing at home and on the road.

The Bucks are a pathetic 2-10 on the road but an impressive 7-2 at home. Only Boston, at 10-0, has a better home-court record among Eastern Conference teams than the Bucks. The Bucks play at Boston Friday night.

“At home, you got the crowd, you got your family and friends all on your side,’’ Williams said. “Out on the road, it’s just you. It’s just you against the world.’’

+ During the game, Howard asked Redd for his No. 22 game jersey with his autograph on it.

After the game, Redd accommodated him.