Post by Washington on Dec 11, 2006 18:31:25 GMT -5
(AP)- Don't look now, but the Milwuakee Bucks are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. The same Milwuakee Bucks team which was once 7-13, has gone 13-2 without making any transactions. The only difference between that dissappointing team which started the season, and this current monsterous team is the starting lineup.
Bucks head coach, George Karl, shifted Antawn Jamison to his natural position at SF, removing rookie Joey Graham out of the starting lineup, and starting the super-fugly Mike Ruffin at PF. While Ruffin's play, like the play of Graham, hasn't been too great, the move gave the Bucks a big body down low taking pressure off superstar Amare Stoudemire, making his fouls go down from a league leading 4.1 fouls per game all the way down to a closer to normal, 3.3 fouls per game.
Since the lineup change, Stoudemire's overall output has increased dramatically, as has Jamison's at his natural position. With Graham joining Bodiroga, Ridnour, Kim, and Gugliotta on the bench, Milwaukee's second unit has been looking more solid on both ends of the floor. Ruffin's ugly face has been able to scare away the oppisition to help the Bucks win.
The Bucks, now 20-15, have had some quality wins including two over East-leading Atlanta Hawks, they have also beaten league second place Portland TrailBlazers, and playoff teams in the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Detroit Pistons. Their lone two losses during this stretch have come against the Cleveland Cavaliers (whom they split their two games with over this stretch), and a very strong Miami Heat team.
As time goes by, look for this surging Bucks team to continue to surge.
Bucks head coach, George Karl, shifted Antawn Jamison to his natural position at SF, removing rookie Joey Graham out of the starting lineup, and starting the super-fugly Mike Ruffin at PF. While Ruffin's play, like the play of Graham, hasn't been too great, the move gave the Bucks a big body down low taking pressure off superstar Amare Stoudemire, making his fouls go down from a league leading 4.1 fouls per game all the way down to a closer to normal, 3.3 fouls per game.
Since the lineup change, Stoudemire's overall output has increased dramatically, as has Jamison's at his natural position. With Graham joining Bodiroga, Ridnour, Kim, and Gugliotta on the bench, Milwaukee's second unit has been looking more solid on both ends of the floor. Ruffin's ugly face has been able to scare away the oppisition to help the Bucks win.
The Bucks, now 20-15, have had some quality wins including two over East-leading Atlanta Hawks, they have also beaten league second place Portland TrailBlazers, and playoff teams in the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Detroit Pistons. Their lone two losses during this stretch have come against the Cleveland Cavaliers (whom they split their two games with over this stretch), and a very strong Miami Heat team.
As time goes by, look for this surging Bucks team to continue to surge.
