Honestly, I don’t know where you get the “critical of Jennings” thing. I’ve been reading this blog all season (hadn’t been reading too many NBA blogs before that, wasn’t too inspired to follow the Bucks much till then…) and I can’t say that Jeremy has been very critical of Jennings at all. There’s much more of that on sites like the local newspaper in Milwaukee, which is troll-infested anyway.

His take, which I agree with, is that he is the future and a great talent, but that there will be bumps on the road along the way. I think Skiles has been great about giving him room to grow. I actually think Skiles has loosened up some on his players and for the most part rewards effort pretty fairly.

Also, Delfino was awful for a while, so he deserved criticism. But maybe you missed Jeremy’s post about how the “New Delfino” was a major reason for the Bucks’ recent improvement. It is and he did. And Skiles deserves some credit for moving players around and finding the right combinations in a fairly tricky season. It could all go south, but he had a good month, as did the team.

Skiles isn’t always going to make the right decisions, like any relationship they’ll have peaks and valleys. Should he have played Jennings in the fourth? Maybe he should have, but he seemed to feel Ridnour would give him the best chance to win, much like he felt at the start of the season that starting Jennings over Ridnour was better for the team.

I like any conversation on the site as long as it’s rational and not hate centered, so no “hey”, I don’t hate you.

It would be funny if Scott Skiles replied & cursed me out. I wonder if he even reads it. I used to coach & what was most important to me. Was my critics & fans. They were brutally honest. Which is what I needed to hear to take an unbias approach to the situation/game. It prepared better than any book or game could have. With each game the critics became less & less. While my coaching & teams progress grew by leaps & bounds. Take for example the game came easy to me. So when I’m scouting or critiquing a player. One with intagibles never caught my eye. No matter how important that was. One of my biggest haters taught me that. Now I’ve learned a perfect balance. Fault me for caring. I don’t hate him personally. Just don’t like his style of coaching. It’s more for the High School & College level. These are grown men. Some who are just more talented & physically gifted. Therefore they want play as hard as someone lacking those abilities. It’s a hard line to merge. Player/Coach. Especially for PG’s. We’re as stubborn as they come. A player once told me. “Coach your saying & doing most of the right things. It’s just how you say it or do it”. The player is in the N.B.A. currently. Each player is different & may react different to your actions. Cause & Effect. Hopefully you understand where I’m coming from.

I watch almost every Bucks game. So I’m not just some random fan. Spewing comments to discredit Skiles. He has done for the most part an amazing job with the talent he has. That being said. I still think it was a mistake to sit Jennings that long(Hawks game). The possibility of it having a negative effect at this point in the season. Not worth it. Yes he’s streaky but a back up guard should never play more minutes than the starter. Teams & players have roles. Once everyone knows them things fall into line. I know it can’t be easy handing a team over to a rookie. If it’s best for all involved why not. This team for the future. Needs Brandon a lot more than Luke Ridonour. Who has been a steady Veteran. Luke was one of my favorite guards at Oregon with Fred & Luke. I’m a true basketball fan. Not one that just says he is. A lot of fans think Luke should be starting over Brandon. I beg to differ as this season has been somewhat of success weighing everything. Jeremey bashes Brandon more than anybody on the team. He killed Delfino early on & he’s also a major reason for the success. Ilyasova has just dissapeared. Jodie Meeks I still didn’t get that decision. Gadzuric could still play some hustle minutes. Charlie Bell with all he’s given us. Could spell a few 3′s in the corner & stops. I’m a NY’er so i could tell you how lucky you guys are to have BJ. I look at Duhon & laugh myself to sleep everynight. Coaching at this level is more management than anything. You coach in the off-season & practice. Come game time you let the instincts take over. They’re supposed to be prepared by then. Lastly Jennings is a very emotional player. He plays how he feels. I’m very good at reading people. I don’t know him personally but could see he’s lost confidence in his jumper. Skiles would be the best person to re-instill the belief. Be patient as you guys have the best rookie regardless to what any magazine or analysts would like to tell you. Time will tell. Also If Jennings regains some of his early prowness. You guys could & will upset somebody in the playoffs. Sky’s the limit. Trust me I’m at least 20% right. I’m not what Miluakee Buck may think I am.

Curak, I also want to know why Jeremy hates me. Seriously. Isn’t it good that I’m even on this site talking to you guys. I enjoy the opinions of everyone. We as a whole aren’t open minded enough.

I’ll answer you’re questions tho:
-You wouldn’t know
-Luke’s not my hero. You are.
-Bogut’s chances at the hall of fame are still to be determined
-Skiles may be one of the best young coaches in the league
-Brandon Jennings is a great rookie, his confidence has decreased ever since December, I don’t know who to blame for it…him, Skiles, Bogut, Redd, Kelvin Sampson, IDK. Statistically, Jennings is overplayed as of late, but he gets LOTS of room for error.
-I don’t think me and Jeremy are related. I do think we are both Bucks fans. I do think part of being a fan is not bashing you team, its players, its coach, and believing that what you have will get it done, until you can improve your situation. After all only 7 teams have been able to upgrade their situation enough to win a championship in the last 25 years. Maybe 8 this year if Lebron, Jamison, and Shaq is enough of an upgrade for the Cavs.
-A coach has to do with both a rook peaking and leveling off
-A coach can overcoach, but a coach has to learn how to coach just like a player has to learn how to play. Thats why he’s a young coach.
-If you want to point fingers Skiles lost us a game earlier this year with Charlie Bell guarding Kobe for a buzzer beater instead of LRMAM, I guess you could credit this one the same if you wanted 1 person to blame.
-Headbands and accessories? I’ve never heard of it, but if thats one of Skiles rules its minimal. The Mavs should let Caron Bulter chew his straws which has some actual value to the player more than just looks.
-Who cares if one player thinks he’s better than the next. Is T.I. the King of the South if Lil Wayne is the Best Rapper Alive?
-Ridnour might not play, if he played for Greg Popavich or Jerry Sloan. But he’d play of almost everybody else the way he’s playing this year.
-I haven’t heard much about Jennings being disgruntled to be in Milwaukee, he’s been quite humble about it. I knew he wanted to go to NYC but who doesn’t?
-Bogut does pay for fans to come to the game…I think its great! Atlanta still can’t fill up the Philips Arena, maybe Marvin Williams should do the same thing in ATL.

The Hawks are bigger, better, and more atheltic that the Bucks hands down. At every position (except 3) they pose a problem for the Bucks and Skiles managed to coach the Bucks to a very competitive, close loss.

Josh Smith messes every line-up the Bucks had up. Intimidates every offensive Bucks possession. The Bucks have no one to guard him. Ersan’s lack of offense was huge because we needed him to guard Smith for size.

Joe Johnson screws up the rest. He’s too big for Salmons, Stackhouse, and Delfino. LRMAM would have to come in at the expense of our 2 or 3 positions on offense which happened to be our only productive positions.

Hard game to coach as are most games with the top 4 ranked teams in each conference for the Bucks. Coaching is one part, but not having the personnel to get the job done is another. It is possible that we could have won this game, but its an unlikely scenario.

Luke subbed in at the 4min mark of the 3rd qtr & Jennings didn’t see the court again. At the 4:30 mark up 5 I think after the T.O. Was the time to enter Jennings back in. The offense became stagnant as Luke is more a scoring guard than Point. The offense became dictated either Bogut or John one on one. The Hawks defense was waiting on them. Also why not double Johnson & make Smith a threat to make decisions. Coach went with his great instinct & sat Jennings way too long. Funny how the above comment said I hope Jennings doesn’t take it personal. Coach is always right & players should just listen. Players sometimes see & feel things coaches cannot. As big a competitor & winner BJ is I could only imagine how he felt. What a confidence booster. How do you blow a 7 game win streak? Do the exact opposite of what won you the 6 games in the 1st place. This was a 1st for the decision to go w/ RIdnour TO LONG. Coach panicked under the pressure of making the playoffs. This isn’t a good team & they’re overacheiving. Salmons has been great but lets take it easy with him being our go 2 guy. Go figure

Folks remember Jennings earned his starting spot & is big reason #’s or not that you guys are in playoff contention. He wasn’t given the reigns or brought in as a savior. Also why do you think the Bucks selected a PG in the draft? Luke is a 7yr veteran & isn’t capable of playing long minutes as a Point. Together no problem. What a way to show trust in your rookie. I’ve been saying this all along. Skiles is to critical of Jennings which isn’t good development.(Micheal Bealsey-Miami)

Skiles has the biggest ego on the team & by proving points during games isn’t a good sign. What did Luc do to be relegated to the bench? Why sit Jennings that long? What did Luke do aside from hitting his 1st 4fg in clutch & overtime. Nothing. He did his best Chris Duhon impersonation of dribbling East/West & posing no threat. Please by all means start Ridnour now & lets get rid of Jennings/Michael Redd. The fans & media who thing Luc is remotely close to being a better general than Brandon. Again have no clue nor have they ever played basketball at a high level. The Bucks need a player like Chris Duhon or Jordan Farmar to really appreciate how lucky they are. The funniest thing is if Brandon & Luke shoot & miss the exact same shot. Brandon’s is considered a rookie look or miss. I thought we were back in Italy yesterday. On N.B.A. fastbreak they highlighted Jennings 3pts 5ast w/o showing mins played.

How does John Salmons have the green light over Jennings. It looks as if Brandon shoots now just to get fg’s up to keep the defense honest. He doesn’t have confidence anymore. The minute he does anything remotely fancy. Coach is down his back. Skiles overcoaching & stubborness will always get the best of him. This is a negative trait for any successful coach to have. Also if I recollect the Hawks won every qtr Brandon didn’t play from the 3rd on. If Brandon was subbed in & won it would have been Skiles credited. He stayed out & they lost. Then it’s the Hawks just outdueled them. Biased writing is sickening or maybe it’s just difference of opinions. We both see the game different. Like I said Skiles nor the organization can never be wrong. Same for the league or it’s officials. Which we all know isn’t true. Everyone is human & wrong at some point. Hopefully Brandon takes this the right way & plays so good they have no choice but to let him shine. I think Skiles would still say 55 is just 55. Just another game. Your best game is the one I’m most pleased with. Aside from his low FG% percentage he really isn’t missing bad. He just needs a little more arc & the confidence in himself & from his teamates & mostly his SERGEANT. To many times they look him of as if he’s selfish. The coaches decision to sit Jennings was wrong & costly. Even Phil Jackson admits when he or the officials are wrong. Skiles should be held in that same regard. BE ACCOUNTABLE. He is just a rookie. A damn good one at that. Just be thankful he went overseas & not to college. They’re would have been no way he felt that low in the draft. Maybe you guys would have been better off with Rubio.