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Could this be the new face of the Milwaukee Bucks bench?

DJ Mbenga is an NBA champion. The eight year veteran spent 4 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two of the four seasons culminated in a NBA title. Sure, Mbenga put up a total of 7 points throughout both championship runs for the Lakers, but there’s something to be said for being there.

Mbenga is a 31 year old 7 footer who has averaged less than 7 minutes his entire career. So why on earth are the Milwaukee Bucks taking such a long look at Mbenga by bringing him on their summer league roster? Are the Bucks finally serious about the center position in the post-Bogut era? Or are they simply trying to find their next cheerleader?

Mbenga’s general lack of court time fits right in with Jon Brockman’s role last year, who averaged a whole 6.8 minutes of garbage time. Mbenga has been in this minimal role his entire career and seems perfectly content in it. And while Mbenga isn’t the Twitter sensation that Brockman is (338 followers vs. 316k followers, respectively), they both seem to be fan favorites. Congo Cash anyone?

As currently constructed, the Bucks have 13 players under contract, so in theory they could sign a wing and one other bench warmer. The ‘sexy’ backup center free agent that’s been linked to Milwaukee is Jermaine O’Neal. But if the Bucks really feel the need to add another big man to this roster, they don’t need a 16 year veteran that’s looking for 20 minutes a game. They need a new Jon Brockman, and DJ Mbenga might be it.

The offseason is always a time to speculate, and while the Bucks aren’t usually making rumor mill headlines on a national level, there are some local grumblings that the Bucks coaching position might not be as concrete as we thought. Gery Woelfel is reporting that the Orlando Magic might have interest in Scott Skiles. The Magic, who fired their coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday, have much love for Skiles from his playing days. While this would probably be a best case scenario for the Bucks, I find it hard to believe the Magic would replace a hard-nosed, no BS coach like Van Gundy, with another hard nosed coach like Skiles. A player’s coach seems like a more probable fit in an effort to appease and retain Dwight Howard.

Don’t forget – ping pong balls decide all of the losing team’s fate in the epic television adventure known as the NBA Draft Lottery next Wednesday!

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

Luc Mbah a Moute will undergo surgery on his right knee and Carlos Delfino will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his groin.

Jim over at OnMilwaukee.com talked to the newest, youngest members of the Bucks to get their take on the team as well as the city. Then pondered the extend or trade Brandon Jennings scenario that is on the horizon.

Charles Gardner at JSOnline graded each member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Only one A (Ilyasova) and one F (Jackson) were awarded.

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

The Bucks are more or less in the same spot they were in a week ago. On the outside looking in. This time, they face the grimm reality of A.) having to go 6-0 to earn their playoff spot or B.) relying on Philly or New York to lose much more than they do. Squeaking into the playoffs is not out of the question, but had they defeated New York last week or Indiana on Saturday, they’d be in a much safer place right now.

Recap

04/09/12 Bucks v. Pacers

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 17
John Hollinger: 13
NBA.com: 18

Coverage

Charles Gardner of JSOnline talks about the Bucks’ recent road success (8 of last 9) coupled with their recent home failures (0 of last 3). Gardner also DEVOTED AN ENTIRE ARTICLE TO LARRY SANDERS. Don’t let it go to your head, Larry.

Much has been said about the Bucks’ transition from defensive stopper to offensive juggernaut, from Gardner’s take to newly acquired bucks.com writer Alex Boeder’s perspective, but the proof is really in the numbers. Ranked 1st in assists and 5th in points per game, Skiles has shown his ability to lead a selfless, fast paced offense. The Bucks have given up on defense, however, allowing 98.7 points per game, good for 21st worst in the league.

Steve Von Horn over at Brewhoop compiled his wish-list for a non-playoff bound Bucks team. In four words: Develop the young guys.

Jake McCormick at Behind the Buck Pass gives Mike Dunleavy some well deserved man-love.

The obligatory remaining games table is below (everyone cheer hard for the Cavs):

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

Currently on the outside looking in, the Milwaukee Bucks get their first taste of basic cable national television coverage in a game that very well may dictate if they are still playing come May. So if you can’t make it down to the Bradley Center tonight, make sure you catch a glimpse of the Bucks on national television.  It’ll hopefully be the first of at least (but probably no more than) five.

Recap

04/09/12 Bucks v. Thunder

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 18
John Hollinger: 13
NBA.com: 16

Coverage

A fantastic look at Mbah a Moute by Hickory High.

Speaking of Milwaukee’s favorite Cameroon hoopster, Moute recently helped a man propose to his girlfriend. SPOILER: she said yes.

Almost in harmonic fashion, the second the Bucks put together a solid month of basketball, the new arena issue makes the Journal Sentinel. While merely point-counterpoint thusfar, the Journal is doing their best to keep the pot stirring.

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

The Bucks’ 5 games in 6 nights stretch is over, and unfortunately, they won the least important two. Losing to Boston, New York, and Indiana only pushed them further out of playoff contention. Last night’s 33 point outburst from Monta Ellis seems to have given the franchise a ray of hope, only a day after losing a crucial game against New York. What’s next? Five of the next six opponent are against sub-.500 teams, so don’t lose all hope yet.

Recap

03/26/12 Bucks @ Knicks

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

03/27/12 Bucks v. Hawks

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 20
John Hollinger: 16
NBA.com: 19

Coverage

Onmilwaukee.com caught up with newly acquired PF/C Ekpe Udoh to discuss his transition to Milwaukee. Udoh’s pretty candid here, talking about everything from how he heard he was coming to Milwaukee (locker room TV), to being used to winter. Hard not to admire the guy for his honesty in a world of canned responses.

CNN profiles Luc Richard Mbah a Moute as a part of their African Voices series. From a basketball perspective it’s nothing you haven’t heard before, but it offers a glimpse into Moute’s upbringing, his pride for his homeland, and his commitment to children.

Apparently, Oakland breeds honesty. After his 33 point performance last night, Monta Ellis said family was a big reason he played so well. “I saw my wife (Juanika) today. She really lifted me up; because that’s the first time she’s been here. And then to see my kids (son Monta Jr. and daughter Myla) on FaceTime, that really lifted me up, so I just wanted to come out and have some fun tonight.” Sounds more and more like the Bucks traded one classy guy for another.

Michael Hunt thinks it’s time for Monta Ellis to take over this Bucks team. What do you think?

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

Who would’ve thought? After hitting a low point of 14-23 following a woeful 3 game road trip, the Bucks are now riding THEIR OFFENSE in a 6 game, 7 out of 8 winning stretch. The team has skyrocketed to 4th in the league in assists and 7th in the league in points per game. In their final 21 games of the regular season, they only play 9 games against teams with winning records. Remember that this offensive outburst started before the Andrew Bogut trade, but is now being perpetuated by it (so far).

Recap

03/20/12 Bucks @ Blazers

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 21
John Hollinger: 13!
NBA.com: 19

Coverage

Gery Woelfel dives deep into the Bogut trade and reasoning why the Bucks finally let go of the big man.

The Golden State Warriors retired Chris Mullin’s jersey Monday night, but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd in Oakland. Fans booed Warriors owner Joe Lacob in disapproval of the Bogut/Ellis deal.

Speaking of the Bogut/Ellis deal, Charles Gardner at JSOnline is reporting that the Bucks insisted that Ekpe Udoh be included in the trade if the Warriors wanted Bogut.

Drew Gooden was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week one week after Ersan Ilyasova earned the title. That’s the first time the team has strung together back-to-back POTW awards since Mike Redd/Mo Williams donned Bucks’ jerseys. Congrats Gents!

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

Recap

02/20/12 Bucks v. 76ers

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

03/07/12 Bucks v. Bulls

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 28
John Hollinger: 22
NBA.com: 24

Coverage

This may be absolutely nothing. But it may also foreshadow the team’s long term future at head coach. Scott Skiles has put his Wisconsin home up for sale.

Gery Woelfel ponders what the Bucks might do with Ersan Ilyasova, mentioning that he might be able to net $5 million per year tax free back home in Turkey. Ersan has had a rocky career as a Buck, both in performance and desire to be a part of the team, but there’s no denying his stellar play as of late. Will the Bucks let him walk like the Villanueva’s and Sessions’ of the world?

Rumors swirled that Kyrylo Fesenko was a possible mid-season signing for the Bucks to fill their gaping void at center, but Woelfel is reporting that the Bucks aren’t that interested anymore. What does that mean? MORE DREW GOODEN!

Stephen Jackson continues to verbalize his desire to be anywhere not named Milwaukee. He told CSNChicago.com that Chicago, “would be a great fit for me.”  When Coach Thibodeau was asked about Jackson, Tom replied,  ”He’s a talented player, but I have enough to worry about with our team.” Does anyone want sJax? Please?

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).

And so it is. The Bucks season is at the official halfway point, and it’s not pretty. Losers of 7 of their last 10 along with a 6 game home losing streak, the Bucks are 7 games below .500 and 10th in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. A break from Bucks basketball is good for everyone involved, from players to season ticket holders. So begins another round of Buck Hits.

Recap

02/20/12 Bucks v. Magic

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

02/22/12 Bucks @ Bulls

Box Score

Analysis: JSOnline, Brewhoop, Behind the Buck Pass

Power Rankings

Marc Stein: 26
John Hollinger: 22
NBA.com: 23

Coverage

Big Man Bad News #1: Drew Gooden has a torn wrist ligament. Gooden claims he wants to come back next week, which means he might play with pain the rest of the season. Sound familiar?

Big Man Bad News #2: Looks like free agent center Joel Przybilla is heading back to Portland. So much for his wisconsin love.

Feel Good Story #1: The Bucks are hosting their annual blood drive today. If you are physically able, please donate!

Feel Good Story #2: Brewhoop, in an effort to cheer up the fanbase reminds us that Shaun Livingston’s resurgence is a bright spot this season.

Coach Scott Skiles has a strong opinion regarding rest in professional sports. What’s notable is while it appears that he’s speaking in general terms, he’s most likely talking about the Bucks.
“Any time you have slippage now, it’s very hard to catch up. It just keeps slipping and slipping and slipping.” Eek.

Brian Matzat is a contributor to Bucksketball.com. Follow him on Twitter. Then become a fan of Bucksketball on Facebook (click in the sidebar).