(We’re counting down the best 20 Bucks since 1991 over the next few weeks. It’s something to do with the lockout sucking the life out of NBA fans. We continue with number 14. Richard Jefferson. Another in a long line of players with one successful season (though many other had a few crappy ones too), RJ initially had some Bucks hesitation, but turned around and gave Milwaukee all he had during his one year stay.  – Jeremy)

Spoiler Alert: Richard Jefferson is the only one-year Buck on this list. That doesn’t really matter. His biggest contribution to the Bucks had nothing to do with his play on the court. This isn’t to say that he didn’t play well. He played damn well.  Even if he never would have played a minute for the Bucks, he probably would still have made the list.

He was the guy traded for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. That’s the only reason he needs to be on this list. So, thanks to Jefferson, John Hammond, Nets General Manger Kiki Vandeweghe, and the entire New Jersey Nets organization for getting two presumably good human beings, but terrible basketball players out of Milwaukee. For fun, let’s look at some stats:

2008-09 Richard Jefferson: 82 GS/ 1607 PTS/ 374 REB/199 AST/.439 FG%/ .397 3P%/ $13,200,000

2008-09 Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian: 96 GS/ 1081 PTS/ 603 REB/ 152 AST/ .413 FG%/ .410 FG%/ $13,588,747

I love advanced stats. I love giving the counterargument to common sense. Sometimes you have to look at the ol’ regular stats and common sense (Jianlian is one of the worst Bucks draft picks ever and Simmons’s agent is a con man) and nod your head accordingly.

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Enemy: 48 Minutes of Hell

Point Guard
Keyon Dooling vs. Tony Parker

It seems like none of the Spurs ever slow down.  Parker is again hitting better than 50% of his shots from the field this season, an incredible number for the average point guard, but typical for Parker, who once led the league in points in the paint.  And he does his work all without the benefit of a 3-point shot, as he’s only eight of 28 from deep this season.  He’ll cause problems all night if Dooling can’t keep him out of the paint, as he’s a very good passer and knows when to drop it off inside and when to keep it himself for a floater or layup.  Bogut will have his hands full with both Parker and Ginobili penetrating.

Advantage: Spurs Read more…

Since taking over as Milwaukee Bucks general manager on April 11, 2008, John Hammond has shown he’s not afraid to make a deal. I’d go as far as to say he’s probably talking about a trade right now. He’s made more trades in his tenure than I have in the last 10 dynasties I’ve done in NBA2K. In a little over two years at the helm, Hammond has made 12 trades. For perspective on that number, the Bucks last general manager, Larry Harris, made 11 trades in his entire term as general manager (July 2003- April 2008). But this shouldn’t be too surprising. Given the situation Hammond walked into when taking the Bucks job, trades were the only way out. Milwaukee was in salary cap hell with a roster full of under-performing, me first, offensive players.

Not every move has gone smoothly for Hammond. The initial acquisition of Richard Jefferson was a flashy way to start things off, but didn’t pan out. Had Michael Redd stayed healthy and Joe Alexander given the Bucks anything at all, maybe the story of Jefferson in Milwaukee plays out a little differently, but things ended as they did. Jefferson’s stock dropped so far so fast that only a year later, he was dealt for what looked like virtually nothing at the time.

Oddly enough though, it’s now possible to make a case that the Bucks won that deal. Kurt Thomas played a key role for Milwaukee down the stretch and Amir Johnson was a part of the deal that brought another starter, Carlos Delfino, to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Jefferson is now looking at another $40 million plus coming his way and Johnson is locked in for $30 some million himself. Milwaukee arguably has the most productive player of those three in Delfino and is paying him by far the least. That looks like a win to me.

And that’s been a common theme in Hammond’s deals. Whether it’s a non-contributing Malik Allen going to Denver for Sonny Weems or a nearly worthless pick going to New Jersey for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Hammond has had a knack for buying low in the trade market. There are many reason’s why Milwaukee has turned things around so quickly, but Hammond’s aggressive moves in the trade market have played as significant a role as any. Read more…

San Antonio Spurs (Greg Popovich) 15-11

(Probable) Inactives: Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Marcus Haislip

at

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 12-15

(Probable) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Dan Gadzuric and Roko Ukic

Date: 12/26/2009

Time: 7:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-Ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Tony Parker

Parker has made a career out of blowing by defenders and finishing at the rim or in the paint.  Jennings has shown the ability to do the first part of that, but hasn’t quite mastered the second half.  Jennings is finishing on only 46 percent of his shots at the rim, whereas Parker has consistently finished between 64 and 65 percent of his over the past four years.  But it wasn’t always so easy for Parker.  He never approached 50 percent on overall shooting until his fourth season and, while I don’t have the numbers, it’s unlikely he was as successful at the rim early in his career either.  The NBA paint is a tough place for smaller players, especially younger ones.  But with development and smarts they can evolve, as Parker has.

Advantage: Spurs Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 8-3

(Likely) Inactives: Michael Redd, Joe Alexander and Andrew Bogut

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San Antonio Spurs (Gregg Popovich) 5-6

(Likely) Inactives: Manu Ginobili

Game time: 7:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Tony Parker

Parker returned on Saturday after missing two games with a left ankle sprain.  Tony Parker on a sprained left ankle is more dangerous than most guards on two healthy ones, so it’s not like he’ll be an easy guard just because he’s had some injuries this year.  His numbers are down a little from a year ago when he had what was likely his best season ever.  The fact that the question can seriously be posed as to whether he’s taken the reins on this team from Tim Duncan says a lot about his talent.  Jennings has faced some talented point guards thus far, but hasn’t faced one with Parker’s scorer mentality.  He gets in the paint and scores more than most.  The back-and-forth battle between these two should be worth the price of admission, Jennings has been nearly unconscious all season long.  It’s very safe to say he’s outperformed Parker even.  In fact, this seems like the very type of game Jennings will bring just a little bit extra for.

Advantage: Bucks Read more…