Scott Skiles on Brandon Jennings, Bogut's Health, and More

Somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks keep popping up in these discussions. Hmm. In any case, Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles spoke to a local radio station recently, and Sports Radio Interviews provides us with a transcript:

On what they are teaching Brandon Jennings:

"I don’t know that it’s that difficult, but teaching the pro game. The NBA game, by nature of the rules, the skill sets and athleticism of the players is very difficult. You want your point guard to be a person that can relax, play, show all his talents, and at the same time think and know all the situations and direct the team. There’s a lot to learn. He’s making great progress. He pretty much dominated practice today and he’s starting to come on. I feel like Chicago was his best game. He and I looked at a lot of tape this morning of that game and I really feel like he’s making a lot of progress." […]

On the injuries of Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut:

"I leave that kind of stuff up to the medical staff. If guys are 100 percent cleared, ready to go, we’re going to play that given night to win the game. I think that’s the only way you can go about it. If I get word during the day that somebody, somehow has to have limited minutes because they’re sore or something, then we take that into account. Michael’s been great, he’s moved very well, had another good day today, looks 100 percent, his knee is testing out even stronger than it was before. And Bogs (Andrew Bogut) we’re being a little bit more cautious with because he’s seven feet tall and he’s 24 years old. He’s cleared to go, but I held him out of a game, a couple of practices I’ve held him out because you want to be smart during exhibition. We want to try and have him for 82 regular season games."

On replacing Richard Jefferson:

"We know for a fact, its been proven already, that Luc (Richard) Mbah a Moute could start at the three, be a really nice defensive presence for us, rebound the ball and his offense game is growing and coming around. We also know though because he can guard four different positions that he’s valuable coming off the bench. Carlos (Delfino) has played very well so far in exhibition, we like him as well there as a starter. Anytime Charlie Bell can play a little bit there, Michael Redd could play a little bit there, we could go small and we feel like we have some pretty good options and pretty good depth there."

Interesting stuff, there, particularly with respect to Jennings, who I’ve already explained is a favorite of mine. But also, in replacing Jefferson with Mbah a Moute, the Bucks may not find themselves losing as much as they thought. They’ll get plenty of scoring elsewhere on their roster—if Michael Redd gets healthy, it’s a whole new ballgame for them—but in Mbah a Moute, they get a lockdown defender who’ll take on the best swingman in the lead on a nightly basis. And that type of player, while not necessarily spectacular, is a guy that can really help a team.

And since I just touted the virtues of Luc Mbah a Moute, I think I’m probably reading too deeply into the Bucks’ fortunes. Let’s talk about Lebron!