11-23-2007, 05:01 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,459
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JS: Bucks' bench holds up well
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The Bucks are 10 games and six victories into their season, and while not a whole lot is clear yet about this team, one thing is coming into focus. If this team is going to be successful, it probably will take an "all-hands-on-deck" approach to its games.
Sure, the same five players (Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut, Yi Jianlian and Desmond Mason) have started every game. But there is an expression in the league that it's not who starts that matters, it's who finishes. So it's interesting that reserve forward Charlie Villanueva has played the entire fourth quarter in the last two games and bench running mate Bobby Simmons has played all but 8 seconds of the fourth quarters of those two games.
The starters have not opened the last two games well - the Bucks fell behind in the first quarter by 14 to Cleveland on Tuesday and by 11 early in the second quarter to the Lakers on Wednesday - but the bench has been there to help bail them out.
The players continue to settle into their roles.
"That's still a work in progress," Simmons said. "But as long as we keep winning, it's going to work its way out."
Foul trouble and another lousy start caused Krystkowiak to go to his bench early and often against the Lakers. Dan Gadzuric played all seven of his minutes in the first quarter, Charlie Bell played all nine of his in the second quarter, and even little-used Jake Voskuhl played more than 10 minutes. Villanueva and Simmons were key contributors down the stretch.
"I think in the last 10 days or even two weeks we've kind of recaptured a little bit of enthusiasm with the supporting cast," Krystkowiak said. "We've got maybe two or three guys that could easily start. I have to pick five to begin with, and I think maybe there were some guys who were down initially because they weren't starters and had a hard time adjusting to their role. We need everybody."
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Backups provide key support in victories
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JS: Bucks' bench holds up well
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