[narek]

Another ex-Milwaukeean coming up:

Teams: Bucks (8-10) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7-12).

When: 5 p.m. today.

Where: The Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.

Broadcasts: TV - FSN Wisconsin cable. Radio - AM-620.

About the Trail Blazers: Portland is coming off consecutive victories over Miami and Memphis, the first time the team has won two straight games since putting together four straight victories from Nov. 7-13. With an average age of 24 years and 26 days on opening night, the Blazers were the youngest team in the league and the youngest team in franchise history.

PLAYER TO WATCH
JAMES JONES, Trail Blazers

Since coming off the inactive list last week, the 6-foot-8 guard / forward has scored in double figures in three of four games. In the last three games, he has averaged just over 25 minutes, has made 9 of 13 three-point shots and has averaged 13.3 points. In the last two games, he has made 11 of 14 shots, including 8 of 10 three-pointers. He missed most of the exhibition season with a knee injury.

LINEUPS
PROBABLE TRAIL BLAZERS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Steve Blake 6-3 Maryland
G-Brandon Roy 6-6 Wash.
F-LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 Texas
F-Martell Webster 6-7 Seattle
C-Joel Przybilla 7-1 Minnesota

Coach: Nate McMillan (third season, 60-123; eighth overall, 272-306).

Injury report: Darius Miles (right knee) and Greg Odon (right knee) are out.

PROBABLE BUCKS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Mo Williams 6-1 Alabama
G-Michael Redd 6-6 Ohio State
F-D. Mason 6-5 Okla. State
F-Yi Jianlian 7-0 China
C-Andrew Bogut 7-0 Utah

Coach: Larry Krystkowiak (second season, 13-23).

Injury report: Michael Ruffin (left wrist) and David Noel (wrist) are out. Bobby Simmons (personal) is not with team.

THE SERIES
The teams split the two-game set last season with both teams winning at home. Portland plays at Milwaukee on March 7.

NUMBERS GAME
8 Bogut's double-doubles this season.

9 Career games in which Redd has scored 40 or more points.

34-41 Seattle's free throws made and attempted in Friday's victory over the Bucks, which were season highs.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694662

[narek]

I can't believe those jump shots they were taking with the game on the line. Go to the rim, and quit hanging around taking 3s! At least CV is taking it to the hoop instead of putting up jumpers.

Mo was terrific bringing the Bucks back, but bad choices cost us in the end. I wish Coach K would start yanking players who keep shooting threes instead of working for a better shot.

[MB30]

Yeah, watching Redd take contested threes when ur up 5 is quite mind numbing. Was a good game though - Bucks shoulda taken it.

[narek]

Losing starting to get old

Portland, Ore. - After the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night in Seattle - their sixth loss in seven games - point guard Mo Williams pointed out that the Bucks "just had to find a way" to get a victory.

Well, guess what?

"It ain't done yet; we ain't there yet," Williams said after the Bucks yielded 56.3% shooting in a 117-113 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday afternoon at the Rose Garden. "You haven't found a way until you get a win."

The Bucks rallied from deficits of 13 points in the third quarter and 10 early in the fourth but blew a six-point lead with 2 minutes 16 seconds left in regulation.

Mo Williams missed an open three-pointer to send the game into overtime tied, 105-105.

In overtime, the Bucks led, 112-107, with 2:28 left but Portland outscored Milwaukee, 10-1, the rest of the way. The Bucks missed all seven of their shots in the last 2:28 and were 2 for 12 (16.7%) in overtime.

Victories have definitely become hard to come by for the Bucks, who have lost three straight after beating the Los Angeles Clippers to open the five-game western trip. They will conclude the trip tonight in Sacramento and return home to play the mighty Orlando Magic Wednesday at the Bradley Center.

"Guys have to remain professional," center Andrew Bogut said. "Being an NBA player isn't all about the glamour of the nightlife and playing in front of thousands of people. It's about getting wins, too. I don't think we realize that yet but we're a young team and we're trying to get better. These last two games have definitely been an improvement from where we were in Golden State.

"Every team has problems and bumps in the road . . . and has guys that maybe think they're not playing as much as they should or that there are guys who are playing too much. It's a matter of being professional. . . . You just have to keep working hard and being professional."

Said rookie forward Yi Jianlian, "We didn't play very good today. Going into the third quarter behind wasn't a good thing. But we've only played 20 games so far so we still have a lot of opportunities to improve and that's what we have to look forward to. We still have a lot of small details abut our performance that we need to iron out for the future."

[narek]

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Guard Brandon Roy, the rookie of the year last season, was outstanding for Portland. "I thought both Brandon and Martell Webster were the reason we were able to do so well in stopping Michael Redd (5-for-23 shooting, 18 points)," Portland coach Nate McMillan said.

PLAY OF THE GAME: With the score tied, 105-105, in regulation, the Bucks came out of a timeout and inbounded to Mo Williams, who dribbled the clock down but missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer. "I just wanted the last shot," Williams said. "You're on the road and you don't want to give them any more time. I've shot that shot 100 times in my head and have practiced it in the gym. . . . Maybe I should have pump-faked."

OFF THE BENCH: Portland forward Travis Outlaw made only three of 11 shots but killed the Bucks with his ability to get to the foul line. He made 14 of 16 free throws and finished with 20 points.

STATISTICS SHEET: The Trail Blazers blistered the Milwaukee defense all day, shooting 61.8% in taking a 57-51 halftime lead, shooting 62.5% in the

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694811

[narek]

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Guard Brandon Roy, the rookie of the year last season, was outstanding for Portland. "I thought both Brandon and Martell Webster were the reason we were able to do so well in stopping Michael Redd (5-for-23 shooting, 18 points)," Portland coach Nate McMillan said.

PLAY OF THE GAME: With the score tied, 105-105, in regulation, the Bucks came out of a timeout and inbounded to Mo Williams, who dribbled the clock down but missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer. "I just wanted the last shot," Williams said. "You're on the road and you don't want to give them any more time. I've shot that shot 100 times in my head and have practiced it in the gym. . . . Maybe I should have pump-faked."

OFF THE BENCH: Portland forward Travis Outlaw made only three of 11 shots but killed the Bucks with his ability to get to the foul line. He made 14 of 16 free throws and finished with 20 points.

STATISTICS SHEET: The Trail Blazers blistered the Milwaukee defense all day, shooting 61.8% in taking a 57-51 halftime lead, shooting 62.5% in the third quarter and finishing at 56.3% for the game.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694811