The Bucks outrebounded the Bobcats 40-28 last night which was a key to victory. Carlos Delfino led the way for the Bucks last night with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals last night. Brandon Jennings got himself a triple/double last night with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on 6 of 8 shooting from the floor. Andrew Bogut filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocked shots last night. John Salmons was only 4 of 11 shooting from the floor but he still finished up with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. The Bucks are now 1-2 on the year.

The Bucks only shot 35.6% from the floor tonight and they were outrebounded 62-39 but the T-Wolves. If the Bucks were playing any other team in the NBA they would have lost by at least 25 points tonight. Corey Maggette led the way for the Bucks tonight with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 31 minutes off the bench. Brandon Jennings was laying bricks tonight as he was 4 for 15 from the floor finishing with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists. Drew Gooden only played 19 minutes tonight and he only shot 4 of 13 from the floor yet he still finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. The Bucks are now 0-2 on the year.

The Bucks just couldn’t make enough shots down the stretch to beat the Hornets in the Big Easy last night. Carlos Delfino got the start at small forward and he led the way for the Bucks last night with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals last night. Corey Maggette was outstanding off the bench with 16 points and 7 rebounds in only 20 minutes last night in his Bucks’ debut. Drew Gooden (15 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist), Andrew Bogut (15 points, 15 rebounds and 1 assist) and Brandon Jennings (15 points, 2 rebounds and 10 assists) also had good games for the Bucks last night but it just wasn’t enough. The Bucks are now 0-1 on the year.

The Bucks will be without backup PG/SG Chris Douglas-Roberts for the next month after undergoing eye surgery. This will hurt the Bucks a little bit as they were depending on him to give the bench some scoring punch. Keyon Dooling will back up Brandon Jennings at the point. Carlos Delfino will also likely get more P.T. then he was going to get with Douglas-Roberts out of action. The Bucks are in good shape without Douglas-Roberts but they still can’t wait for him to get back.

The Bucks have released veteran C/PF Brian Skinner. Skinner was just caught in a numbers game as the Bucks are loaded in the frontcourt. I think he will find a new job soon so I wouldn’t feel too sorry for him. In fact I look at this move as a big positive for the Bucks as it shows that they are very happy with the big guys they have ready to go this year.

The Bucks were 46-36 last season and they have added a lot of talent to the roster. I think I would definitely bet the over for Bucks wins in 2010-11. I even think they will have a great shot of winning the Central Divison of the Eastern Conference and earn homecourt for the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks are 60-1 to win the NBA Championship and that’s great value so why not take a chance on them?

46-year old head coach Scott Skiles really coached up the Bucks as no one outside their locker room thought they would be any good. All Skiles did was lead them to a 46-36 (56.1%) record during the regular season and then they took the Atlanta Hawks to seven games before falling. Skiles now has a 80-84 record (48.8%) during his two years in charge in Milwaukee. The Bucks signed Drew Gooden and they traded for Corey Maggette showing a lot of confidence in Skiles as a coach. Skiles now has a 361-335 record (51.9%) during the regular season in his career as a head coach and he is 18-24 (42.9%) during the post season.

Forget all the hype about Brandon Jennings because 25-year old center Andrew Bogut if the key to the Bucks’ success this year. Bogut played in 69 games (all starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 32.3 minutes, 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 331 games (323 starts) in his five years with the Bucks and he has averaged 32.3 minutes, 12.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Bucks need to keep Bogut healthy this year because he is the best player on the team.

34-year old Brian Skinner could get some P.T. behind Bogut at center this year. Skinner played in 16 games (1 start) for the Clippers last season and he averaged 7.7 minutes, 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He has now played in 605 games (197 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.0 minutes, 4.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Skinner is a good rebounder but he doesn’t bring much else to the table.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS CENTERS IN 2010-11: A

29-year old Drew Gooden will be the new starting power forward for the Bucks. Gooden played in 70 games (33 starts) for the Mavericks & Clippers last season and he averaged 25.1 minutes, 10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 580 games (429 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 27.7 minutes, 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Gooden is a solid rebounder and he doesn’t need the basketball to help his team win games.

24-year old Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will likely move to the bench. Mbah a Moute played in 73 games (62 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has now played in 155 games (114 starts) in his two years with the Bucks and he has averaged 25.7 minutes, 6.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Mbah a Moute plays hard every night and he should be a huge asset off the bench for the Bucks this year.

22-year old rookie Larry Sanders will likely be brought along slowly this year. He played in 35 games at VCU last season and he averaged 26.9 minutes, 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocked shots per game. Sanders has now played in 101 games in his NBA career and he has averaged 23.5 minutes, 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 2.7 blocked shots per game. Sanders could be a impact player down the road for the Bucks.

23-year old Jon Brockman is a undersized banger. He played in 52 games (4 starts) as a rookie for the Kings last season and he averaged 12.6 minutes, 2.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. I like Brockman but I don’t see him playing much for the Bucks this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B

30-year old Corey Maggette will be the starting small forward for the Bucks this year. He played in 70 games (49 starts) for the Warriors last season and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Maggette has now played in 710 games (432 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.3 minutes, 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The Bucks are hoping that Maggette will give them more scoring punch in 2010-11.

23-year old Ersan Ilyasova will back up Maggette this year. Ilyasova played in 81 games (31 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 23.4 minutes, 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 147 games (45 starts) in his two years with the Bucks and he has averaged 19.5 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. I look for Ilyasova to be productive off the bench for the Bucks this year.

Rookie Darington Hobson will be brought along slowly by the Bucks this year. He played in 35 games for New Mexico last season and he averaged 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Hobson played in 90 games in his college career and he averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B