Backup power forward Ersan Ilyasova has been stepping up lately for the Milwaukee Bucks.  In his last five games, Ilyasova is averaging 11.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.  The Bucks are hoping that he can keep up the good work with Andrew Bogut going to miss the next 8-12 weeks.  Ilyasova has now played in 19 games (9 starts) for the Bucks so far this year and he is averaging 21.9 minutes, 8.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

26-year old guard Shaun Livingston has stepped into the starting lineup in the last four games for the Bucks and they are 3-1 in those games.  He is averaging 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his four starts.  Livingston has now played in 17 games (4 starts) for the Bucks so far this year and he is averaging 23.1 minutes, 7.5  points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.  He is also shooting and amazing 54.5% from the floor.  I look for the Bucks to keep starting Livingston as long as they are winning and he is playing well.

22-year old point guard Brandon Jennings shoots quite a bit.  The problem with that is Jennings is not and has never been, a good shooter.  Jennings has played in 6 games (all starts) for the Bucks so far this year and he is averaging 38.7 minutes, 19.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game.  Those are solid numbers, but Jennings is only shooting 40.7% from the floor and a woeful 28.9% (11 of 38) from three point range.  The Bucks need to covince Jennings to shoot less and pass more….which is generally what point guards are supposed to do.

The biggest key to the success or lack of, will be the health of 27-year old center Andrew Bogut.  He is the one player the Bucks couldn’t replace as he is a force in the paint.  He has played in 2 games (both starts) so far this year for the Bucks and he is averaging 34.0 minutes, 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game.  The Bucks really hope that Bogut can stay in one piece this year, but that hasn’t been the norm for him.  Most of his injuries have been of the serious nature,  so it’s hard to call him injury prone.

27-year old center Andrew Bogut is the best player on the Bucks and they need to find a way to keep him healthy….which won’t be easy.  Bogut played in 65 games (all starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 35.3 minutes, 12.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 blocked shots per game.  Bogut’s other weakness, other than staying healthy, is his free-throw shooting as he only hit 44.2% of his shots from the free-throw line last year.  Bogut has now played in 396 games (388 starts) in his career with the Bucks and he is averaging 32.8 minutes, 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  Bogut is starting to move up in the record books for the Bucks as he is #5 in rebounds (3,710) and #3 in blocked shots (618) in team history.

21-year old point guard Brandon Jennings has really played pretty well for the Bucks as of late.  In his last six games, Jennings is averaging 42.2 minutes, 22.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He has now played in 57 games (55 starts) so far this year for the Bucks and he is averaging 34.3 minutes, 16.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  Jennings is only shooting 38.7% from the floor this season as he continues to have problems with shot selection.

24-year old small forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is a solid player but the Bucks just don’t give him consistent P.T.   He has played in 7 games so far this March and he is averaging 32.6 minutes, 8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 64 games (37 starts) so far this year for the Bucks and he is averaging 25.7 minutes, 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Mbah a Moute is a decent offensive player and a good defensive player.  The Bucks always seem to be a better team when he’s on the floor.

31-year old small forward Corey Maggette is getting big minutes and he’s making them count lately for the Bucks.  In Maggette’s last five games, he is averaging 32.0 minutes, 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on 50% shooting from the floor.  Maggette has now played in 39 games (8 starts) for the Bucks this year and he is averaging 22.1 minutes, 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  The Bucks were dumb to cut Maggette’s minutes earlier this year as he is one of the best offensive  players on the team.

The Bucks usually play like 26-year old center Andrew Bogut plays.  He’s on fire in his last four games in which the Bucks are 3-1.  Bogut is averaging 39.0 minutes, 20.8 points, 16.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.8 blocked shots per game in his last four games.  Bogut has now played in 16 games (all starts) for the Bucks this year and he is averaging 35.1 minutes, 13.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.9 blocked shots per game.  Bogut is without a doubt the best player on the Bucks so they need him to remain focused and healthy like he is right now.

28-year old Carlos Delfino has been starting at small forward this year for the Bucks and he has been outstanding. Delfino has started all 3 games for the Bucks so far this year and he is averaging 36.7 minutes, 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Delfino has been shooting good from everywhere on the floor so far this year for the Bucks as he is hitting 48.6% from the floor, 46.2% from three point range and 100% from the free throw line. He will keep playing over Corey Maggette as long as he keeps playing at his current level.