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Looking for toughness, Bucks hire feisty Skiles


The Milwaukee Bucks need to play tougher defense, and start sharing the ball on offense. So they're turning to Scott Skiles, the man who owns the NBA's single-game assist record and who once got into a fight with Shaquille O'Neal in his playing days.

The Bucks introduced Skiles as their new coach Monday, signing the former Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns coach to a four-year deal to replace Larry Krystkowiak.

And while Skiles said he learned some lessons after the Bulls fired him in December, he isn't backing away from his reputation for demanding a lot from his players.

"I always feel like I'm supposed to apologize for that," Skiles said. "Anybody that is going to come to work with enthusiasm, concentrate and play hard will never have a problem with me. I don't care if they throw the ball in the seats 25 times a game."

Skiles, who was drafted out of Michigan State by the Bucks in the first round in 1986, said he has a "fond place" in his heart for Milwaukee. But he has no illusions about the difficult task he faces in turning around a team that began the season with playoff aspirations but finished 26-56.

"It's not going to be easy," Skiles said. "I don't have any magic dust to sprinkle on people. We're going to have to do it by working harder and playing better [defense], and the first step will be getting competitive every single night. The team has not been competitive every night and if we do that, good things will happen."

Skiles spent nearly three full seasons in Phoenix after taking over for Danny Ainge early in the 1999-00 season. He was fired by the Bulls in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons in Chicago.

Ginobili wins award

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili won the NBA's sixth man award given to the league's best reserve.

Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Ginobili came off the bench in 51 of his 74 games he played.

Kobe wants to stay

Kobe Bryant, who demanded a trade last May, now says he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers and is open to finishing his career with them.

"I love the weather," Bryant said. "I love my '63 drop-top Impala. I love the 405 [freeway]. I love my guys."

The Milwaukee Bucks planned to introduce new coach Scott Skiles on Monday afternoon, a person with knowledge of the hiring told The Associated Press. The person, who requested anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced, said the team was to make the announcement at a 5 p.m. EDT news conference.

The move, which would come less than a week after the firing of Larry Krystkowiak, was first reported by The New York Post on its Web site.

The 44-year-old Skiles will bring extensive NBA head coaching experience and a disciplinarian approach to Milwaukee -- something the Bucks didn't necessarily get from their two previous coaches, Krystkowiak and Terry Stotts.

Skiles, a close friend of Krystkowiak, was fired by Chicago in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons as the Bulls' head coach. Skiles also coached three seasons in Phoenix.

Krystkowiak, who was fired Thursday, was a first-time NBA head coach when he replaced Stotts near the end of the 2006-2007 season. Stotts had only 1 1/2 seasons of NBA head coaching experience in Atlanta.

In announcing Krystkowiak's firing last week, new Bucks general manager John Hammond said experience wasn't necessarily a prerequisite for the team's next head coach. But Hammond insisted that the Bucks had to get tougher -- and toughness has been Skiles' trademark characteristic, both as a player and as a coach.

Skiles originally was taken by the Bucks out of Michigan State in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft and played 10 seasons with Milwaukee, Indiana, Orlando, Washington and Philadelphia.

Scott Skiles has verbally accepted an offer from the Milwaukee Bucks to be their new head coach, the New York Post reported Monday, citing a league source.

Skiles

Skiles, who was thought to be a candidate for the New York Knicks' vacancy, would replace Larry Krystkowiak in Milwaukee. The Bucks fired Krystkowiak on Thursday, one day after finishing 26-56 in his one full season as coach.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel characterized Skiles' hiring as imminent, saying the team and coach were making significant progress in contract negotiations. "The search is continuing. We're making progress and our goal, as stated before, is to react quickly," new Bucks general manager John Hammond told the newspaper Sunday, adding, "We will not discuss individual names of candidates at this time."

Hammond is attempting to mold the Bucks, one of the NBA's worst defensive teams, into a championship contender.

"The bottom line on this decision is that this is a results-driven league," Hammond said last week, when Krystkowiak's firing was announced. "Sometimes it comes down to wins and losses. Once again, the man that Larry was and the effort he put forth had little to do with the decision."

Skiles was fired by the Chicago Bulls last December after telling management he thought the team needed "a new voice." He was 165-172 during his time in Chicago, which began in November 2003 when he replaced Bill Cartwright.

The Bucks drafted Skiles in the first round of the 1986 draft, but he played only 13 games that season because of a neck injury. He played 10 seasons in the NBA.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Milwaukee Bucks Fire Larry Krystkowiak

Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak was fired today, sources confirmed, one day after the team finished a deeply disappointing season with a 26-56 record.

Krystkowiak, who was named head coach on March 15, 2007, won 31 of 100 games with the Bucks. His final defeat came as the Bucks fell in overtime, 110-101, to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

New Bucks general manager John Hammond said earlier this week that he would move quickly to determine Krystkowiak’s status once the season ended, and the two met this morning. On Wednesday, Hammond also said director of player personnel Dave Babcock would be retained.

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the team has assigned rookie guard Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) to the Tulsa 66ers (Okla.) of the NBA Development League. Tulsa is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer and has served as the Bucks D-League affiliate since the 2005-06 season.

“This is an opportunity for Ramon to see regular minutes and further develop his skills,” said Harris. “Coach Meyer and the Tulsa organization are receiving a talented, young player, and we look forward to watching Ramon’s progress as a member of the 66ers.”

Sessions, 21, was selected by the Bucks with the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 assists in four NBA Summer league contests. He played three seasons at the University of Nevada as a point guard and earned Second Team All-WAC honors during his junior season, in addition to being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. During the 2006-07 season, he was third on the team in scoring (12.3), second in rebounding (4.7) and first in assists (4.7, second in the WAC).

Damir Markota (2007) and Ersan Ilyasova (2005-06) have also played with the 66ers in the D-League over the last two seasons for the Bucks. The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (TX), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Utah Flash (Provo). MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the team has assigned rookie guard Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) to the Tulsa 66ers (Okla.) of the NBA Development League. Tulsa is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer and has served as the Bucks D-League affiliate since the 2005-06 season.

“This is an opportunity for Ramon to see regular minutes and further develop his skills,” said Harris. “Coach Meyer and the Tulsa organization are receiving a talented, young player, and we look forward to watching Ramon’s progress as a member of the 66ers.”

Sessions, 21, was selected by the Bucks with the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 assists in four NBA Summer league contests. He played three seasons at the University of Nevada as a point guard and earned Second Team All-WAC honors during his junior season, in addition to being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. During the 2006-07 season, he was third on the team in scoring (12.3), second in rebounding (4.7) and first in assists (4.7, second in the WAC).

Damir Markota (2007) and Ersan Ilyasova (2005-06) have also played with the 66ers in the D-League over the last two seasons for the Bucks. The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (TX), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Utah Flash (Provo).

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 3 (AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks haven't exactly fixed their defense, but they didn't have to against a Chicago Bulls team that's looking lost on offense.

Michael Redd scored 27 points and rookie Yi Jianlian added 16 in his strongest performance yet to help the Bucks beat the Bulls 78-72 Saturday night for their first victory of the season.

Milwaukee snapped a 15-game losing streak to Central Division opponents dating back nearly a year, and kept Chicago winless through the first week of the season.

Hounded by defensive lapses in their first two games, the Bucks held the Bulls in check on a miserable night for Chicago's starters. Ben Gordon scored 15, but the rest of the starting five - Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Wallace and Kirk Hinrich - were held to single digits.

"It's important for us to take a little bit of this and bottle it up,'' Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "Because if we play with that kind of focus and energy on the defensive (end) consistently, then we'll have an opportunity to make some strides.''

But Bulls coach Scott Skiles saw plenty of open shots available to his players. They just didn't knock many of them down.

"We just don't look like we're real confident right now, and it shouldn't be that way at this level,'' Skiles said.

Shot after open shot clanked off the rim for the Bulls. Deng was 4-for-11 from the floor, Hinrich 3-for-12. Hinrich described the offense as "helter-skelter'' and said the Bulls simply don't have any composure.

And, so far, they don't have a win through their first three games.

"It is tough,'' Deng said. "It's something we didn't expect. Now that we're here, we've got to find a way to get out of it.''

Redd led the Bucks in scoring, but Yi's good first impression on his new hometown fans stood out the most.

"He took the challenge and made some huge shots and became a playmaker,'' said Redd, who bowed with his hands together in a salute to Yi just before the opening tip. "I'm proud of his development. He's growing.''

Yi played a key role in keeping Milwaukee in the game in the second half.

His jumper tied the game at 37 with 7:39 left in the third quarter. Milwaukee's Dan Gadzuric blocked the Bulls' Thomas on the other end, and Bucks guard Mo Williams found Yi with a pass for another long rainbow jumper that put the Bucks ahead 39-37.

With Milwaukee trailing by two later in the quarter, Yi blocked a shot by Thomas and Redd hit a jumper to tie the game at 43.

"There's been an awful lot of focus on this young man, and the whole process is a marathon,'' Krystkowiak said. "This is big for his confidence. ... It's only one game, but I'm really proud of him.''

Speaking with only occasional help from an interpreter, the Chinese star said he recognized the importance of the Bucks' home opener.

"This game for our team was very important,'' Yi said. "First home game, opening game and we lost two in a row, so we've got to win.''

The Bucks began the season by losing their first two games on the road, at Orlando on Wednesday and at Charlotte on Friday. They allowed too many open shots to the Magic, and couldn't stop the Bobcats from driving to the rim.

Chicago also opened the season with a pair of losses, at New Jersey on Wednesday and at home to Philadelphia on Friday.

The Bulls might have been distracted by a swarm of trade rumors involving a potential deal with the Los Angeles Lakers that would have brought Kobe Bryant to Chicago. But Bulls general manager John Paxson declared on Thursday that no deal was imminent, scuttling trade talk at least for the time being.

Wallace said he wasn't surprised by the 0-3 start, because the Bulls had chances to win each game and didn't take advantage of their opportunities.

"We've just got to play through it, that's all,'' he said.

Notes: The Bucks have won their last five home openers. ... Joe Smith scored 14 for Chicago. ... Bucks center Andrew Bogut was limited by foul trouble, but delivered three key scores in the final six minutes of the game to help keep Milwaukee in the lead.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 2 (AP) --Charlotte's Sam Vincent talked about needing to hire a free throw coach. Milwaukee's Larry Krystkowiak may want to hire a scoreboard coach.

Raymond Felton had 26 points and 12 assists, and hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds left to help the Bobcats take advantage of a mistake by the Bucks' Maurice Williams in a 102-99 victory Friday night.

Gerald Wallace added 22 points and 10 rebounds, Jason Richardson had 21 points in his first game with Charlotte and the Bobcats won their opener despite hitting just 22 of 43 free throws.

The final seconds were bizarre. With the Bucks trailing by three, Williams inexplicably drove the lane and made a layup with 0.6 seconds left.

"I thought we were down two,'' Williams conceded.

Felton was then fouled, and he finally put it away by sinking both foul shots, allowing Vincent to rest easy on a night he was thinking about hiring somebody to help his players make shots from the line.

"Maybe a free throw coach. We don't have one right now,'' Vincent said. "Some teams do, and the teams that do shoot pretty high free throw percentages.''

The players gave Vincent, in his first NBA game as a head coach, the game ball. And as the Bobcats got off to the first 1-0 start in their fourth season, it allowed them to joke about their horrendous night at the line that kept the Bucks in the game.

"You make Shaq look like Reggie Miller,'' Bobcats reserve Derek Anderson told Wallace, who was 2-of-5.

Wallace was hardly the worst of the lot. Emeka Okafor was 3-of-13 and Richardson 2-of-6.

But Williams was the most embarrassed. Before Felton went to the line with 7.3 seconds left, Krystkowiak, because the Bucks were out of timeouts, huddled his players in front of the bench.

"My point to the guys was, hey if they make one of these, not two, then we have a chance to tie,'' Krystkowiak said. "I think maybe something got lost in the translation.''

Michael Redd scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half, and Williams added 20 for the Bucks, who took 29 fewer free throws in their second straight loss. China's Yi Jianlian, the No. 6 pick in the draft, was held to two points and four rebounds and didn't play in the fourth quarter.

Felton's two free throws with 1:41 left put Charlotte ahead to stay. But Felton and Okafor then combined to hit two of their next six free throws.

The Bobcats' opener was played in front of thousands of empty seats and without part-owner Michael Jordan, who was said to be out of town attending an event with his son.

Vincent, Jordan's hire in the offseason as coach despite having only one year of NBA experience as an assistant, grew agitated at the Bobcats' free throw woes. Wearing a gray suit and a red tie, Jordan's former teammate in Chicago, folded his arms and sighed after Felton missed a free throw with just over 2 minutes left.

Vincent said little early when Wallace made all six shots and scored 13 points in the first quarter to help Charlotte lead by as many as 10 points. But Wallace was 0-for-4 in the second quarter, and Redd scored all the points in a 9-2 run to close the first half to give the Bucks a 49-46 lead.

Yi, who fouled out in his debut Wednesday night in Orlando, picked up two fouls before the game was 8 minutes old. He spent the next 13 minutes on the bench. When he returned, the 7-footer appeared to struggle in the transition game.

Yi headed to the bench again after picking up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter. Krystkowiak used Charlie Villanueva in his place in the final quarter.

The Bucks rallied even after Andrew Bogut fouled out with 3:38 left, finishing with 11 points and 17 rebounds. Desmond Mason's half-hook tied the game with just under 2 minutes left

Richardson, who Jordan acquired on draft night in hopes of giving the Bobcats the go-to scorer they've never had, missed 10 of his first 14 shots through three quarters. But his scoop shot in the lane was part of a 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter to give Charlotte a 77-69 lead. He hit 4 of 5 shots in the final quarter.

"It was trying to do too much,'' Richardson said. "You're trying to impress the fans first time out. ... I settled down, but I know I've got to perform better than I did today.''

Notes: Bobcats F Othella Harrington, still recovering from offseason knee surgery, did not play. ... Krystkowiak was dismayed at Orlando's 13-minute opening introductions before Wednesday's opener. "It's a little bit of a concern when you let your body cool down and you don't get to go out and warm up again,'' Krystkowiak said. "But it's the nature of the league at this point.''