Thursday Bucks Notes

Bell and Redd talk about being back

• We've been hearing a lot of talk about improving the Bucks defense, but Gery Woelfel notes the Bucks are also giving a new look to their offense by adding the triangle to their repertoire. We first heard talk of this during the summer league, so it will be interesting to see how much the Bucks use it and whether they can do so effectively. While some teams have dabbled with it, only Phil Jackson's Bulls (for whom Krystkowiak played in 94/95) and Lakers have used it extensively. If you are curious about some of the basics of the triangle, go here. Scoring points hasn't been a big problem for the Bucks in recent years, but there's no doubt Krystkowiak is hoping to make better use of Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva, both of whom took a backseat to the Bucks' high-scoring backcourt of Mike Redd and Mo Williams. The triangle traditionally has been an all-or-nothing philosophy, but Krystkowiak seems determined to give it a try on a limited basis:
  

  “The triangle offense is not going to be a steady diet of our offense, but it will be a part of it,’’ Krystkowiak said. “But I believe there’s a time and place for the triangle offense.

  “Actually, it’s not that hard to learn,’’ said Mason, whom the Bucks signed in free agency over the summer after he played the last two seasons with New Orleans/Oklahoma City. “I guarded against the triangle offense, so I know how it works. And we had some similarities of it with (Hornets) coach (Byron) Scott.

  “It’s a good offense. It’s slashing, cutting and constant moving. It keeps the other guys on their heels. And everybody gets to touch the ball. One or two players don’t dictate the offense.’’

  Bogut is equally enthusiastic about the implementation of the triangle. In fact, Bogut was one of the reasons Krystkowiak is installing the offense. The 7-foot Bogut is arguably the best passing big man in the game, and Krytkowiak wants to take advantage of his skill.

  Krystkowiak believes Bogut’s passing could bolster the Bucks’ contingent of quality perimeter shooters like Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Charlie Bell, Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons.

  “I don’t think it’s hard to learn; I think it’s very easy,’’ Bogut said. “A lot of it is just based on reads.

  “It makes every man accountable and it keeps them alert. It isn’t predicated on just one guy or two guys. It’s team basketball. I like it.’’

• As for the defense, Krystkowiak isn't mincing words about what he saw last year.

  "We were horrible," Krystkowiak said. "A lot of it has to do with trust. We can't have our bigs saying, 'Well, geez, we're getting beat off the dribble so quick. I have to help every time and I'm getting in foul trouble.' And you can't have the guards saying, 'Geez, every time I get beat, they score because my bigs aren't helping.' You have both parts selling out."

• Charles Gardner at the JS has an expanded version of the Yi arrival story he originally posted.
• TMJ4 video coverage of Yi's arrival.
  
• John Hollinger at ESPN has an extensive preview of the Bucks as well as every other team. Pretty incredible volume of work from one of the hardest-working guys in sports journalism. Unfortunately Hollinger is not in the camp of Bucks optimists, predicting a 35-47 season.
  
• Gary and Cliff at WSSP interviewed Larry Harris yesterday (MP3). Larry was in his usual lovable salesman mode, saying this was clearly the best team he's had in his five years as GM.