He does say all the right things, so for now there's no need to wonder too hard why some guys shoot 3s better than he shoots any FGs, or why a marginal guard trying to stay in the league through his prime can't make more than 2 out of 3 free throws or assist a basket more than once every 9 minutes. But the title was rich, way to go on this one JS.
For Ivey, issue a non-starter
Bucks guard fine with bench role
Royal Ivey is adaptable to nearly any situation, which is good news for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ivey played just 8 minutes Monday night in the Bucks' 98-87 loss at Utah, the least playing time of any of the team's reserves.
That was quite a comedown from the 37 minutes he played as a starter earlier this month in a victory at Charlotte, and the 39 minutes he played as the Bucks won at Philadelphia.
But the 26-year-old Ivey, signed as a free agent in mid-September last year, isn't complaining.
He keeps himself ready for each game, and the 6-foot-4 guard will try to help the Bucks end a three-game losing streak when they return to the Bradley Center tonight to face his old teammates with the Atlanta Hawks.
"Whatever they call on me to do, that's what I'm there for," Ivey said. "Like a chameleon, I've got to change skins.
"I'm just taking advantage of the time I get. They put me in the starting lineup, and I was productive there, helping my teammates get a couple wins. Now, coming off the bench, I'm trying to do the same thing. It doesn't change with me, how I approach the game."
Ivey stepped into the starting lineup for four games while shooting guard Michael Redd was sidelined by a thigh injury, and the Bucks went 3-1 during that span. Ivey played primarily at the point guard spot while Mo Williams moved over to the second guard position.
"He brings some energy to the table, for sure," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "He's a really good on-ball defender.
"He gets after some guys; he's really a competitor. When he's guarding somebody, (that player) knows that he's guarding him."
Ivey appeared in 188 games with the Hawks over the past three seasons, making 89 starts.
So he's not in awe when he draws a difficult defensive assignment, say, against the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant. Both Charlie Bell and Ivey had that unenviable task on the Bucks' recent trip, and Bryant finished with 37 points in the Lakers' 110-105 victory.
Of course, Bryant also scored 37 in the Lakers' next game against Memphis and 48 in an overtime victory over Seattle on Monday night.
"Kobe is one of the greatest players to play this game; he's a tough guard," Ivey said. "He's strong; he's 6-7. He's witty; he's smart. He's always on the prowl.
"Whether he's sick or he's injured, he's going to play and give you his best effort. That's what makes him great. He has the same killer instinct every time he steps on the court."
Ivey played at the University of Texas with former Bucks guard T.J. Ford, and the two remain close friends. Both were members of the Longhorns team that reached the NCAA Final Four during the 2002-'03 season.
Ford jumped to the NBA that summer and was selected No. 8 overall by the Bucks, and Ivey stayed in Austin for his senior season before being picked 37th overall by the Hawks in the 2004 draft.
The Bucks guard has displayed the ability to hit a few open jumpers, making him valuable when opponents double up on Williams, Redd or center Andrew Bogut.
Ivey is averaging 4.7 points and 1.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game and shooting 40.7%.
"My main thing is defense," Ivey said, "just applying pressure and playing hard. That's my A-plus game right there. I throw a little offense in there, trying to bring both sides of the game."
The likable Ivey is popular with his teammates. Among his hobbies is a favorite Wisconsin pastime: bowling.
But when the players went on a recent bowling outing in Philadelphia, Awvee Storey and Krystkowiak cleaned up, while Ivey had a subpar night.
"I wasn't on my P's and Q's that night," Ivey said.
Ivey was so impressive in his September tryout with the Bucks that he was signed to a one-year contract, beating out former Utah guard Dee Brown, among others.
Now he's just hoping to show the Bucks they made a good choice and earn a longer contract with the team.
He has played some at the second guard spot, but has shifted primarily to the point in recent games, allowing Bell more time at the second guard position.
"There have been ups and downs," Ivey said of his brief time in Milwaukee. "We've got good players in here. We've had a tough road schedule.
"This is the NBA, so there are no excuses. But I think we're going to put a string of wins together. We've got to make this push right now."
Maxtradamus