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Wayne Laravee on Skiles/Redd

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:15 pm
by EastSideBucksFan
Wayne Laravee, who has been calling Bulls games for years, was just on Dennis Krause's Roundtable discussion.

Dennis asked for his take on the Skiles hire in general and how Michael Redd fits into this new team concept.


Dennis: "You've been calling Bulls games for years, all through Skiles tenure, what do you think about Skiles coming to Milwaukee and where do you see Michael Redd fitting in during this rebuilding process"


Wayne: "I think it's a great hire for this organization. I think he's going to do a great job for the Bucks. I think fans need to be prepared for a different style of basketball. "

Dennis: "I want you to explain that, what do you mean?"

Wayne: "Well, Skiles is going to bring a different brand of basketball to Milwaukee. I think you're going to see a half court team, a team that shares and moves the basketball, a team that defends. He's a guy who will hold people accountable. If you don't play the right way, you won't play. He knows his X's and O's as good as any coach in the league. He can matchup against anyone"

Dennis: "Can Michael Redd fit in here or will there be personnel changes?"

Wayne: "Well, I think they're going to evaluate the team and he can fit in. But Skiles is going to hold him accountable and if he plays like he's been playing, then he's going to find himself on the bench. He's going to have to play within a team concept, pass the ball, he's going to have to take smart shots, and he's going to actually have to gasp, defend someone. If he doesn't he will be sitting and the Senator better be prepared for that"



I thought those were some pretty bold words and that begs the $51 Million Dollar Question: Can Redd do it?


I think it all depends on moving Mo and bringing in a real point guard.

I love Sessions and will be okay if we start the year with him starting and bring in a stopgap backup. But I have a feeling that Hammond and Skiles both want an experienced hand at PG. With a new PG, I think Redd can be a better player as will the whole team be more successful.

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:36 pm
by LISTEN2JAZZ
We heard the same exact quotes a year ago when Krystkowiak was hired.

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:41 pm
by midranger
Laravee didn't say anything about Mo or CV. I take this as evidence that he thinks they'll fit well with Skiles.

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:42 pm
by jeremyd236
I think ultimately fans and this board will be happy. Either Redd is going to be a great scorer within the team's offense, or he is going to be benched (then traded).

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:43 pm
by jerrod
midranger wrote:Laravee didn't say anything about Mo or CV. I take this as evidence that he thinks they'll fit well with Skiles.



i love when stuff crosses over between threads

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:49 pm
by EastSideBucksFan
adamcz wrote:We heard the same exact quotes a year ago when Krystkowiak was hired.



The difference is Skiles is a real coach who knows how to implement a system with proven success and knows how to hold guys accountable and LK just didn't bring any of that.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:03 am
by icat2000
midranger wrote:Laravee didn't say anything about Mo or CV. I take this as evidence that he thinks they'll fit well with Skiles.
Or they are simply irrelevant in the team that will line up next season.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:18 am
by paulpressey25
Adamcz is right. We heard the same crap from Larry K. last season.

Skiles being a better coach than Larry K. only gets you incremental improvements in these areas. The benching doesn't work no matter who does it. The threats don't work. But the big difference you will see is that Hammond/Skiles will just trade these guys who don't buy in. They won't keep them on the roster. That's how this will work. Redd won't be here if he doesn't buy in.

The process will start this summer and continue over through the trade deadline on an as needed basis.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:32 am
by midranger
Agreed PP. It's amazing what can happen when the GM gets to choose the coach so that they can form a unified front.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:43 am
by paulpressey25
midranger wrote:Agreed PP. It's amazing what can happen when the GM gets to choose the coach so that they can form a unified front.


Yes....and as you noted in the other thread, I have no clue if Hammond was the brains behind Detroit or just a guy along for the ride. But we all finally have a clear message from Herb Kohl that for now Skiles and Hammond will rule the roost and be on the same page.

And we also probably know what page that is and it doesn't involve Redd, Mo or CV unless they clean up their act.

And maybe those guys will keep agitating for a trade and get their wish granted.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:54 am
by midranger
paulpressey25 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


And maybe those guys will keep agitating for a trade and get their wish granted.


I think this is very overlooked. Hammond will probably ask if these guys even want to be here. My guess is that more than half the team will answer no. My guess is he'll do his best to oblige them.

It would be a good start to move at least 2 or 3 guys represented by Bartelstein such that half our team isn't made up of his clients.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:55 am
by europa
Skiles not only will have the full backing of management but he also brings with him a proven track record of success. That combination enabled Karl to make good on his threats (at least initially) and I think it will help Skiles as well. Krystkowiak was weak and let the players walk all over him. I don't see that happening with Skiles.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:56 am
by LUKE23
adamcz wrote:We heard the same exact quotes a year ago when Krystkowiak was hired.


Irrelevant, because LK had zero coaching experience and never had a track record of his teams defending regardless of personnel. The two situations are not comparable.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:57 am
by LUKE23
midranger wrote:Laravee didn't say anything about Mo or CV. I take this as evidence that he thinks they'll fit well with Skiles.


I'm going to assume this is a joke. But just in case it is not, Laravee was never asked about those two players in the interview.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:57 am
by midranger
Did the Suns defend under Skiles? I honestly don't remember.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:58 am
by LUKE23
europa wrote:Skiles not only will have the full backing of management but he also brings with him a proven track record of success. That combination enabled Karl to make good on his threats (at least initially) and I think it will help Skiles as well. Krystkowiak was weak and let the players walk all over him. I don't see that happening with Skiles.


Exactly. You cannot really compare a coach with zero head coaching experience to a guy with 500+ games of experience that has proven he gets teams to defend, regardless of personnel.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:59 am
by europa
LUKE23 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I'm going to assume this is a joke. But just in case it is not, Laravee was never asked about those two players in the interview.


More importantly, when it comes to the Bucks' personnel:

Hammond's opinion >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wayne Laravee's opinion

And I'm being kind there only because I don't want to stretch this thread out to infinity. :)

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:59 am
by midranger
LUKE23 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I'm going to assume this is a joke. But just in case it is not, Laravee was never asked about those two players in the interview.


I thought that if a guy didn't comment on players not asked about specifically, it was evidence of something.

Oh well. Maybe just for certain guys in certain circumstances.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:00 am
by LUKE23
midranger wrote:Did the Suns defend under Skiles? I honestly don't remember.


3rd, 1st, 12th in the NBA in defensive ranking (points allowed per 100 possessions) with the three Suns teams.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:01 am
by midranger
Well, thats really good.