What Went Wrong
Michael Redd (photo. Hill)How does a (non-interim) NBA coach get fired after just 100 games when his team was never that good to begin with? An admitted lack of communication with the players and not getting along with your only All-Star can do the trick.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has this about since-deposed coach Larry Krystkowiak‘s downfall:
“As negative as everything was, I think it’s an eye-opening situation,” [Krystkowiak] said. “The ship hit rock bottom, obviously. I’m very disappointed in being a part of it. But at the same time there’s an element of all of our failures and disappointments that seems to have gotten some people’s attention to do whatever they can to get it rolling again. A new general manager, a new coach…I hope it means a revamped roster. There’s no where to go but up. It seems like it’s gotten everybody’s attention.”
One player Krystkowiak did not communicate well with was guard Michael Redd. An uneasy relationship existed between the coach and the star guard during most of the season and Redd admitted after the season that there had been no chemistry between them. Redd did add, though, that they had gone about their jobs in a professional manner.
Asked about Redd, Krystkowiak said, “I understand the chemistry of a team and I know that there’s a lot of issues with shot selection and taking bad shots. I tried to get our team to play together and I came to the realization that it really wasn’t going to happen.”
Krystkowiak said a big part of the problem from his perspective was that Redd and his teammates played well together in practice, but then reverted to a more solo mentality in games.
You can read the entire article HERE.
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April 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
kobeef says:
I could not describe the Bucks any better than to say they have a “solo mentality” in games.
I have to mention this line, written by Paul Forrester (SI.com) in his review of lottery teams. He suggests that Mo Williams was one of the lone bright spots of the Bucks: “Free-agent returnee Mo Williams didn’t implode after signing a $52 million contract last summer”
Does this guy watch basketball? How could anyone who has seen Mo Williams play this year say that he is a bright spot of his team. As coach Larry says, Mo Williams embodies what is wrong with the Bucks
April 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Prof. TX says:
If the right deal came along, they could get alot in trade for Redd and one of their extra bigs. Maybe shake things up a bit and rebuild… Any Bucks fans around here?
April 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
I think I’m the only Bucks fan that posts here.
Mr. Max Contract Mike Redd saying he kept it professional is complete bull. Keeping it professional would mean not jacking retarded shots and playing 1 on 5 every game.
A team with Mo and Redd in the back court could never win because they’re both me-first gunners that couldn’t D up a cardboard box.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
daquest?on says:
the bucks are all super selfish thats why they are never going to win…mo williams seems to think hes AI and redd seems to think hes kobe and they arent
April 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
GEE..If you like fish & grits and all that pimp ish says:
Do away with everyone like Portland did.
Knicks and Bucks need a complete re-vamp!
April 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
GEE..If you like fish & grits and all that pimp ish says:
I ain’t no cowboy!
Memphis and at this point I would dare say Miami too!
April 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
K Dizzle says:
well, yeah, Larry. They dominated in practice cuz they were playin against the bucks….
April 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
frankie says:
Hmmm…and people say that George Karl is a bad coach. Granted, the Nugs are a much more talented team, but at least he can get the most out of a flawed, me first roster. It’s probably not as easy as some people on this site make it out to be – just ask Coach K II.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:08 pm
todd says:
If Skiles doesn’t work, then yeah, they really need a roster overhaul. The only guys worth keeping are Bogut, Sessions, and Yi.
I used to be a big Redd fan, but watching him and his team play made me change my mind. They’re soft and have no chemistry, and that ultimately fall upon their “leader” which I assue to be Redd.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
nbaroundtable says:
Bucks Problems:
(1) Mo Williams. Disgraceful starting point guard. Has no idea how to involved his teammates. Refuses to play off his big men. Regularly only 2-3 players touch the ball on a Bucks possession. He has no understanding of how to be a floor general. He has no idea how to help his teammates without the ball in his hands. At least we saw less three man games this season between Bell, Redd and Mo. Just a terrible starting point guard.
Their whole offense is disjointed because of his terrible play
I’d love it if he went back to being the 6th man. Being a Vinne Johnson like scorer, a game changer. But with that contract? Killing Milwaukee.
If they changed Mo for TJ Ford they’d be a threat for the playoffs in an instant. That’s how large of a negative effect he has. We saw it while TJ was injured, and the last two seasons since TJ was traded. He just has no comprehension of how to run a team.
(2) No defenders. Their defense is one of the 5 worst in the league. It doesn’t matter how good your offense is, you aren’t going to be a playoff team playing defense like that. It’s a personnel problem. Gotta have roster changes and re-balance the squad. Put a stopper at small forward next to Redd.
(3) Big men are the biggest problem and their best hope for the future. Dodgy combination, tough decisions.
Firstly one of their PFs need to leave, Yi or Charlie, they’re getting in their each other’s way. They have similar strengths and more importantly similar flaws. Attempts to play them together haven’t been pretty.
Secondly, they need a shot blocker next to Bogut. Not just a shot blocker but a top drawer help defender. Wait for Yi to develop into one or make a move? They’ll need that PF to be a double digit scoring threat too because Bogut doesn’t score enough to be their only big man scoring threat.
They’re a surprisingly effective on the boards though. Top 5 in offensive rebounding. Mediocre defensive rebounding. Above average overall.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 am
fLaVa says:
Ramon Sessions should be their PG.. he distributes to his teammates and is a pass first PG unlike MO williams…
Trade MO for a defensive minded PF and with a core of Sessions, Redd, Yi, Bogut and CV… they SHOULD be able to make the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conf.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 am
Suciniac says:
Kinda late here but Bucks downfall started during the Off-season.First they signed Williams and completely ignored Bell.Then they match Miami’s offer for Bell AFTER he publicly stated he would rather they did not.Then in their infinite wisdom they drafted Yi who also publicly stated he wouldn’t play with the Bucks.That’s 3 guys who don’t want to play for the Bucks(Williams would prefer Miami if it weren’t for the extra $$$$).Then they wander why their chemistry is bad.Also, the makeup of the roster is a joke,all finesse shooters and their toughest player is Bogut.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:07 am
Borgs says:
Michael Redd was nothing more than a self-appointed leader. Mo Williams is a perfect combo-guard, scoring sixth-man on starter’s money. But I don’t think he’ll readily cop a diminished role. Andrew Bogut is clearly the most capable leader on the Bucks. All the way back to 2005 Draft build-up he has said it as he’s seen it, and he’s usually right.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
doc says:
Take Mo out the starting lineup.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Austin Burton says:
No way they’re bringing a guy off the bench who makes $50-something million.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
High Release says:
Mo shot 48% this season, which is quite good. Only 6 assists per though. So he’s not a great facilitator, but you can count on him to make a shot. I like Mo. Redd has that penchant to receive the ball on the 3 line and not give it back unless someone wants chase a loud clank. That, I’m sure, is what bothered Krystkowiak. It bothered me too. Redd showed us this year that he is more effective when driving to the bucket, while his outside shooting severely declined. Desmond is cool, but his shooting is pretty bad . Yi should play the small forward because he gets crunched inside EVERY time. The game seems way too fast for Yi. Charlie V see that and knows that the 4 spot should obviously be his, if only he was more marketable in China. V is good. Bogut is considerable both offensively and defensively, but he will wear down quickly while providing the ONLY enforcement on the team. He absorbs all those charges because Mo and Redd get picked so so so easily up top, leaving the penetrator a clear lane into his chest or to the bucket. Krystkowiak slowed down the offense in order to emphasize defense from the start. Unfortunately the players who played just are not effective defensive players. In the mean time the offense remained slow. The lack of offensive movement made it really easy for the other team to get turnovers and quick transition buckets. That explains all the pathetic 20 – 30 point losses. I see Charlie Bell, Charlie V, Bogut, Sessions, and Mo (in an offensive role) as being productive players. No disrespect, but Redd is not a strong leader and not a star. Bobby Simmons is fragile and a bit soft. Gadzuric just isn’t a ball player, but would be great jumping off a trampoline at half time. Yi is out of his element. Ruffin is a journeyman big man. So is Voskuhl. Storey is pretty good at the 3 spot, let’s keep him. Royal Ivey has next year to show that he can control his limbs with more precision.