GAMEDAY: Milwaukee at Portland - 12/20/10

Head Coach Scott Skiles

On the Trail Blazers' fast start:
"We weren't very competitive early in the game, that's for sure. We had a very difficult time with [Wesley] Matthews and [Rudy] Fernandez most of the night, and LaMarcus [Aldridge], but those two guys early on... their shot-making and play-making, we had trouble just getting into a stance and trying to defend them. Then we had to play catch-up the rest of the night."

On his team's energy:
"We don't have a chance right now if we don't have that. That has to be a constant, and it's been up and down a little too much. When you're missing a key guy, you have to have your other key guys step up and play well, and we had trouble doing that."

On LaMarcus Aldridge's game:
"He out-played us. He's a talented guy anyway. I don't want to take anything away from him, but the tone of the game was set early on. We didn't have much of an answer down there for him, just from a physical standpoint. He appeared to have a lot more energy and be a lot more physical than we were."

On fighting back after the early deficit:
"We weren't physical at all to start the game. We were very soft and non-competitive, and they took advantage of that. This isn't the type of building or the type of team you want to be trying to play from 20 points down. We couldn't ever get anything going."

On his team's offense:
"Keyon [Dooling] made a couple jumpers, and John [Salmons] made a couple jumpers, but other than that we didn't make any jump shots. We weren't getting much out of going inside either, so we were having a hard time trying to find somewhere to go."

On what the team can improve on before playing the Lakers:
"We don't have a chance if we're not going to be competitive. In the first half balls were coming off the rim while our guys were just standing there watching, while the Blazers are picking them up and scoring. We have to address that and somehow be ready to compete when the game starts."

Guard Keyond Dooling

On the Trail Blazers' performance:
"They dominated the game, every facet, from start to finish."
"We didn't start out well enough, and they kept the pedal to the metal and dominated the game."

On playing from behind:
"We came out a little bit lethargic. We didn't make shots and they did, so we got ourselves behind. It's hard to play catch-up up, and it puts more pressure on the shots when you fall behind."

On how the team improves from here:
"We have good character guys, so I don't think anybody's going to tuck their tail or anything like that. We just have to go back to the drawing board, continue to try and get healthy and play the right way."

Center Andrew Bogut

On his team's performance in the game:
"For the most part, we weren't in the game from the start. It's just one of those games that you have to bounce back from."

On playing without Brandon Jennings:
"Obviously we missed Brandon tonight. His scoring and his penetration obviously helps keep the floor spread. Teams are starting to really pound us now and we have to adjust."

• Milwaukee played tonight's game without guard Brandon Jennings, who missed the first game of his career with a fractured left foot ... Jennings had started each of the first 107 regular season games in his NBA career.
  

THE BOGUT BAROMETER - In Andrew Bogut's last 21 games played (dating back to last season), a Bucks foe has topped 100 points in regulation just once (L.A. Lakers 118 on 11/16/10 - Boston scored 105 in overtime on 11/3/10). In those 20 games Bucks opponents are averaging 91.6 points (1,924) on 43.7 percent shooting (701- 1,603). The Bucks are also out-rebounding those opponents with an average of 43.5 rebounds to 41.2 (914-865). This season the Bucks are 3-1 when Bogut scores 20+ points, 3-1 when he grabs 17 or more rebounds and 3-2 when he blocks five or more shots.

KEY TO THREE - Keyon Dooling has been the key to three over the last three games. Dooling has knocked down a team-best seven 3-pointers over that stretch (out of 10 attempts) and is shooting 70.0 percent from downtown. It doesn't stop at the 3-pointer though, the 11th year veteran has knocked down 50.0 percent of his shots from the field (11-22) and all six of his free throw attempts to average 11.7 points (two games as a reserve and one game as a starter). He has also chipped in with 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 29.5 minutes.

BIG MAN'S BIG GAMES - Andrew Bogut has recorded a double-double in five of the last seven games and is averaging team-highs in points (19.7), rebounds (13.4) and blocks (3.6) over that stretch. Bogut is also contributing 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals while knocking down 56.9 percent of his shots (58-102).

NEARING NUMBERS - On Saturday Keyon Dooling connected on the 350th 3-pointer of his career while Andrew Bogut played in his 350th game. Other milestones on the horizon: Bogut is 10 points (4,490) away from 4,500; Drew Gooden (599) is one game away from 600, (447) three steals away from 450 and (395) five blocks away from 400; Ersan Ilyasova (1,451) is 49 points from 1,500; Scott Skiles is 10 wins away from his 100th victory with the Bucks.

DAUNTING DECEMBER - Entering December, 11 of the Bucks 13 opponents had a winning record. Earlier this month, the Bucks went 2-2 in a four-game stretch against teams with a combined 48-27 record. Tonight's game is the third in a five-game span against teams (at Dallas, at San Antonio, vs Utah, at Portland and at L.A. Lakers) that have a combined 97-38 record (.719).

• The Bucks have held their last seven opponents under 100 points and have gone 4-3 in that span. Six of those seven foes were held under their season average going into the game. Orlando scored 85 and averaged 99.3, Miami 88 and 100.7, Indiana 95 and 100.7, Houston 91 and 105.3, Dallas 99 and 98.7, San Antonio 92 and 106.4 and Utah 95 and 100.2.
  
  
• Chris Douglas-Roberts has scored in double-figures in each of the last three games and is second on the club with 16.0 points (48) in that stretch. He's knocking down 51.7 percent of his field goals (15-29), 50.0 percent of his 3-pointers (2-4) and 94.1 percent of his free throws (16-17, team-highs). Douglas-Roberts is also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 35 minutes.
  
  
• Milwaukee is sixth in the league by holding 19 of their opponents under 100 points. That's 76.0 percent of their foes scoring less than 100 each night, better than their 57.3 percent last season.
  
  
• Over his last seven games, Bucks guard Keyon Dooling has handed out 19 assists against two turnovers. That's a 9.50:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the season, the Missouri alum has posted a 2.55:1 assist to turnover ratio (51:20).
  
  
• The Bucks are 1-2 in a stretch where they'll play five of six contests away from home. After playing Utah at the Bradley Center on Saturday, Milwaukee travels to Portland, L.A. Lakers and Sacramento.
  
  
• Over his last three contests, John Salmons has knocked down 7-9 3-pointers (77.8 percent) while averaging 13.3 points.
  
  
• Over the last seven games, the Bucks bench has the 214-177 (30.6-25.3) advantage.