Ramon Sessions and Luke Ridnour have joined other members of the Bucks for some pre-camp workouts at the team's training center. (Bucks)

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September 22, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks training camp doesn’t officially open until September 30, but that hasn’t stopped many players on the team from gathering at the team’s training center to work on their games, conditioning and just getting to know one another.

The Bucks new coaching staff has had the opportunity to get to know the players as well and with many new faces in camp this year, the extra time can go a long way toward producing some results in the regular season.

“I think it helps immensely with our team and the guys getting to know each other a little better,” Bucks assistant coach Bill Peterson said. “They understand each other when they come in early.”

Charlie Bell, one of the six returning Bucks, echoed Coach Peterson’s thoughts and, like Peterson, also added that it’s not only getting to know the players, it’s also getting adjusted to the coaching staff.

“It’s getting to know each other player-wise, but we also get to know the coaches too,” Charlie Bell said. “With the new coaching staff we’re finding out what they want us to do on defense and offense as far as sets, plays and how we’re going to defend certain situations in the game.

“It gives us a little extra time to get all that stuff done because once training camp starts and once we start playing games we’re not going to have time to sit back and talk about all the little things. That’s what we’re doing now, taking care of the some of the little things.”

Both Peterson and Bell have been through it all before, preparing for an NBA season, but this has been a new process for the Bucks 2008 draft picks Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Joe Alexander has been pleased with the workouts leading up to camp: “It’s been great for me to come in and get adjusted to the coaching staff, my new teammates and all of that,” Alexander said. “There have been a lot of players here and I’ve heard that’s more than what teams usually have this early. I think it’s going to help us get on the same page and learn each other’s games.”

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has enjoyed the opportunity to follow some of Milwaukee’s veteran leadership as he prepares for his first NBA training camp.

“It’s definitely good to see some of the veterans in front of us doing things,” Mbah a Moute commented. “It gives us a role model and a path to follow. All of our vets have been good and they’ve been showing us things. We’ll continue to pick things up from them.”

Mbah a Moute went on to add “It’s been great to get a feel for playing with the guys like Luke Ridnour, Malik Allen, Charlie Villanueva and Charlie Bell. Those guys have been really helpful.”

Much like Ramon Sessions, Milwaukee’s second round pick in 2007, Mbah a Moute has taken to some of assistant coach, Bill Peterson’s training. “It’s also been good to train with the coaches, particularly coach P (Bill Peterson),” Mbah a Moute said. “He’s been helping me out a lot and working on some of the things I need to do to be able to help the team and have an impact on the game.”

One of the things that Joe Alexander is impressed with is the conditioning of the veterans on the Bucks.

“I’ve been impressed with how much time everyone puts into their body both before and after workouts and drills,” Alexander noted. “Everyone has really been putting in a lot of effort.”

The Bucks rookie duo made a few other observations about their time at the training center leading up to camp. Mbah a Moute has really enjoyed his early playing time with new Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour.

“Luke is a great point guard,” Mbah a Moute observed. “I really can’t wait to play with him. He really understands the game and knows how to play. He makes everyone around him better.

“But everyone here has done things to impress. Charlie Villanueva has looked great, Malik Allen is a vet who knows how to play and is a leader. Tyronn Lue, Charlie Bell, all those guys have been great role models to follow and they’ve made a big impression on me.”

The talent level through some of the workouts has also impressed Joe Alexander. “Everyone here can play,” he noted. “It’s a different level than what things were at in college. Throughout the workouts, everyone here has done some impressive things and they each bring different things. It’s been a good experience.”

Alexander and Mbah a Moute must be correction in their early impressions because you can count Bill Peterson in the group that has been happy with the workouts thus far.

“A couple of the guys are in really, really good shape and can run the floor,” Peterson told Bucks.com. “Malik Allen and Luke Ridnour have really spent a lot of time in here getting themselves in shape. They’ve been working every day. Their attitudes have been good and they’ve really been pros.

“It’s enjoyable that they’ve been in so early and they’ve been working so hard. I’m looking forward to getting more of the guys here next week and having a great week before we start camp.”

Charlie Bell has enjoyed the summer and the ability to focus solely on basketball and conditioning.

“It’s great, one of the first summers where you don’t have to worry about too much other than playing basketball and getting your body right,” Bell said. “I had ankle surgery and I had the knee injury at the end of last season, so this summer I took the time to try to take care of some injuries and let them heal up. Now when the season is here, I’ll be ready to go.

“I’ve been working out pretty hard even with the injuries, just trying to be in shape and ready for the season. It’s probably a little bit more than what I did last year.”

The conditioning and familiarity is going to pay dividends for the Bucks, according to Bell. “It’s that much easier when the ball gets rolling and everybody’s settled, everyone’s been here and we’re used to playing with each other. You need that team chemistry. Hopefully, everyone will be here next week and we can continue to build on that.”

“A lot of them have a really good mindset and that’s what you want,” Bill Peterson added. “They’ve been putting in extra time on the floor after workouts – shooting the ball, running and working on their conditioning too. It’s been really encouraging.

“It’s huge that the players are getting to know each other and the coaches better. The guys are going to be settled in and ready to get after it and maybe a little more focused when camp starts.”

Based on the early reports, that seems to be the case and hopefully the results will be evident through training camp and leading into the season.