January 20, 2008

Throughout the 2007-08 regular season, Hornets.com will be chatting with writers from other NBA websites to obtain unique insights on the Hornets’ opposition, prior to home games at the New Orleans Arena. With the Hornets hosting the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday (special afternoon tip-off time of 2:30 p.m.), we interviewed longtime Bucks television play-by-play broadcaster Jim Paschke.

Hornets.com: Thanks for stopping by Jim to discuss the Milwaukee Bucks prior to their annual visit to New Orleans. The Bucks started the season 6-4 but have been below .500 since early December. What areas is the club trying to improve upon in order to move into the top eight in the Eastern Conference?
Paschke: Thanks for inviting me to answer a few questions. I think the Bucks are simply trying to find consistency of spirit and effort, a mental toughness that they can rely on. They have shown flashes of it, so we know it’s there. Lately, since Michael Redd’s return from injury, they have shown some resolve in this area. I think we forget that Milwaukee has adapted to a new coach and several new players. Larry Kystkowiak put a high premium on defensive improvement and the players have been trying to step up in that area. Consequently, the offense has been inconsistent in the early part of the season.

Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut – selected No. 1 overall in 2005, three picks before Chris Paul – is in the midst of the best stretch of his career.

Hornets.com: After being taken No. 1 in the same 2005 draft class as Chris Paul, Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut has not put up huge stats yet, but recently enjoyed one of his best stretches as a pro. Why has he been so much more productive and aggressive offensively this season?
Paschke: Andrew is having by far his best season. He has shown a renewed tenacity this season. Early in the year, the Bucks didn’t run a lot of offense for Andrew, but lately, they have been getting him the ball in the post and he has shown how effective he can be. Bogut is also a very good passer, so when he gets touches, and draws double teams, he can find open shooters, which Milwaukee has plenty of. I think the bottom line is simply that Andrew decided to elevate his game this season and he has done that.

Hornets.com: People around the league have been interested to monitor the progress of lottery pick Yi Jianlian. Yi has seemed to make a quick transition to the NBA considering the challenges of coming to a new country and league. Is there anything about his rookie season that has surprised you so far?
Paschke: I knew Yi had a great deal of talent. I am surprised by how easily and effortlessly he has implemented that talent. Yes, he has had a few “rookie” plays, but by and large, he has been impressive nearly every night. Yi obviously has an incredibly high basketball IQ. He understands things very easily and quickly. He plays hard from the first play of the game until the last. Yi has a poise and confidence about him that is impressive. He has made a seamless transition into the NBA and seems to be very comfortable with his new life in America. He will be a very good player in this league.

Hornets.com: When former Hornets forward Desmond Mason was traded to our team by Milwaukee in 2005, Mason publicly voiced his anger at the timing of the deal, which was made by Bucks GM Larry Harris. Apparently they’ve put that behind them, because Mason signed with Milwaukee as a free agent this summer. What impact did Mason make on the team in the 25 games prior to his injury?
Paschke: Desmond and his wife Andrea have always enjoyed Milwaukee, and the city has always enjoyed them, so it’s great that they are back with us. I think Desmond realizes now, that the trade was just business and nothing personal. As you know, Desmond gives the team energy, particularly on the defensive end. He is a leader by effort. The Bucks have missed that in his absence. Now if we could just get a few more alley-oop passes for him so he can electrify the Bradley Center it would be great. We can’t wait until Desmond is back in the lineup.

Hornets.com: One of the Hornets’ new assistant coaches this season is former Bucks star forward Paul Pressey. What do you remember most from Pressey’s seven seasons in Milwaukee?
Paschke: I don’t even have to close my eyes to remember his point-forward rifle passes to the post from the top of the key. No one has, or will, throw that pass like Paul. I think Paul has a unique place in NBA history, as the game’s prototypical point forward. Don Nelson envisioned Pressey running the Bucks’ offense from the small forward spot, and that turned out to be a great vision. Paul was a great competitor and still one of my favorite Bucks players. He’s just a good guy. You are lucky to have Paul and (wife) Liz in New Orleans.

Hornets.com: What don’t we know but should about the Bucks?
Paschke: The thing people may not realize, is that no matter what has happened to this team on the court, the players stick together. They battled injuries last season and did not splinter. They have battled poor play this season, and dealt with it constructively as a group. These are good people first, and we trust that will ultimately lead them to where they are trying to go. I still believe there is enough time, in the Eastern Conference, for Milwaukee to get their act together and make the playoffs. That is the goal, and at least for now, it is still attainable (a victory on Monday in New Orleans would help). Thanks for letting me talk about the Bucks. We don’t televise on Monday, so I’ll have to wait until the All-Star Weekend to visit your great city again. It has been too long.