Jennings working on everything

A little odd to see some non-news regarding Brandon Jennings.  Maybe this is a sign of how much buzz the Bucks have created on a national level.  Below is the note from ESPN regarding Jennings on the ESPN NBA Rumors, it is always fun to read positive things about your team:

Brandon Jennings had a terrific rookie season for the Bucks and is working hard during the summer to improve his game.

“Right now, Brandon is working on everything,” Bucks general manager John Hammond tells Sporting News.

“Obviously, as a young player, you can’t come in and think you have nothing to get better at,” added Hammond. “Every year, you have to come back a better player. Brandon is working on cleaning up his shooting form, making his technique more consistent. He is working on his right hand (Jennings is a lefty). He is working on his defense. He played well last year, but I don’t think he is completely satisfied.”

More Carmelo Trade Talk

This storyline should really pick up steam as the season approaches.  What will Denver try to get back for Carmelo, or do they wait until free agency and get nothing.  I still really hope against him becoming a Chicago Bull as I think a trio of Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Boozer would make the Bulls a serious threat to even the Lakers and Heat.  Chicago, New York and Orlando are among the favorites.  I hope he stays in the West.

The longer Carmelo Anthony goes without getting traded despite signs he will, the more his potential list of suitors continues to grow.

On Saturday, Sam Amico of NBA.com reported that in addition to previously mentioned New Jersey, the Wolves and Kings are in play for Anthony.

“Early word around NBA is Nuggets will try to trade Carmelo to one of three teams: Wolves, Kings or Nets,” he tweeted. “In other words, careful what you wish for.”

While Anthony may have a preferred list of teams he’d like to play for — the Knicks and Rockets are said to be chief among them — the Nuggets don’t have to lock themselves into just those teams in trying to find an agreeable trade partner.

The team can instead find the best deal available — it’s believed they are looking for young players and picks — instead of only dealing with Melo’s list.

Charlie Villanueva and Yi

Two former Bucks, that I certainly do not miss, made the ESPN rumor page.  Chuck hopes to start and Yi is tearing it up against crappy teams.  I will always feel neither will ever be a major contributor on a playoff team but whatever.

Charlie Villanueva’s inaugural campaign in Detroit last season was a bit of disappointment.

He battled through a host of injuries — though he only missed three games — and saw the least amount of minutes per game of his career.

But with a solid summer under his belt, he’s looking to start at power forward next season.

“That’s my mentality — to be a starter,” Villanueva told Pistons.com on Monday. “But at the same time, I don’t want it to be given to me. I want to earn it. I believe I can be a starter in this league. I’ve done it before.”

Yi tearing it up, against crap:

It was only two games over the weekend, but new Wizard Yi Jianlian has played well in the World Championships for China. He had 26 points and 14 rebounds vs. Greece on Saturday and 26 points and nine rebounds vs. Ivory Coast on Sunday.

“His production will likely drop against superior foes — remember, Greece was without two of its best big men and Ivory Coast has none of merit,” wrote Michael Lee of the Washington Post. “But so far, so good for Yi.”

Rashad Mobley of Truth About Ithad similar cautious praise: “Overall, it’s awfully hard to make sweeping generalizations about Yi after just two games. But if you’re looking for some indication of how Yi will perform this fall, there are some encouraging trends.”

Yi is showing more aggression in and around the hoop in the World Championships, something that hasn’t been a strong part of his repertoire during his short NBA career.

If Yi continues such aggressive play into the season with John Wall running the show and Andray Blatche and JaVale McGeeattracting attention from opposing defenses, it may prove to help Yi live up to his potential, potential he’s yet to fully unveil as a No. 6 draft pick of the Bucks in 2007.

USA Edges Brazil

The USA Mens Basketball team topped Brazil 70-68 today.

But…  Will they be tough enough to endure in the playoffs?

This idea came to me a week ago.  Chris Bosh was on the Dan Patrick show and was asked the question, “Have you ever been in a fight?”  This was on the heels of the Reds-Cardinals brawl.  Bosh’s answer was no, which is not a bad thing as violence should not be celebrated but the answer did conjure up a crazy idea in my head.

Chris Bosh and especially Lebron James were probably the best players at every level they have played at.  Playgrounds, grade school, middle school, AAU, and all the way up to the NBA.  Even though Dwayne Wade was late-bloomer I am going to assume he also benefited from being the best of his piers throughout childhood.  One thing happens when you are at that level of greatness, others fight for you. 

In basketball, stars get protected at all levels.  They do not do the dirty work.  On the playground or AAU, if they do get fouled hard, one of their teammates will handle the retaliation whether it be another foul, shoving or more.  You see this all the time, it is one of many reasons why so few stars ever foul out.

One problem I see with the Heat is they will have three star players on the floor at one time, most of the time.  That does not leave many guys to handle the hard picks, taking a charge,  grabbing and banging underneath that can help win a series.  Yes, the Heat will be extremely talented, may even win over 70 games.  But when a playoff series gets chippy, and physical, will any of the Heat stars be able to mix it up?  They have played their entire basketball lives without having to get involved with the extracurricular activities that take place on a basketball court.  For the Heat to make it past the Celtics, Magic, Bulls and even Bucks I think one, maybe two, of the three will have to take on a new and unfamiliar identity.

Bucks Have Toughness

The one thing the Bucks do possess is toughness.  It is ingrained in them from their coach Scott Skiles.  The Bucks have plenty of role players that can use up their fouls, get dirty underneath the basket, take a charge, give a hard foul while running the risk of a flagrant being called.  Basketball can become a game that is determined by doing the little things and the Bucks were one of the better teams in the league at doing those things.  Can this toughness be enough to have a chance against a  team as talented as the Heat? 

It could become the one advantage teams like Milwaukee and Boston have over Heat.