Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Mike Budenholzer

Grizzlies hire Bucks assistant Jenkins

By

Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach, Taylor Jenkins, has been hired as the next head coach of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

Jenkins has been on Mike Budenholzer’s staffs in both Milwaukee and Atlanta and becomes the third NBA coach to come off Budenholzer’s staffs.

The 34-year-old Dallas native is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.  He becomes the Grizzlies’ ninth non-interim head coach since they moved to Memphis.

Jenkins becomes the second-youngest current NBA coach, older only than Minnesota’s Ryan Saunders (33).  He replaces J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired after the Grizzlies ended the season with a 33-49 record.

 

Bucks sign GM Horst to contract extension

By

Jon Horst

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed General Manager Jon Horst to a multi-year contract extension.

In two seasons under Horst, the Bucks have generated a 104-60 (.634) record, hired Mike Budenholzer as head coach, and put the Bucks in position for long term success.  In the past season alone, the Bucks finished a league best 60-22 (.732), the first 60-win season for the Bucks since the 1980-81 season.  They advanced past the first round of the Playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Horst began his NBA front office career with the Detroit Pistons in 2005 and joined the Bucks basketball staff in 2008 as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations.

“I’m thankful to our ownership group for their continued trust and confidence in me,” Horst said.  “Wes, Marc and Jamie have been resolute in their commitment to building a championship-caliber team, providing the necessary tools and resources, and I look forward to continuing to execute their vision.  I am grateful for the partnership I have with Coach Bud and Peter and want to thank my hard-working staff, especially Milt Newton, for their dedication and support in building a championship-level team.”

Bucks falter down the stretch drop ECF’s to Toronto

By

Brook Lopez – File Photo / Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

The Milwaukee Bucks led by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter on Saturday night before falling to the Toronto Raptors 100-94 in game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.  The result gave the Raptors the series win four games to two and the right to face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

After going down 15, Toronto answered with a 26-3 run.  The Raptors took their largest lead at 87-79 with 6 minutes, 45 seconds left.

The Bucks bounced back with a 7-0 run but never did quite make it all the way back.

Kawhi Leonard had 27 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Raptors.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks.  Brook Lopez added 18 and Khris [Read more…]

Bucks crushed by Raptors, series tied 2-2

By

Khris Middleton – File Photo / Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

The Milwaukee Bucks dropped back-to-back games for the first time in the playoffs and just the second time all season, falling to the Raptors 120-102 in Toronto on Tuesday night.

The Bucks shot out of the gate playing well offensively, but that didn’t last long.  Defensively, the Bucks didn’t stop the Raptors all night.

Kyle Lowry finished with 25 points, 12 of them coming in the first quarter.  Kawhi Leonard had 19 points, Norman Powell added 18 points, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka added 17 and Fred VanVleet added 13 for the Raptors.

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 30 points and dished out seven assists and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25, with 11 of the 25 coming in the first quarter.

That was it for the Bucks, who got little from Eric Bledsoe again.  His minutes dropped to 20.  But his replacements, Malcolm Brogdon and George Hill struggled as well, giving the Bucks little from the guard position.

Brogdon, after scoring 20 points in game three, had just four points and missed his first eight shots.  George Hill took just two shots.

Ersan Ilyasova picked up four fouls in just 10 minutes and never got into a rhythm.  He finished with just seven points.

Whatever coach Mike Budenholzer tried didn’t work as the series draws even at two.  Now the Bucks have another quick turn-around, trying to figure out how they can get back on track.  Milwaukee hosts game five on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.

 

Raptors knock off Bucks 118-112 in 2OT (AUDIO)

By

The Toronto Raptors showed the basketball world that they have no interest in going quietly when it comes to their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks opened game three with a quick 2-0 lead before the Raptors took over and controlled game three the rest of the way.

Kawhi Leonard poured in 36 points, including eight in the second overtime to lead Toronto to a 118-112 victory, drawing to withing 2-1 in the series with game four on Tuesday night.

Pascal Siakam added 25 points and 11 rebounds and Marc Gasol had 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the Raptors to the win. [Read more…]

Bucks face Raptors after long layoff

By

Khris Middleton – File Photo / Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

The Milwaukee Bucks open the Eastern Conference finals against the Toronto Raptors tonight at Fiserv Forum.  It’s their first game since knocking out Boston in the conference semifinals last Wednesday.

The Bucks are hoping to be sharper for game one of this series, than they were in game one of the series with Boston.  The Celtics cleaned up in the series opener 120-90 and accounted for the Bucks only playoff loss.  The Bucks are 8-1 in this postseason.

The Bucks will be well rested and healthy heading into the series.  That includes guard Malcolm Brogdon, who returned to the Bucks lineup during the Boston series, scoring 10 points in 17 minutes in the Bucks game 5 win.

But coach Mike Budenholzer plans to stick with Nikola Mirotic in the starting lineup in game one tonight and he’ll bring Brogdon off the bench.

Defensively, the Bucks will have their hands full with Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard.  During the playoffs, Leonard has averaged 31.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals a game in the playoffs.  His post season success includes a buzzer-beating game winner in Game 7 on Sunday against Philadelphia.

Khris Middleton will draw the defensive assignment on Leonard.  The Bucks know they won’t be able to totally stop Leonard, but they’re hoping to make things tough on him.

The Bucks will need to prevent Leonard from living at the free throw line in the series.  He’s knocking down 84.8% of his free throw attempts on the season.

 

Brogdon set to return against Celtics Wednesday night

By

Malcolm Brogdon File Photo: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After being out since March 15 with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon has been upgraded to probable for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he expects Brogdon to play, although he’s expected to be kept on a minutes restriction.

Budenholzer will keep Nikola Mirotic in the starting lineup with Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.

Counting playoffs, the Bucks are 15-6 without Brogdon in the lineup.

Brogdon did start 64 regular-season games and averaged a career high 15.6 points while shooting 50.5% overall, 42.6% on three-pointers and he led the league at 92.8% from the free-throw line.

Bucks grab commanding 3-1 series lead (AUDIO)

By

George Hill – Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks struggled early and then saw shooters Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton take a third quarter seat on the bench with foul trouble.  But like they’ve done all season, the Bucks bench came to the rescue and outscored Boston 33-23 in the period, on the way to a 113-101 victory over the Celtics.

The win gave the Bucks a 3-1 Eastern Conference semifinal series lead with a chance to wrap it up in five games on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.

With the bench mob on the court, the Bucks rallied to take a 10-point lead and took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned and scored 17 of his game high 39 points in that final period as the Bucks pulled away for the win.  Antetokounmpo also added 16 rebounds to his total. [Read more…]

Brogdon ruled out for Game 3

By

Malcolm Brogdon File Photo: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Boston Celtics in game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference Semifinal series on Friday night without guard Malcolm Brogdon.

The Bucks shooting guard has been out since March 15 with a right plantar fascia tear.  They were hoping Brogdon could return after the first two games of the series, but he was ruled out on Thursday.

The two teams split the first two games of the series in Milwaukee, which means the Bucks need to win at least once in Boston to win the series.

Brogdon continues to practice and coach Mike Budenholzer said his status hasn’t changed.  The Bucks coach said Brogdon is in a good place and continues to move forward.

“We’ll see how today goes,” Budenholzer said.  “See how he’s feeling and we’ll update.”

Brogdon averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 64 games this season before getting hurt.  He is the eighth player to join the elite 50-40-90 club, shooting 50.5% from the field, 42.6% on three-pointers and 92.8% from the free throw line, which leads the NBA.

The Bucks aren’t saying when, but if Brogdon can’t play in game 3, those around him believe it could happen soon.

Bucks follow a blowout with a blowout to tie series (AUDIO)

By

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

After being blown out by the Boston Celtics in the series opener on Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks evened the score with a knockout punch of their own.  The Bucks broke open a close game by outscoring the Celtics 39-18 in the third quarter, on their way to a 123-102 win at Fiserv Forum.

A part of that dominating third quarter was a 24-2 run and it helped the Bucks even the series at a game apiece.  During that stretch, the Celtics hit just 1 of 12 from the field and turned the ball over six times.  Overall, the Celtics shot just 39.5% from the field after a hot shooting game in the opener of the series on Sunday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 10 rebounds.  Khris Middleton added 28 points and Eric Bledsoe added 21 for the Bucks.  But Bledsoe’s biggest contribution came on defense, holding Boston’s Kyrie Irving to nine points on 4-of-18 shooting.

Marcus Morris led the Celtics with 17 points. [Read more…]