By Nick Freimuth DoorCountyDailyNews.com

The Milwaukee Bucks will be a non-factor in the NBA Eastern Division again this season. The 2007-2008 season is just under way and already the Bucks have disappointed. Their lack of defensive intensity is disheartening for a basketball purist, who believes defense is the key to success. In addition, I am a firm believer that if your team does not pass the ball extremely well, you will fail to outscore your opponent.

Michael Redd will need to average 45 points per game this season for Milwaukee to be in the race for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, he is the only player that has proven that he can score on a nightly basis. Andrew Bogut, Charlie Villanueva, Desmond Mason, Charlie Bell and Mo Williams all bring something unique to the table but have not proven anything at the NBA level.

Yi Jianlian will not live up to the hype the Chinese media has pumped in to Milwaukee's sails. He may turn into a solid sixth man some day. I believe the Bucks have been forced into staring him because of his holdout earlier this year. It is strictly my belief that the Chinese Basketball Association put a clause in the contract that forces Bucks Coach Larry Krystkowiak to start him and ensure that he plays at least 60% of the minutes. With that as a possible stipulation to signing Yi, the Bucks will come up short on the scoreboard and in the standings.

In order to win in the Eastern Conference, teams need solid and consistent play in the post. Milwaukee lacks strong, big-bodied post players that can mash with other power forwards and centers in the East.

The final reason why I believe the Bucks will be a pretender this season is youth. No one on the Milwaukee squad has any experience with winning. They say winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing. Well, the 2007 Bucks have all experienced more of the ladder. This team is missing a proven winner and unless Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Oscar Robertson decide to dawn the Buck's uniforms again, Milwaukee is destine for failure.

I believe this is the year the Milwaukee Bucks make a run in the NBA Eastern
Conference. After a disappointing 2006-07 campaign, which saw the Bucks win finish
Dead last in the central with a 28-54, a healthy and deep roster could bode well for a
Run into the playoffs.

The Bucks were playing well up to January last year when a string of debilitating
Injuries left only a shell of the original starting unit to play out the season.
Season ending injuries to Bobby Simmons, Charlie Villanueva, Michael Redd and Andrew Bogart doomed the Bucks to a pitiful finish.

Now fast-forward to this year. A frontcourt featuring a healthy Bobby Simmons, the seven-foot Chinese phenom Yi Jianlian and a more determined and stronger Andrew Bogut in the middle, gives the Bucks a formidable threesome. Throw in the return of
Desmond Mason, a healthy Villanueva and Dan “the energizer bunny” Gadzuric,
And the Bucks have the depth to withstand an injury or two during the season.

In the Backcourt, Moe Williams and perennial All-Star Michael Redd gives the Bucks
one of the best backcourts in the league. Charlie Bell returns as the back up at both guard
positions and offers experience and defense.

Speaking of defense, the biggest addition to the Bucks this year may not be a player.
Larry Krystkowiak who coached the final month and half last year, brings a no-nonsense,
In-your-face defensive philosophy. His positive, yet firm, hands-on approach will reflect well on this young but relatively experienced team. Couple that with a weak Eastern Conference which has no clear cut favorite, and you have a recipe for the Bucks to make some noise this year.

The Bucks went to the playoffs two years ago and did beat the soon-to-be Champion Pistons in one game, which was more than any other Eastern team did. Look for the Bucks to make a return trip and a possible run deep into the playoffs. I’m not saying they’ll win it all, but a 45-50 win season is not unrealistic. Good News sports fans! That would mean that all three professional teams in Wisconsin would post winning records in the last year. And it’s been a while since we could say that.

In Division 5 level 3 football Saturday afternoon it was Kewaunee over Mishicot by the score of 53 to 27. Alex Delebreau was 11 out of 11 for 275 yards passing and 1
touchdown. Alex Schleis rushed for 137 yards on 19 carries and 3 touchdowns. Randy Charles also rushed for 45 yards and 3 touchdowns and had a big 4th down and inches carry from the Kewaunee 39 yard line to swing the momentum towards Kewaunee. In the receiving category it was Jeremy Christian with 4 receptions for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, Tyler Thompson had 2 receptions covering 67 yards and Jordan Ledvina finished with 2 receptions for 31 yards.
For Mishicot it was Aaron Kobes going 8 of 14 for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the rushing category it was Andy Heyroth leading the way for Mishicot with 24 attempts for 125 yard, Aaron Kobes had 16 attempts for 64 yards rushing. In the receiving category for Mishicot it was Mike Peters leading the way with 5 receptions for 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Alex Honzick finished the day with 1 catch for 19 yards and a touchdown.