Defense is the epitome of a successful team. Without it, a team does not win, simply put. Usually there is an anchor on any great defensive team, and usually it is a big man. The Magic have the ball devouring Dwight Howard. The Spurs have the lane-clogging, shot-altering Tim Duncan.

However, there has been a new trend of shifty little men disrupting passing lanes and playing great defense using their lateral quickness. Players that have shaped the mold for their teams include Chris Paul of the Hornets and Rajon Rondo of the Celtics. These guys disrupt an offense to the point of the play bankruptcy.

Dwight Howard has won the defensive player of the year award in back-to-back seasons. He is the first player in league history to lead the league in rebounds and blocked shots in the same season twice. Better yet, he has done it in back-to-back seasons. The question is, can he do it again? There is no slowing down for this guy. I think he will win it again this year unless Andrew Bogut of the Bucks can duplicate what Howard has done. He had a solid year last year until his horrific elbow injury sidelined him for the season. Josh Smith will always be a contender to win the award, but until proven otherwise, this is Howard’s to lose right now. He is a defensive juggernaut.

Up next is my pick for the most improved player. Stay tuned.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

About the time the Milwaukee Bucks began making their move toward the playoffs, I saw Herb Kohl at an east-side diner. He was sitting at the counter with a stack of papers.

It being a weekend, I halfway wondered if the senator might be using his free time on the country’s business. When I went over to say hello, I noticed he had been studying box scores.

Never let it be said that Kohl and the team are ever really separated.

That’s always been the good thing and the bad thing about the senator during his 25-year ownership of the Bucks.

When things are going poorly, as they often have, he’s too involved, too meddlesome, even if it is his team, his money and he’s free to do with both as he pleases.

But when things are going as they are at the moment, the low-profile owner never gets credit.

Click here to read the full article – By MICHAEL HUNT of http://www.gazettextra.com

Brandon Jennings knew it was a gamble. So far, all the odds have been in the rookie’s favor.


Jennings made a swipe and slam past two stunned Nets during a 15-0 run to start the second half, Andrew Bogut and Carlos Delfino each scored 21 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat winless New Jersey 99-85 on Wednesday night.

“He saw the whole thing develop,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “That was a big momentum break for us. It was a big steal and you got to see the little fella down there dunk the ball.”

Jennings, who jammed a finger and got kneed twice that left him limping in the fourth quarter, said he took a beating against the Nets. But his nifty steal between Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rafer Alston was the more demoralizing blow.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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