The Bucks Stop with Skiles

The Milwaukee Bucks are now enlisting the coaching services of Scott Skiles. Many remember that prior to the 2007 winter holidays, Skiles was notified he was no longer wanted by the Chicago Bulls. Skiles said he was ok with the decision, while some analysts felt it was in poor taste to fire a guy around the holidays. Skiles now gets a new chance at coaching in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.

According to Fox Sports:

Skiles, who was drafted out of Michigan State by the Bucks in the first round in 1986, said he has a "fond place" in his heart for Milwaukee. But he has no illusions about the difficult task he faces in turning around a team that began the season with playoff aspirations but finished 26-56.

"It's not going to be easy," Skiles said. "I don't have any magic dust to sprinkle on people. We're going to have to do it by working harder and playing better (defense), and the first step will be getting competitive every single night. The team has not been competitive every night and if we do that, good things will happen."

The 44-year-old Skiles has more NBA head coaching experience than Milwaukee's two previous coaches, Krystkowiak and Terry Stotts, did when they were hired by the Bucks.

Skiles spent nearly three full seasons in Phoenix after taking over for Danny Ainge early in the 1999-00 season. He was fired by the Bulls in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons in Chicago.

So now next season, Milwaukee will have the 44 year old Skiles as they try to compete with the tough Central division which includes Cleveland, and Skiles' former team, Chicago. Skiles will have one of the best shooters in the game in Michael Redd and a few young big man prodigies in Yi, Villanueva and Bogut. Can the demanding Skiles turn the tide and get the Bucks rolling?