Milwaukee Bucks' Yi
Jianlian, of China, reacts after a slam dunk against the Minnesota
Timberwolves in the second half of a pre-season basketball game
Oct. 20, 2007, in Milwaukee. [Photo: sina.com]
Mo Williams scored 20 points and Rookie Yi Jianlian had 15
points as they led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 106-97 victory over the
Minnesota Timberwolves in Milwaukee on Saturday.
For the 14,619 fans in attendance at the Bradley Center, they
can lay claim to being witness to a "coming out party" of sorts for
the Milwaukee Bucks.
Chinese Yi, the sixth overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft,
finished with a strong 15-point, 12-rebound performance, scoring
his first double in the NBA.
He shot 6/9 from the field and 3/4 from the line. He looked much
more confident than in his four previous games, dunking, blocking
shots, and hitting his outside shot for the first time all
preseason.
"After training, I feel much more comfortable than before," said
Yi through an interpreter. "The training is rigorous and I've
improved a lot because of it."
Coach Larry Kryskowiak is tightening his rotation with the
regular season drawing near, and with Yi playing 27 minutes all
indications are Yi will be getting major minutes early as he
continues to improve every day.
Milwaukee Bucks' Yi
Jianlian (R) of China battles for the ball with Minnesota
Timberwolves' Marko Jaric of Serbia in the first half of a
pre-season basketball game Oct. 20, 2007, in Milwaukee. [Photo:
sina.com]
The Bucks (3-2) fought through some first half struggles to take
control of the game with a 14-0 run to end the first half, and
continued with a strong third quarter showing. Completing the
victory was the steady hand of Williams, along with Yi and center
Andrew Bogut being aggressive toward the basket.
This three man game proved too much for the young and
inexperienced Timberwolves. One play in particular shows the Bucks
are coming together. Yi scored as the shot-clock buzzer went off
from a Mo Williams assist, giving the Bucks a 99-91 lead with 1:37
left in the game.
Williams ended up with 20 points and 12 assist, and high scoring
Michael Redd had 18 points to go along with 4 assist, and Desmond
Mason scored 14.
More good news as Charlie Villanueva ended up with 11 rebounds
and Bobby Simmons 10 points and Andrew Bogut 15 points rounded out
a balanced attack that saw six Bucks players score in double
figures.
Another bright spot was the Bucks committed only three turnovers
in the second half. This must be particularly pleasing to head
coach Larry Kryskowiak as Milwaukee had committed 57 turnovers it's
last two games.
(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2007)
