Dellavedova, Maker back to full speed at practice
MADISON - The Milwaukee Bucks are getting healthier as they progress toward the regular season.
Matthew Dellavedova (left knee soreness) and Thon Maker (right ankle sprain) practiced fully Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin's Nicholas Johnson Pavilion. Both players missed the past two preseason games, with Maker also sitting out the preseason opener.
"It's feeling good, just taking care of it," said Dellavedova, who had a bag of ice on the knee after practice. "It is frustrating but it's part of the game. You can still get better and you can still help the team get better even though you're not fully out there for a couple days."
Dellavedova said he has no worries about being ready for the regular-season opener next Wednesday in Boston. Right now, he is focused on getting ready and in sync with his teammates.
"I think having him on the
floor just gives us another playmaker, another guy whose decision-making gives guys an opportunity to get in their places," coach Jason Kidd said of having Dellavedova back in practice. "Guys who play with him know that he can get the ball to you, so I thought it helped that second group."
Maker has been relegated to a non-contact role in practice for more than a week. He's done on-court work, progressing from spot shooting to more involved activities, including running and dunking. Tuesday marked his first full day back.
"He was full-go today," Kidd said. "He was everything; he did great today for his first day back from his ankle sprain."
Time running short: The Bucks are getting close to decision time regarding their final roster spot. Five players on non-guaranteed contracts remain with the team, but only four — Joel Anthony, Gerald Green, Gary Payton II and Brandon Rush — have been with the Bucks for all of camp.
Kidd has mentioned that he hopes to finalize the roster before the final preseason game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The deadline for the decision is Saturday.
"I think these guys have been playing extremely hard and they're doing a really good job for us," Kidd said. "It's going to be a hard cut because those guys are playing well . ...
"We'll see how it goes. Our health is a big part of that decision-making."
Each of the players in the running has experienced a high level of competition over the past two weeks. They all know what they're battling for and who they're competing against, but they don't know when the decision will be made.
"We're pushing each other. We're getting better every single practice and it's been real, real fun to be with these guys the last couple weeks," Rush said.
Go fish: While in Madison, the Bucks have plenty of free time and players can choose to spend how they see fit. One of the most important things is spending time together in some capacity.
Center John Henson stuck with his favorite hobby of fishing and took Mirza Teletovic with him Monday. Armed with a new fishing pole purchased at Walmart and some little white grubs — his go-to bait in new waters — Henson went to the dock by the Edgewater Hotel and caught a smallmouth bass.
Now, Henson has other teammates interested in fishing with him during their free time in Madison.
"A lot of them want to come with me today," Henson said, noting he was thinking about upgrading to live bait. "I wasn't decided if I was going to go, but it looks like I'm going to have to . ...
"It's just a fun thing to do, especially to pass time around here, especially when you've got a body of water this close. I've got to throw something in the water."
Business time: Bucks President Peter Feigin was at the team's practice and talked with the media. One area of particular interest was the plan for naming rights for the new arena, which Feigin discussed during a television appearance on CNBC on Monday.
"It's crucial; it really is the most important partnership on a financial basis and a cornerstone," Feigin said, noting that there are four or five serious contenders and the Bucks hope to have a deal done within two months.
"You also have to think about the timing of it. We really want to integrate it into the infrastructure of the arena, the plaza and kind of everything we do. So the sooner the better."
Feigin also mentioned that everything is all set for the team's "Return to the MECCA" game against the Boston Celtics at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Oct. 26 and that the team is just waiting for the right time to announce details. One of those is the design of the court, though it definitely won't be the MECCA's original floor, which Feigin says in not usable.