Redd has torn ligaments, will miss rest of season

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Just when that silky smooth jumper of his was starting to fall just the way Michael Redd likes it, the Olympian's injury plagued season came to an abrupt and frustrating end.

The Milwaukee Bucks' leading scorer will miss the rest of the year with torn ligaments in his left knee."I'm deeply disappointed but everything in life happens for a reason and this is God's plan for me," Redd said in a statement issued by the team. "I have faith in my teammates and coaches to continue to work together to make our fans proud. I will be supporting them wholeheartedly from the sidelines and working equally hard to return to the court in the best condition possible for next season."It's a tremendous blow to a team that has struggled with injuries all season. The Bucks (22-25) are in third place in the Central Division. Redd missed 14 games with an ankle injury and center Andrew Bogut has missed 13 games, including the last six with back spasms."Over half our games have been without two of our main players," coach Scott Skiles said after the game. "Our guys are hanging in there. It's not always pretty every night, but we're hanging in there."

Redd was just starting to look like the player who helped Team USA reclaim the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics last summer. Having shaken the rust off from that long layoff in November, Redd was averaging 25.0 points per game in January and shooting better than 51 percent from the field. He had 27 points, including five 3-pointers, in a 133-99 dismantling of Dallas on Wednesday night.But in the third quarter of Saturday night's victory over Sacramento, Redd landed awkwardly on teammate Luke Ridnour's foot after missing a shot near the basket. Redd had an MRI exam on Sunday that revealed the extent of the injury. A surgery date has not been scheduled."We're extremely disappointed for Michael. He was having a good season and he's a guy that's such a big part of what we do," general manager John Hammond told The Associated Press on Sunday. "He's been so supportive of us and Scott as a coach and what we're trying to do."Redd leads the team with 21.2 points per game and is fifth on the franchise career scoring list. The Bucks went 5-9 without him in November, with Charlie Bell filling in at shooting guard. Bell hasn't played since Jan. 19 because of a gimpy ankle.

"We did have to play early in the season without him and yes, this is more long term," Hammond said. "Maybe it does affect the guys from a mental standpoint, but this is professional basketball. These things occur and they're going to happen again. Guys have a responsibility to step up."Much of the scoring load likely will shift to Richard Jefferson, the team's second leading scorer (17.3) who came over from New Jersey in a trade in the offseason.With the Bucks struggling to get over the .500 mark, Hammond has talked about trying to make a deal before the trade deadline to make the team more competitive as it pushes for a playoff spot.Redd's injury, Hammond said, doesn't change that view."We were going to be active in the process before this happened, and we are going to make the right decision for the future of the franchise," Hammond said. "There's no (sudden) reaction because of this. We're going to stay firm with our approach of improving the team."

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/25/redd.injury.ap/index.html

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Is this the end of the road for the chance of being in the final series for the Milwaukee Bucks? as star player Michael Redd has just been ruled out for the rest of the season. The Bucks have just had a horrible run of injuries which included Australian International player Andrew Bogut, with Bogut still injured and Redd now they have lost their top scorer and possibly their best defender. Who will come in to replace Michael Redd? Possibly Damon Jones but now they just have no points of the court, only Richard Jefferson can save their season but he needs to recapture his point scoring when he was playing at the Nets.

I think you'll see Joe Alexander's minutes improve, while Bell, Sessions and Villanueva and Mbah a Moute get more starts. But with Bell and Bogut both out ATM, I can't see Bucks making the playoffs this year. They'd be better off in the lottery in the long run anyway, and this will give Alexander a chance to show it's potential. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining

"Now what?" As the Bucks fans would say.

LOL ok i just say "YEAH"

i mean your analysis is CORRECT

So the Bucks really have a messed up season now. Michael Redd, in my opinion, would be the face of the team with many young sidekicks then some older ones.

sk22allstars wrote:

So the Bucks really have a messed up season now. Michael Redd, in my opinion, would be the face of the team with many young sidekicks then some older ones.

Yeah Michael Redd is there go to man and it was proved last night as they lost their first game without both star players Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut against the Minnesota Bucks. They looked like they rally struggled out there, no one really put there hand up and said they will have a great game and score some great points.

As any heard when Andrew Bogut is back?

No, I have not heard the Bogut is injured!

But you said Minnesota Bucks. Sorry, thats funny.

HaHa Minneesota Bucks.

Well ya the bucks season is ruined

Bucks season is down the drain.

Up the sewer.

In my mouth

Locked up

Slashed

Murdered

Killed

Umm. someone get an ambulance. the bucks season is dead.

Well the Milwaukee Bucks season may not be over quiet yet they had a good win yesterday over the Toronto Raptors and now are leading today in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. I dont go for them but would like them to make it into the finals as this will be a great achievement for the franchise and even the nba.

Ummm... Finals??? Did you hit your head? Bucks have a chance at making it, as well as any team in the NBA. But really? Bucks? Finals?

Well yeah Buck have a chance of making it and with 2 good wins in consecutive games they are definitely making a strong statement good win today over the Atlanta Hawks for them but lets just hope they will push on and keep the roll.

Ya, I wouldn't bet on them making it. I was surprised that they had that win over Atlanta. Peaches (a hawks fan) dislikes them now. Possibly, they could be doing better without Redd. We'll just see at the end of the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a strong side and I follow them as my second favourite team. Sure Michael Redd is a big loss but do the Bucks really need him? Wouldnt they be better off going after someone else in the likes of Chris Bosh or LeBron James. I agree with SlamDunk they do have a very promising future in the NBA. Bogut is a great leader and hopefully he can come back and bring some wins to the Bucks. They are on a winning streak at the moment and there next game will decide if they are pretenders or contenders. Well that is my thoughts on them and just waiting to see what you (Other members think).???

They had 2 really big wins a few days ago and they were playing like Championship contenders. Every team has one of those weeks or so. Where they are just unstoppable. But it shouldn't really last long. And they can really play better without Michael Redd.