Bucks play final home game of season tonight

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The Milwaukee Bucks will play their final home game of the season tonight against Philadelphia. The game could have been a battle-royale for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. But Philly clinched that final slot on Monday night – and the Bucks are playing out the string after missing the post-season for the fifth time in six years. Coach Scott Skiles says he’s not sure who will be available for his team tonight. It’s possible that shooting guard Monta Ellis will sit out with an injury to his shooting hand that he played through in Monday night’s Milwaukee win over Toronto. Carlos Delfino and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute were in street clothes Monday night with various injuries. Meanwhile, Philly will rest some key players, with the playoffs coming up this weekend. Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young did not make the trip to Milwaukee. Coach Doug Collins says sixth man Lou Williams will probably sit out as well. Former Bucks’ guard Jodie Meeks is expected to get a start this evening. The 76’ers are 34-and-30 in this lockout-shortened season. Milwaukee is 31-and-33, and will close out its season at Boston tomorrow night.

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Former Bucks’ general manager Ernie Grunfeld will stay on as the president of the Washington Wizards, despite the horrible season that team’s having. Grunfeld signed a new contract yesterday. He’s been with the Wizards since 2003, and his teams have gone 282-and-438 while never making the playoffs. This year, Washington is 18-and-46 with two games left – but they do have a four-game winning streak. Before going to D-C, Grunfeld spent four years as Milwaukee’s G-M when his teams had 14 playoff wins. Grunfeld also played for the Bucks for two seasons in the 1970’s.

Meanwhile, former Bucks’ and U-W Milwaukee assistant coach Larry Riley is being replaced as the G-M at Golden State. His assistant Bob Myers was promoted yesterday. Riley spent the last year as the Warriors’ G-M and vice president of basketball operations. He will stay on as the team’s director of scouting. The Warriors expected to make the playoffs, but are 23-and-42 instead. Riley and the Warriors also took a lot of heat for trading fan favorite Monta Ellis and defensive prospect Ekpe Udoh to the Bucks for an injured Andrew Bogut and an unhappy Stephen Jackson. Riley spent six years with the Bucks as an assistant coach and scout, and was an assistant at U-W-M in the early 1970’s.

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