Bucks becoming a factor in NBA's Central Division

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MILWAUKEE - It’s becoming a three-team race in the NBA’s Central Division – and the Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams with a chance to win their first division title since 2001.

Indiana currently has a half-game over both the Bucks and Chicago. Detroit is next at eight-and-a-half back, and Cleveland takes up the rear at 10 games off the pace. The Bulls are awaiting the return of injured guard Derrick Rose, while Indiana is without Danny Granger until February at the earliest. And that’s left an opening for Milwaukee.

Bucks’ coach Scott Skiles says his team is still trying to quote, “figure out some things.” The Bucks’ defense, a hallmark of Skiles, is starting to get more consistent. Milwaukee is 11th in the NBA in scoring defense, giving up almost 97 points a game – and they’re in about the middle of the league in giving opponents a 44-percent shooting percentage. But the Milwaukee offensive remains a problem. They shot well on Wednesday night against Brooklyn, but the Bucks are still 21st in the league with just over 95-points a game. And they’re 25th in shooting percentage at 43. Milwaukee is also near the bottom of the league with a 32-and-a-half percentage from three-point range.

The Bucks will host Miami tomorrow night.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, bucks, basketball