Bucks finally get to see Sampson

Seven years patience finally paid off for the Milwaukee Bucks this past draft when they traded the rights to former University of Wisconsin center Rashard Griffith along to the Orlando Magic for Jamal Sampson in return. Milwaukee had waited seven years for Griffith to arrive in town, but the center instead decided to take his game to Europe.

In a deal which Bucks GM Ernie Grunfield reports was completed within minutes Griffith became the property of the Magic while the Bucks received the 19 year old 6-11 Sampson, and they immediately get to see what they got.

With center Joel Przybilla placed on the injured list with foot problems, Sampson finally was promoted onto the active roster and now patiently waits for his opportunity.

"It was fun," the 19-year-old Sampson said about being part of the active roster. "Getting out there for the first time was exciting."

"Everybody wants to play," he said. "But I realize I have a lot of time. I'm young and this gives me a chance to see what I can do."

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Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic

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A fine whine

Bulls coach Bill Cartwright is asking his team to stop complaining and play the game. Even during Sunday’s practice, he stopped play and told Jalen Rose and Marcus Fizer to stop whining about the officiating. He flat-out told them that the reason they don’t get calls in games is because they do too much whining to the referees.

That's not the first time I've said that," Cartwright said of his Sunday tirade. "But just like all the stuff we do, you've got to keep re-identifying it."

Rose is a team captain so one of his duties is to address the officials during games. But holding up his arms and yelling "Where’s the call?" during games is counter productive. There have been times that Rose has intentionally fouled an opponent to show the officials that he is upset with a call.

"We don't want that, obviously," Cartwright said. "That's something else that we have identified and will re-identify that that's not what we want."

Fizer uses his deep, bellowing voice to complain to referees when he feels they missed a call. Fizer has tried to soften his approach toward the referees, but it's difficult to change a 24-year habit. Fizer said he always has been one to stand firm when he knows he is right. "In my heart, when I know something is a different way, there's nothing that's going to make me change my mind," Fizer said. "I don't care who it is.

Rose defends his actions by saying that sometimes you have to demand respect in the NBA. "Being a captain, being a leader and being a player out there on the court, if you allow things to happen and you don't say anything about them, it's going to continue to happen," Rose said.

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Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks

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Chalk up one for Stotts' mentor

Before the game, Hawks coach Terry Stotts spoke of "killing that road monkey," addressing his team's 10-game slide away from Philips Arena.

That was most important, he said. His strained relationship with Bucks coach George Karl was "irrelevant."

For all of the subplots, including Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson's return, the importance of the game for both teams could not be ignored. The Hawks and Bucks have underachieved this season and are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.

Against Robinson's former team, the Hawks lost for the first time this season without him, 97-88 Tuesday night. Despite getting 23 points from Shareef Abdur-Rahim and 22 from Jason Terry, the Hawks were dealt their 11th consecutive road loss as they head to Boston.

Via Michael Lee/Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks

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