Bucks: Skiles to face former team in debut as coach
Scott Skiles' first game as Milwaukee Bucks head coach will come against the team that jettisoned him last season -- the Chicago Bulls.
The Bucks, who released their 2008-09 schedule today, will open their 41st NBA season Oct. 28 at the United Center in Chicago.
That's followed by an Oct. 29 game at Oklahoma City on Oct. 29, the first game there since the Sonics moved from Seattle following last season.
Milwaukee's home opener is Nov. 1 against Toronto, the first of 23 weekend games in the 41-game home schedule. The Bucks also play 16 of their final 27 games at the Bradley Center.
Other highlights: The NBA champion Boston Celtics will visit on Nov. 15 and March 15, while LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers play in Milwaukee on Nov. 26 and Feb. 20 and Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers come to town on April 1.
Milwaukee has one nationally televised ESPN game scheduled: at New Orleans on Feb. 27.
The Bucks are coming off a 25-56 season that led to the firing of both general manager Larry Harris and coach Larry Krystkowiak.
Skiles was brought on as coach a year after leading the Bulls to the Eastern Conference semifinals, while John Hammond was named general manager, coming over from the front office of the Detroit Pistons.
Weekday home games will start at 7 p.m. and all but one of the Friday/Saturday games will start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now -- the Bucks have a 3-D seating chart available on their web site, www.bucks.com.
Associated Press
Scott Skiles will guide the Bucks in their 41st season in the NBA.
