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Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks - Source: Reuters -
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Andrew Bogut has expressed his disappointment after picking up a
leg injury that has interrupted his best NBA season to date.
Bogut picked up a strain and a contusion in his lower left leg
during Thursday's 99-85 victory over New Jersey that took the
upstart Milwaukee Bucks into fourth in the Eastern Conference with
a healthy 6-3 record.
The 24-year-old Australian is expected to be ruled out for between
two and four weeks, a cruel blow after he had showed his best form
to date in his fifth season in the league.
Bogut had been averaging a career-high 16.1 points per game, 9.2
rebounds (19th in the NBA) and 1.4 blocks, forming a potent one-two
punch with outstanding rookie guard Brandon Jennings.
Now back-up big men Dan Gadzuric and Kurt Thomas are going to have
to carry the load before Bogut returns.
"It's disappointing," Bucks general manager John Hammond told the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"Andrew did get off to a very good start. We want him on the floor
and we need him on the floor.
"Obviously it's a concern. But it's our job not to dwell on it, to
move forward and find a way to compete."
It is the latest in a string of injuries for the 213cm centre, who
missed half of last season with a stress fracture in his
back.
He has also suffered minor ankle and knee problems in recent
years.
It has been frustrating for the former No.1 draft pick, who barely
missed a game in his first three seasons in the NBA.
"(I'm) so down about the injury," Bogut wrote on his Twitter
page.
"Can only control getting it stronger and better day by
day.
"Hopefully be back on the court asap."
Milwaukee's All-Star guard Michael Redd has also been sidelined
with a knee injury, but he is expected back over the next
fortnight.
The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the Bucks, who
have had a relatively easy schedule to start the season, including
their current six-game home stand.
Milwaukee are 4-1 in the stretch and face Charlotte on Saturday
before embarking on a four-game Western Conference road trip, when
they will face Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans and Oklahoma
City.
Coach Scott Skiles is hoping the Bucks can keep their heads above
water until Bogut returns.
"This is a really big game," Skiles said of the match against
Charlotte.
"This is our longest home stand of the season.
"We've got that other stretch in March where we've got 10 out of
15 at home, but not six in a row at home.
"We want to be able to look back when the season is over and say we
went 5-1 on that."
