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After playing two games in the D-League, Doron Lamb is on his way back to Milwaukee.
Bucks general manager John Hammond announced Monday that they've recalled Lamb from the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA's Development League.
Lamb played 24.5 minutes per game in two games for the Mad Ants, averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. The Bucks' second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lamb continued to struggle with his shot, shooting just 22.7 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
"The plan was to just put him down there so he could get some experience and play a little bit," Bucks coach Jim Boylan said. "We'll see how that went for him … We'll see when he gets back how things are. Happy he went down, glad he got the experience."
Boylan hinted that another stint in the D-League like this last one could be in Lamb's future.
In Ft. Wayne's 104-102 win over Los Angeles on Wednesday, Lamb scored 12 points and shot 4 of 14 from the field. His second game was more of a struggle, as Lamb made just 1 of 8 shots and scored just three points in a 126-115 loss to Bakersfield.
Lamb will rejoin the Bucks in time for Tuesday's game against Philadelphia.
Back home: Well, sort of back home. The Bucks do get to play in their home arena Tuesday night against Philadelphia, but still have a bit of time before they get to play back-to-back home games.
Fresh off a four game road trip, the Bucks won't play consecutive home games until a three-game homestand starts on Feb. 9. Milwaukee will alternate home and road games until playing back-to-back road games in Denver and Utah on Feb. 5 and 6.
The 3-1 road trip improved Milwaukee's road record to 11-9, tying the Bucks with New York for the most road wins in the Eastern Conference – behind only Chicago's 12.
Of the top 11 teams in the East, the Bucks have the fewest home wins at 10. The next lowest total among playoff teams is Chicago's 11, but every other playoff team has at least 13 home wins.
"We just have to focus a little bit more," Boylan said of how the team can improve at home. "Each individual guy has to concentrate on his own effort and bring what he needs to bring to the help the team.
"If we do that - you win, you lose, whatever happens - as long as your effort is there every night, we'll figure out how to win at home. With that combination of effort and teamwork, I think we'll be OK."
The first chance to turn around the home record comes Tuesday against a struggling Philadelphia team. Picked as a safe bet playoff team at the beginning of the season, the 76ers had lost eight of their last 10 before winning in overtime at home against Toronto on Friday.
Philadelphia ended November with a 10-6 record, but is 7-17 since. The 76ers also will be playing the second half of a back-to-back Tuesday in Milwaukee, as they host San Antonio Monday night.
"They have an arsenal to work with, (but) they are struggling," Boylan said. "I know they've had a tough schedule but they have a lot of home games coming up, this is one of their only road games for the next two to three weeks. They are right behind us, so those games are significant."
The Bucks currently sit in the seventh spot in the East, one game behind Atlanta and 1 ½ games ahead of Boston. The 76ers are in the ninth spot, 4 ½ games behind the Bucks.
While Tuesday's game is important to create separation, Boylan says because of where the Bucks are sitting, every game can be seen the same way. Philadelphia sees Tuesday's game as almost a desperation game.
"When you sit in the middle of the pack, sort of a notch about the middle of the pack, if you will, everybody is close to you," Boylan said. "The people in front of you are close to you, the people behind you are close to you.
"So every game we play you could classify it as a significant game because it is early enough in the season where the teams behind you still have hope. They want to gain a game and chase a team ahead of them just like we are doing the same with the Atlanta's and Chicago's."
Making an appearance: Former Bucks star forward Bob Dandridge will be signing autographs at Tuesday's game, appearing on behalf of Time Warner Cable and NBATV. Dandridge – who averaged 18.6 points per game in nine seasons in Milwaukee – will sign at the Time Warner Cable Club from 6 to 7 p.m. and again at halftime. Dandridge is in town to help promote NBA League Pass and its free preview week.
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