Defense mechanism; Patterson’s prepared to clamp down for Bucks
St. Francis Larry Harris found an explosive power forward in Charlie Villanueva, and he secured a capable backup point guard in Steve Blake in trades earlier this summer.
But the Milwaukee Bucks’ general manager desperately needed a veteran small forward, preferably a hard-nosed defender who could back up Bobby Simmons and start if needed.
Ruben Patterson arrived at the Bucks’ Cousins Center training facility on Tuesday and proclaimed himself to be willing and able to fill that role.
“When they see me working hard, it’s going to get them (teammates) motivated to do the same thing,” said Patterson, acquired last week in the trade with Denver that sent power forward Joe Smith to the Nuggets.
“I can tell you there are guys in the East who don’t like playing against me. Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons guard) is one of them. He just don’t like it when I guard him. Guys like that who can score, you’ve got to play physical and don’t let them touch the basketball.”
The 31-year-old Patterson’s defensive prowess and versatility appealed to Harris, who is seeking to improve a Bucks defense that finished 24th among 30 teams in opponents’ field goal percentage last season, at 46.6%.
The 6-foot-5, 224-pound Patterson said he was comfortable defending point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards.
“Coming from Cincinnati, you’ve got to be a tough son-of-you- know-what to play for Bob Huggins,” Patterson said of his two seasons playing in college for the Bearcats.
“Look at guys like me and Kenyon Martin. I’m here to help this team and help these guys get better defensively, and we can be a lockup team.”
Patterson played four-plus seasons in Portland before being dealt to Denver in a four-team deal at the February trade deadline. He averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 71 games last season, and had higher numbers (13.2 and 3.5) in 26 games with the Nuggets.
Patterson will be paid $7.83 million in the final year of his contract, and the Nuggets also received a player in the final year of his contract in Smith.
Patterson has experienced his share of problems off the court, and he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault in 2001. He sat out the first five games of the 2001-’02 season under an NBA- mandated suspension stemming from that incident.
He was convicted of misdemeanor assault related to an incident outside a Cleveland nightclub in 2001.
“The past is the past; I’ve moved on with it,” Patterson said. “It’s over with.”
Mano a mano: Yao Ming scored 21 points to lead China to a 63-61 tune-up victory over Australia on Thursday, as both teams continued preparations for the FIBA World Championship.
The Bucks’ Andrew Bogut scored 20 points for Australia but he missed a crucial free throw in the final minute, and Yao eventually scored the winning basket.
Court dates: The Bucks unveiled their new practice court at the Cousins Center, a pure maple hardwood floor featuring the team’s red, green and silver color scheme.
Greg Koller, president of ProStar Inc., said the same floor design would be installed in the Bradley Center, although that court must be a portable one.