Schedule/First Impressions

October

Tue, Oct 28 @ Chicago Bulls 8:30 PM ET

Wed, Oct 29 @ Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET

November

Sat, Nov 01 Vs. Toronto Raptors 8:30 PM ET

Sun, Nov 02 @ New York Knicks 6:00 PM ET

Wed, Nov 05 Vs. Washington Wizards 8:00 PM ET

Fri, Nov 07 @ Boston Celtics 7:30 PM ET

Sat, Nov 08 Vs. Phoenix Suns 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Nov 11 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 7:00 PM ET

Wed, Nov 12 Vs. San Antonio Spurs 8:00 PM ET

Fri, Nov 14 @ Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 PM ET

Sun, Nov 16 Vs. Boston Celtics 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Nov 18 @ Denver Nuggets 9:00 PM ET

Wed, Nov 19 @ Utah Jazz 9:00 PM ET

Fri, Nov 21 Vs. New York Knicks 8:30 PM ET

Sat, Nov 22 @ Charlotte Bobcats 7:00 PM ET

Mon, Nov 24 @ Orlando Magic 7:00 PM ET

Wed, Nov 26 @ Atlanta Hawks 7:00 PM ET

Fri, Nov 28 @ Detroit Pistons 8:00 PM ET

Sat, Nov 29 Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 9:00 PM ET

December

Wed, Dec 03 Vs. Chicago Bulls 8:00 PM ET

Fri, Dec 05 Vs. Charlotte Bobcats 8:30 PM ET

Mon, Dec 08 @ Los Angeles Lakers 9:30 PM ET

Tue, Dec 09 @ Phoenix Suns 9:00 PM ET

Wed, Dec 10 @ Golden State Warriors 10:30 PM ET

Sat, Dec 13 Vs. Indiana Pacers 8:30 PM ET

Mon, Dec 15 @ Miami Heat 7:30 PM ET

Wed, Dec 17 @ Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 PM ET

Fri, Dec 19 @ New York Knicks 7:30 PM ET

Sat, Dec 20 Vs. Los Angeles Clippers 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Dec 23 Vs. Utah Jazz 8:00 PM ET

Sat, Dec 27 Vs. Detroit Pistons 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Dec 30 @ San Antonio Spurs 8:30 PM ET

Wed, Dec 31 @ Houston Rockets 7:00 PM ET

January

Wed, Jan 02 Vs. Charlotte Bobcats 8:30 PM ET

Thu, Jan 03 @ Charlotte Bobcats 7:00 PM ET

Sat, Jan 05 Vs. Toronto Raptors 8:00 PM ET

Mon, Jan 07 Vs. Philadelphia 76ers 8:00 PM ET

Wed, Jan 09 Vs. New Jersey Nets 8:30 PM ET

Thu, Jan 10 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 PM ET

Sat, Jan 12 @ Washington Wizards 7:00 PM ET

Mon, Jan 14 Vs. Miami Heat 8:00 PM ET

Wed, Jan 16 @ Sacramento Kings 10:00 PM ET

Fri, Jan 18 @ Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 PM ET

Sat, Jan 19 @ Portland Trail Blazers 10:00 PM ET

Mon, Jan 21 Vs. Dallas Mavericks 8:00 PM ET

Wed, Jan 23 @ Atlanta Hawks 7:30 PM ET

Thu, Jan 24 Vs. Sacramento Kings 8:30 PM ET

Sat, Jan 26 Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 PM ET

Mon, Jan 28 @ Indiana Pacers 7:00 PM ET

Wed, Jan 30 @ Toronto Raptors 7:00 PM ET

Thu, Jan 31 Vs. Atlanta Hawks 8:30 PM ET

Febuary

Sun, Feb 03 @ New Jersey Nets 7:30 PM ET

Fri, Feb 08 Vs. Detroit Pistons 8:30 PM ET

Sun, Feb 10 Vs. Houston Rockets 8:00 PM ET

Mon, Feb 11 Vs. Indiana Pacers 8:00 PM ET

Sun, Feb 17 @ Detroit Pistons 7:30 PM ET

Mon, Feb 18 Vs. Chicago Bulls 8:00 PM ET

Wed, Feb 20 Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 8:30 PM ET

Fri, Feb 22 Vs. Denver Nuggets 5:00 PM ET

Mon, Feb 25 @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30 PM ET

Wed, Feb 27 @ New Orleans Hornets 7:00 PM ET

Thu, Feb 28 Vs. Washington Wizards 8:30 PM ET

March

Mon, Mar 03 Vs. New Jersey Nets 8:00 PM ET

Tue, Mar 04 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 7:00 PM ET

Thu, Mar 06 @ Chicago Bulls 8:30 PM ET

Fri, Mar 07 Vs. Golden State Warriors 8:30 PM ET

Mon, Mar 10 Vs. New York Knicks 8:00 PM ET

Thu, Mar 13 Vs. New Orleans Hornets 8:30 PM ET

Sat, Mar 15 Vs. Boston Celtics 1:00 PM ET

Tue, Mar 18 Vs. Orlando Magic 8:00 PM ET

Fri, Mar 21 Vs. Portland Trail Blazers 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Mar 25 @ Toronto Raptors 7:00 PM ET

Thu, Mar 27 @ Orlando Magic 7:00 PM ET

Fri, Mar 28 @ Miami Heat 7:30 PM ET

Sun, Mar 30 @ New Jersey Nets 7:30 PM ET

April

Tue, Apr 01 Vs. Los Angeles Lakers 8:00 PM ET

Wed, Apr 02 @ Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 PM ET

Fri, Apr 04 Vs. Memphis Grizzlies 8:30 PM ET

Tue, Apr 08 Vs. Atlanta Hawks 8:00 PM ET

Fri, Apr 11 Vs. Oklahoma City 8:30 PM ET

Sun, Apr 13 Vs. Orlando Magic 8:00 PM ET

Tue, Apr 15 @ Indiana Pacers 8:00 PM ET

One glance at last year’s schedule was all Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles needed, and he knew a major challenge faced his team with 20 of the first 33 games on the road. The Bucks went 15-18 during the first two months on the way to a 34-48 finish in their first season under Skiles.

Next season a more balanced start could help a young Bucks team as it plays 16 of its first 30 games at home over the first two months.

"It looks to be much more balanced," Skiles said Tuesday. "Everybody plays 82 games, 41 on the road and 41 at home. But you hate to have the wild swings we had last season.

"Now the home and road games are spread out. This is a very balanced and fair schedule for us."

The Bucks released their 2009-’10 schedule today, and a few things stand out. In fact, let’s count 10 interesting tidbits about the Bucks’ 42^nd season in Milwaukee:

1) Quick Six: The Bucks will play six consecutive home games in November, beginning with a Nov. 7 matchup against the New York Knicks, and will be at home for seven of their first 10 games.

2) Charlie V returns: It won’t take long for power forward Charlie Villanueva to return to Milwaukee for the first time since joining the Detroit Pistons as a free agent during the off-season. Villanueva and the Pistons will be at the Bradley Center for the Bucks’ home opener on Halloween Night, one night after the Bucks tip off the season at Philadelphia.

3) Thanks, Packers: The Bucks will host a 2 p.m. Sunday game against LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 6. The rare December matinee is made possible by the Green Bay Packers playing a Monday night game on Dec. 7, when they will host the Baltimore Ravens.

4) Come on down, Kobe: Bucks fans had to wait until April 1 to get their chance to see Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers last season. This time, Phil Jackson and the defending league champs come to Milwaukee before Christmas, on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

5) RJ’s turn: Richard Jefferson made a strong impression in his one year with the Bucks. His only visit to Milwaukee next season will come on the night after Christmas, along with teammates Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs.

6) Rivalry time: Skiles’ former team, the Chicago Bulls, will be in Milwaukee on Nov. 30 (Monday) and Jan. 8 (Friday). The Bucks will play in Chicago in the season’s third game, on Nov. 3, which will give rookie point guard Brandon Jennings his first chance to go against reigning NBA rookie of the year Derrick Rose.

7) Road work: There’s always one big road stretch, it seems, and the Bucks head west for a six-game trip in mid-January. The journey starts with a Sunday night game against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 10 and ends with a Martin Luther King Day matinee in Houston on Jan. 18.

8) D-Wade sightings: Former Marquette star Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat play in Milwaukee twice, on Jan. 30 and March 26, and both are weekend dates.

9) New York, New York: The Bucks play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden twice in February, and Milwaukee is on the road for nine of 14 games that month.

10) Last call: The Bucks play two of their last three games against the Boston Celtics, featuring former Bucks star Ray Allen. The season finale is April 14 in Boston.

The Bucks will play three home Sunday matinee games and again will start weeknight games at 7 p.m. and weekend games at 7:30. The home game against Orlando on Nov. 28 is an 8 p.m. start.

By Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 4, 2009 12:14 p.m.