Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Bucks

"I would give the edge to the 76ers and the Magic over Milwaukee . The Bucks have to do a better job of defending, rebounding and getting to the line, and I don't see their players being able to improve in those areas. They are what they are: a perimeter-shooting team....

Glenn Robinson was sick of losing, and he did something about it last year. He was able to improve a little bit—just a little bit—in his all-around play....

Ray Allen is one of the elite players in the East. He rises very quickly, and even if you're right there with him, he can still beat you. If he were with a coach who really drilled him in man-to-man, he could be a great defensive player as well....

It will be interesting to see how Sam Cassell 's unhappiness with his contract plays out. He loves the game. You can see it in his face. At times he might appear to be out of control emotionally, but he's not—he's a leader who knows how to win....

Last year the Bucks tried to play solid man-to-man, but with the new rules they'll sometimes try a soft trap in the back-court and then fall into some kind of zone....

They have no bona fide starters at the four and the five. You can't win the conference with Scott Williams , Jason Caffey , Darvin Ham and Mark Pope at power forward, and Ervin Johnson or Joel Przybilla at center....

I don't know if Anthony Mason would solve their problems. P.J. Brown proved that Mason can be shut down in the playoffs by someone with size. But G.M. Ernie Grunfeld knows Mason as well as anybody from their five years with the Knicks ."