The Milwaukee Bucks begin a seven game, 11 day stretch of play tonight by welcoming in the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's a stretch of play that includes six contests at the Bradley Center and against five teams that have a .500 record or worse.

Heading into Wednesday night's NBA action, only the Thunder and Pacers have winning records.

"It is a good opportunity," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said after Wednesday's shootaround. "It's our longest time being home. It's one of those seasons where it seems like we're being on that plane or on that bus the whole season, and then we'll come home for a game or two. I don't want to say it's made us lazy, but it's taken a little bit of an edge off of us. We just need to be careful here and be ready to play and try to win these games and also try to get ready for the postseason."

Some other interesting tidbits heading into this stretch of games:

Ellis is irritated by perception: New guard Monta Ellis, a 20-point per game scorer during his time in Golden State, has gotten off to a slow start with the Bucks, averaging 14.4 points per game while shooting 38.8-percent from the field.

But, he is looking for his new teammates, averaging 5.4 assists per game.

He was asked if he's had to develop an ability to distribute, to which Ellis was incredulous.

"I'm always overlooked look for the other things that I do," he said. "I'm not going to wait til I get to the NBA to learn how to pass the ball. It's just simple basketball – if I feel I've got two guys on me that means somebody's open. That's just being a smart basketball player."

He was then asked if Skiles' offense has allowed him to showcase that skill, Ellis tried to use some humor to mask his annoyance with the perception that he's a shoot-first player.

"I guess being in the East it's too late in the West when I'm on," he said with a slight smile. "I don't get credit for my passing ability, I don't credit for my defense, I don't get credit for none for that. People only look at me as a scorer. Me, I just go out there and play basketball and try to do whatever I can to help my team win."

Jennings still improving: Skiles said Brandon Jennings' role hasn't changed since the acquisition of Ellis, but he hopes that the young point guard isn't thinking too much on the court.

"He's still not at a point where he's as consistent as he needs to be," Skiles said. "He's up and down within a game and things like that, but that's common for a young player. He's had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders for the three years he's played and this has been a very odd year with the shortened season and everything. So, we just need to make sure he's not predetermining things and just takes what the games gives him, hits open men when they're open and scores when his opportunities are there and continues to learn that position."