They both deny feeling any extra pressure, but the changes in the Bucks will put coach George Karl and forward Tim Thomas, who will move into a starting role, under scrutiny this season.
Glenn Robinson is gone. The Big Dog could score with the best of them, but never liked playing on the defensive end of the court and could be difficult to coach.
When Karl criticized his team publicly, he often was speaking about Big Dog, who barked back at times. Robinson could cause dissension.
So now that one of his biggest problems is gone, Karl has to get the Bucks back winning, or face criticism. "I don't want to blame everything on Glenn," Karl said at the Bucks Media Day earlier this week. "We have to figure out how to replace his 20 or more points a night.
"I do think Timmy Thomas is a better all-around basketball player. I do think we will be a better defensive basketball team. We also will have some young players coming off the bench, who will bring enthusiasm. I'm excited about having Toni Kukoc (the main player in the Robinson trade) on the team."
Thomas has never really had a chance to start on a regular basis. Last season, he felt lucky to just make it on the court at times at all because of an aching knee.
"I was playing on one leg for much of the season," Thomas said. "I feel great now. I'm looking forward to this opportunity."
Thomas said he always considered himself "a starter playing behind a starter" when he came off the bench behind Robinson.
"I don't feel any extra pressure," he said. "I'm not going to go out there and try to be Glenn Robinson. I can score when I have to, but I also can rebound and play defense. I just want to do anything I can to help this team win."
Thomas does have star quality talent, but has never reached that status. Some believe he will with the additional playing time. Others believe he lacks discipline and the mental side of the game to really reach his full potential.
Both Thomas and Karl will have to produce this season or face questions about whether Big Dog should have been the one sent packing.
Star Wars
Ray Allen admitted Monday that he had problems with Robinson at times, including a shouting match in training camp last year when Big Dog didn't want to run after practice because his ankles were hurting.
"We had some tiffs, but like brothers do," Allen said. "Let's put it this way. I wasn't going to try to lead Glenn Robinson. I think there will be more opportunities to lead now."
Allen also said he felt there were times Robinson would not pass him the ball because he was too intent on scoring himself. Whatever there was between the two stars it "did bleed over and affect how we played as a team at times," Allen said.
Outdoor and Indoor Soccer
The Rampage wrapped up its outdoor season by winning its league championship. Now, the Wave is ready to start its indoor season with a Saturday night game at the Bradley Center.
Coach Keith Tozer's Wave is hungrier than ever, after losing a heartbreaker in its league championship game last spring. Look for coverage of the Wave in this column on a weekly basis.
Admirals Underway
The Admirals have started their exhibition hockey season with 6-3 and 8-1 wins over the Chicago Wolves. They were scheduled to wrap up their exhibition season in Hartland against the Grand Rapids Wolves Friday and then start the regular season next Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Bradley Center
Around Alone
By the time you read this, Elm Grove's Tim Kent will likely be in England, just having completed the first round of the Around Alone sailing competition. Kent will rest there for a while and then head for Cape Horn, South Africa, on the second leg of the competition.
{INSERT_RELATED}Kent has been sending this reporter periodic updates of his trip around the world, via e-mail from his boat! Look for updates in this column.
Brewers' manager
You read about Jerry Royster's firing in a special Brew Crew Review on Wednesday. Look for another special BCR when GM Doug Melvin hires a new manager.
Weekend Hot Tix
The Bucks will hold a Camp Karl practice and scrimmage Saturday at the Bradley Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the scrimmage at noon. Free tickets are available in advance at the Bucks' offices.
Karl's team will play two exhibition games at the Bradley Center on Oct. 11 and 16. The regular season home opener is Nov. 2.
As mentioned in an earlier section of the column, the Wave plays its first game this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bradley Center, against the Kansas City Comets.
In Madison, the Badgers open their Big Ten season against Penn State with a 2:30 p.m. game, which also will be shown on Channel 12 in Milwaukee.
The Packers travel to Champaign, Ill., for a Monday Night Football showdown against their arch rivals, the Chicago Bears. Look for coverage and commentary on that game in On The Pack on OMC Tuesday.
Hot Tix will be a weekly preview of events for the coming weekend in each Milwaukee Sports Buzz column.
Gregg Hoffmann writes about the Bucks, Wave, Admirals and other fall and winter sports in The Milwaukee Sports Buzz on Fridays and about the Packers in On The Pack on the day following games.
