Herausforderungen » r said in a statement released by the

MILWAUKEE -- There were a lot of questions facing the Milwaukee Bucks as they prepared to open training camp. Now, on the eve of the 2016-17 season opener, there are even more.Last season was a forgettable one for the Bucks, who were fresh off the heels of a surprise surge into the playoffs but plummeted back into the realm of lottery participants with a 33-39 record.Milwaukee struggled in all aspects of the game, but it was the Bucks defensive effort that was most concerning. Among the best in the NBA in 2015-16, the Bucks finished 17th in both points per game (103.2) and defensive shooting percentage (45.4 percent).A lot of that drop-off had to do with Milwaukees reliance on younger players; veterans Jared Dudley and Zaza Pachulia were shipped elsewhere last season, leaving the Bucks collection of young -- but long -- talent to learn on the fly.Its being able to use our length, deflections, rebounding the ball, coach Jason Kidd said. I thought in preseason we had some halves or quarters where we didnt (play strong defense); but, as a whole, the different combinations we had were positive ones.The team also struggled to score -- especially from beyond the 3-point arc, where the Bucks were among the leagues worst in attempts, makes and percentage.So when shooting guard Khris Middleton went down on the eve of training camp with an ACL injury, there was reason for concern. But the Bucks are confident that the offseason additions of Matthew Dellavadova, Mirza Teletovich, Jason Terry and Tony Snell will complement Milwaukee forwards Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will handle the bulk of the Bucks ballhandling duties.Its the balance, being able to finish in the paint, and we create a lot of threes, Kidd said. We have to be able to make them. Tony (Snell), Mirza, Delly. Now, Giannis and Jabari are shooting more. You have Jason Terry and Malcolm.Theyll have their work cut out for them right off the bat, as the Charlotte Hornets come to town looking to build off a breakout 48-victory campaign that culminated in a hard-fought, seven-game playoff series with the Miami Heat.Charlotte returns much of the same group from last season but will have to deal with some depth issues early on.A bone bruise in his right knee kept Cody Zeller out of action for a majority of Charlottes preseason; as a result, he will see limited minutes to start the season.Power forward Marvin Williams is expected to start Wednesday despite suffering a non-displaced fracture of his left middle finger. But his primary backup, 7-footer Frank Kaminsky, has battled a sprained foot and is listed as questionable.Marvin is fine, so hell start, coach Steve Clifford told the Charlotte Observer. In these first two games, they downsize a lot anyway, so (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) could play some there. Also, Spencer (Hawes) can play some (at power forward).Charlotte won the 2015-16 season series, 3-1. Kemba Walker averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists in those four games to lead the Hornets while Parker paced the Bucks with 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.After facing the Bucks, the Hornets travel to Miami on Friday for a rematch with the Heat before opening the home portion of their schedule Saturday night against the Boston Celtics.Milwaukee will return to action Saturday, at home against Brooklyn, before heading to Detroit on Sunday for the first road contest of the season.NHL Jerseys Sale . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Custom NHL Jerseys . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. NHL Jerseys Outlet .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Discount NHL Jerseys .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head.MONTREAL -- After three consecutive tournament exits against low-ranked opponents, Roger Federer pulled out of next weeks Rogers Cup without giving a reason Friday. The owner of a record 17 Grand Slam titles did recently complain about a bad back, however. Federer, who turns 32 next Thursday, made the unusual move of participating in a pair of minor clay-court tournaments in the period between playing on Wimbledons grass and shifting to the North American summer hard-court season. A loss to 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round at the All England Club ended Federers streak of reaching the quarter-finals at 36 consecutive major tournaments. It also marked Federers earliest Grand Slam exit since 2003. Next came a semifinal loss on clay at Hamburg to 114th-ranked qualifier Federico Delbonis, followed by a defeat against 55th-ranked Daniel Brands in Federers opening match on clay at Gstaad, Switzerland. In addition to his bothersome back, a recurring issue, Federer was experimenting with a new, larger racket at those tournaments. Still, those results are not the sort Federer usually produces. This has been a tough season by his standards: He is 30-10 with one title in 2013. After Wimbledon, Federer tumbled to No. 5 in the ATP rankings, the first time in a decade hes been that low.dddddddddddd Missing Montreal limits his hard-court preparation for the U.S. Open, the years last Grand Slam tournament, which begins Aug. 26. "I am disappointed not to be playing in Montreal next week," Federer said in a statement released by the tournament, which starts Monday. "It is a great tournament with amazing fans. I look forward to competing there in the future." He won the Rogers Cup when it was played in Toronto in 2004 and 2006. Federer lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2007 final at Montreal. Federers withdrawal diminishes a Montreal field that already was missing No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and former top-10 player Mardy Fish. In addition, the tournament announced Friday that Viktor Troicki and Marin Cilic wont compete. Troicki was recently suspended for 18 months by the International Tennis Federation for failing to provide blood for a drug test. He is appealing that ruling. Cilic pulled out of Wimbledon, citing an injury; he reportedly is facing a doping suspension, but the ITF has not confirmed or denied whether that is true. Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Pablo Andujar of Spain were added to the Montreal field. ' ' '