Bogut struggles; Ilyasova succeeds

Two Milwaukee Bucks participating in the FIBA World Championships in Japan are having decidedly different experiences thus far in the Land of the Rising Sun. C Andrew Bogut has struggled mightily for Team Australia, while F Ersan Ilyasova has flourished for his native Turkey.

In his first two games, Bogut has registered a pitiful Eff48 of 10.44. He is rebounding well, but he is shooting poorly from the field (37.7%), and the foul line (50%). The foul line struggles we expect, the field goal struggles we do not. To be fair, though, the international game is not friendly to centers, with its widened lane and strong emphasis on perimeter play. So I wouldn't read too much into this.

On the other hand, the international game is well-suited to players like the 6'9'' Ilyasova, and he has shined. In his two games, the young Turk has an Eff48 of 26.10, is fourth among all forwards in scoring, and has been shooting the lights out from behind the international 3 point line (71.4%). If his performances at the World Championships are a fair indication of what to expect, then we can say this much. He is an excellent outside shooter, he struggles a bit from close range (40% on 2 point shots), he rebounds not so much (1 rpg), and he passes rarely (1 apg). But, on a team designed by GM Larry Harris to be lethal from the perimeter, he looks like a great fit.

Footnote: It should be noted that Ilyasova was an acceptable rebounder for his NBDL Tulsa 66ers squad, averaging 7 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game. That meets the old 'one rebound every 4 minutes' standard favored by NBA scouts.