BUCKS A painful existence Injuries continue to plague team News Milwaukee Bucks

There is nothing quite like being injury-free.

Just ask the Milwaukee Bucks, who were healthy for about three quarters Wednesday before they went back to being short-handed for the stretch run of their victory over the Chicago Bulls at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks were feeling pretty good about themselves after that game and not only because they had snapped a four-game losing streak. Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut both returned from injuries and were back in the starting lineup. Other than guard Charlie Bell - who was nursing an ankle problem - the Bucks were as healthy as they had been in some time.

"I think that indirectly having most of our team back gives us that fresh start, gives us that new attitude," said Bucks forward Richard Jefferson. "We still have a ton of road games coming up, a tough schedule. But just having that group back, getting that confidence that the team we had in training camp and preseason . . . this is the team we were expecting to have. Obviously, injuries occurred but we had a tough stretch there for a while."

In the second half against Chicago, Bogut was hit in the face, which triggered the migraine headache that kept him away from practice Thursday and left him uncertain for tonight's game against Charlotte at the Bradley Center. And with the Bucks trying to figure out what course of action they want to take with Bell and his troublesome ankle, the team was back to wondering about who would be available for the game against Charlotte.

"It's just one of those things where you just deal with it," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. "Every coach wants to have his whole team, of course, because you feel like you have more options and ways you can go. Then you can really try to define roles and guys can get comfortable with what they're doing and it just hasn't been what's happened so far. We just have to roll with whatever is going on and just try to deal with it."

Even though the Bucks will take an 8-12 record into tonight's game and are not exactly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race at the moment, they are not downtrodden.

That's because they believe good health will lead to a string of victories.

Bogut, Redd, starting point guard Luke Ridnour, and sometimes-starter Charlie Villanueva have all missed games due to injuries. Jefferson and rookie forward Luc Richard Mbah Moute are the only two Bucks to have played in every game so far.

"We've unfortunately had some guys missing and guys playing outside their position and outside their roles," said Jefferson. "Guys have been working extremely hard. I don't think coach has at any point questioned our effort. Maybe some of our decision-making or some of our execution.

"I think, ultimately, Coach believes that we're playing hard. That's the big thing. When you can get your guys to play hard, then you can start working on your execution and your focus and how to play late in the games. I believe it's going to come."

Said guard Ramon Sessions: "We're definitely looking for a healthy roster. Just get healthy. That's big for us. If we can get a full roster, we'll be good."

The Bucks practiced again Thursday, their third workout of the week. This is quite amazing for a team that, due to injuries or travel, found it difficult to get in a single practice over the past few weeks. The three practices have allowed the team to work on any number of issues and to get Redd re-acquainted with his teammates with whom he has played only six games.

"Being in practice has helped us get our confidence going the way we needed to because even when Mike came back that first game against Cleveland, we hadn't had a practice or anything," said Jefferson. "To get in some good days of practice really helped us."