BUCKS Elson there to help prop up the post News Milwaukee Bucks

Back in August when the Milwaukee Bucks signed Francisco Elson to a free-agent contract, the idea was to add some depth at the center and power forward positions.

Now, with center Andrew Bogut sidelined until April with a back injury, that's exactly what Elson has been doing.

In Bogut's absence, Elson has started the last five games - three of which were victories - and, with a little help from his friends, has manned the center spot well.

"He's been great," coach Scott Skiles said. "His mobility and athleticism changing ends has been good. He's been very good lately."

Elson has played an average of 24.0 minutes in the last five games and has grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game. The last thing Elson has to worry about on this team is scoring; he took just 13 total shots in those games, made six and scored a total of 12 points. For the season, he is averaging 2.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.

Elson does not feel he has to fill the void alone.

"(Bogut) is a tough loss," Elson said. "He's our best defensive big man on the team. Our No. 1 rebounder, so it's a big loss. Other guys have to step up. . . . The whole team has to step up. It's just not me. It's everybody. Pick up the slack."

The Bucks took a "three-headed monster" approach at center with favorable results Monday in a victory over Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets.

Elson helped get Yao in early foul trouble, but had foul trouble of his own and ended up playing just 14 minutes. Dan Gadzuric came off the bench to play 17 minutes at center, and Malik Allen also pitched in at center and played 14 minutes.

Yao, averaging 19.7 points per game, never did get on track as the game went on and finished with seven points and four fouls in 19 minutes.

"We win together and we lose together," Skiles said. "Everybody does things well when we win and probably not so well when we lose. So I hate to single guys out but Francisco and Danny and Malik did a great job on Yao. It started with Francisco. He used his quickness. He's been good defensively on players like that."

Starting is not something new for Elson. He started 54 of the 72 games in which he played for Denver in 2005-'06. And he started 41 of the 70 games in which he played for San Antonio's 2006-'07 championship team. Elson started eight playoff games for the Spurs that season.

Elson says his approach to his job as a starter is no different from that as a reserve.

"You still have to bring the same intensity and still have to do the little things," he said. "Since I have been playing and starting, I haven't changed my game. I just go out like I have been going out pregame and doing the little things that I have to do to get ready for the game.

"The minutes that are there, I would try to do my best out on the court. If the coach decides to bring me off the bench, then I would still have to come out and do the little things. So there is no difference. The only difference is that you're starting and you're more accountable to the game and your teammates and you have to start it off great so everybody can count on you."

In training camp, the coaching staff pondered the possibility of starting Elson at power forward alongside Bogut. But when rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute came on strong to take over the starting power forward spot, Elson was relegated to the bench.

"One thing that has happened to Francisco is, he's been a little bit of a victim of circumstance in that we played him almost exclusively at backup (center) instead of some at backup (power forward) with Andrew," Skiles said. "That's something also that we think he can do well. It's just been the way the season has shaken out. Mbah a Moute's emergence early in the season, we played him at (power forward) and Charlie (Villanueva) backed him up, there weren't enough minutes there. Now he's showing what he can do for sure."