Yes, it is true. This season defense and Bucks are two words that can be used in the same sentence - and not in a derogatory way.

Much of the credit for the improvement has been given to the defensive system that coach Scott Skiles has installed this season. But what exactly is that system? No one is more familiar with it than veteran forward Malik Allen, who played for Skiles in Chicago.

"Obviously, in this league you have to be able to defend," said Allen. "But this system is built on yourself, how you're guarding, but it's also based on help and trust. Trusting your teammates. I think what makes some of the good teams in this league great is you trust one another. This system, that's what it's based upon.

"You trust that you can defend in each situation yourself and if you can't, your teammate has your back and the next guy has his back, and the next guy has his back. It's hard but when you do it you see the results and it's gratifying. We're getting better and guys are trusting one another and making plays for one another on the defensive end."

From an X's and O's standpoint, Skiles' defensive system is built around accountability and guarding your own man. There is very little rotating, switching or double-teaming. If your man just made an open jump shot, chances are it's your fault.

While many teams base their defense on double-teaming and rotating, Skiles' system is a "stunting" defense. If a defensive player gets beat, a teammate stunts - making a jab or a quick move - at the offensive player to slow him down for a moment and allow the original defender to recover. But then the stunting player quickly returns to the player he was guarding. Contesting shots is also a key, getting a hand up on a shooter, even if it's late.

And, while some teams may alter their defensive game plan from game to game, the Bucks basically carry the same principles into every game.

"It's consistent," said Bell. "Game in and game out, it's the same thing. Some coaches, every game you adjust your game plan to whoever you're playing. That gets tough because sometimes if you're going under a screen or going over a screen. . . if you're doing different things every game, sometimes you're going to make mistakes because you're not used to it.

"But with us, everything is consistent game in and game out. We're doing the same thing no matter who we're playing against."

Said guard Tyronn Lue, "It's definitely tough (to execute) but it works. When we play it the correct way with a lot of energy, we always win games. It always works.

"The biggest thing and the best thing I like about it is (Skiles) wants you to pressure the ball, but if you get beat off the dribble, it's not your responsibility. It's the other guy stepping in to help. You always help and then get back to your own."

The weak-side defenders also are an important element to Skiles' system. If the ball is on the other side of the floor, the defenders on the weak or "help" side of the court sag off the players they are guarding toward the ball and should be prepared to build a defensive wall in the lane should an opposing player try to drive to the basket. In their victory in Miami on Dec. 15, the Bucks effectively showed Miami's Dwyane Wade a wall of defenders in the lane, which made it difficult for him to find seams to the basket.

The system is not all that difficult to learn, but it's not easy to execute, especially if players get lazy and want to revert to the rotating habits they may have utilized with other systems. All five players must be on the same page for Skiles' system to work.

"It's not easy and it takes time to grasp it," said Allen. "It takes a lot of hard work. So when you're first introducing it and you're first learning it, you're going to have moments where you're doing it and moments when you're not. You're confused. Sometimes you're thinking a lot and therefore you don't react as fast. I think with us, that's been happening - as a team, still growing in it ourselves. But we're getting a lot better. It takes time."

LOCKDOWN MODE

The Bucks have shown a marked improvement on defense this season.

'08-'09 '07-'08

Points allowed avg. 97.2 103.9

Defensive field-goal pct. 44.7 48.0

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Tom Enlund posts news, notes and analysis at jsonline.com/blogs/Bucks

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