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Ousmane Dieng learned the Bucks offensive playbook in just two or three days.
But the 22-year-old, newly acquired shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t seem nearly as impressed with that detail about himself when he quietly and modestly fielded a few questions Saturday night following a very-needed win for the Bucks.
But it could be a telling sign about what the Bucks have found in him. Dieng's adaptability showed through when Dieng pitched in 11 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds – all of them defensive – in a plus-11 stat line for Milwaukee’s 113-99 victory against the depleted Utah Jazz Saturday March 7 at Fiserv Forum.
Dieng has had one month with the Bucks, and several full and partial shootaround style practices, but he is otherwise still very new to this team. And very new to the city, since he's still living out of a hotel.
When he was asked what most important for him to learn with his new team, Dieng said it was learning the plays.
“After that it’s just basketball, playing the right way,” said Dieng. “Passing the ball when somebody is open.”
More: Ousmane Dieng happy to settle in with Bucks after whirlwind trade deadline
Passing was the key in the win Saturday night, with the Bucks combining for 33 assists. Milwaukee needed this win. Utah is even worse off than the Bucks and hung around for more than three quarters in this game.
Dieng helped in numerous ways offensively, including being part of several advanced passing plays.
“When you play the right way you, can play with anybody, or any team,” said Dieng. “I just feel like I play the right way.”
Kyle Kuzma agreed that Dieng has made a good first impression in this area.
"Pretty fast, but that’s a credit to him and his IQ," said Kuzma. "You can just see the way he plays. He talks a little bit. He sees certain things on the court.”
Thanasis and Giannis Antetokounmpo were welcoming to Dieng and started talking with him right away.
“On what he likes or where he wants me to be when he’s on the floor and we have the ball. Just those simple things,” Dieng said.
"He's a good kid," said Thanasis Antetokounmpo. "It's always hard to kind of adapt. Coming to a new team, he has to see where he fits in. And I told him to come in and just be really positive and aggressive. Just play his game - and everything else will fall in to place."
The days leading up to Dieng's arrival in Milwaukee were insane:
Feb. 3: Oklahoma City (played six minutes for the Thunder)
Feb. 4: Traveled to San Antonio. Traded to Charlotte, stayed four hours in the hotel. Informed he would be traded to Chicago.
Feb. 5: Flew to Chicago for a physical, passed it and was formally dealt to Bulls. Got on the Bulls team plane to Toronto and while in the air, was informed he was traded to Milwaukee.
Feb. 5: Landed in Toronto, immediately flew back to Chicago and drove in late to Milwaukee.
“It was crazy,” he told Jim Owczarski of the Journal Sentinel.
Dieng has now worked his way in to the starting lineup in the last three games with playing time hovering around 30 minutes, but the win against the Jass was one of his better shooting nights so far as a Buck (4-8 from the field, 3-6 from 3).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nickel: Keep an eye on Ousmane Dieng, the Bucks' quick learner
Continue reading...
But the 22-year-old, newly acquired shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t seem nearly as impressed with that detail about himself when he quietly and modestly fielded a few questions Saturday night following a very-needed win for the Bucks.
But it could be a telling sign about what the Bucks have found in him. Dieng's adaptability showed through when Dieng pitched in 11 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds – all of them defensive – in a plus-11 stat line for Milwaukee’s 113-99 victory against the depleted Utah Jazz Saturday March 7 at Fiserv Forum.
Dieng has had one month with the Bucks, and several full and partial shootaround style practices, but he is otherwise still very new to this team. And very new to the city, since he's still living out of a hotel.
When he was asked what most important for him to learn with his new team, Dieng said it was learning the plays.
“After that it’s just basketball, playing the right way,” said Dieng. “Passing the ball when somebody is open.”
More: Ousmane Dieng happy to settle in with Bucks after whirlwind trade deadline
Passing was the key in the win Saturday night, with the Bucks combining for 33 assists. Milwaukee needed this win. Utah is even worse off than the Bucks and hung around for more than three quarters in this game.
Dieng helped in numerous ways offensively, including being part of several advanced passing plays.
“When you play the right way you, can play with anybody, or any team,” said Dieng. “I just feel like I play the right way.”
Kyle Kuzma agreed that Dieng has made a good first impression in this area.
"Pretty fast, but that’s a credit to him and his IQ," said Kuzma. "You can just see the way he plays. He talks a little bit. He sees certain things on the court.”
Thanasis and Giannis Antetokounmpo were welcoming to Dieng and started talking with him right away.
“On what he likes or where he wants me to be when he’s on the floor and we have the ball. Just those simple things,” Dieng said.
"He's a good kid," said Thanasis Antetokounmpo. "It's always hard to kind of adapt. Coming to a new team, he has to see where he fits in. And I told him to come in and just be really positive and aggressive. Just play his game - and everything else will fall in to place."
The days leading up to Dieng's arrival in Milwaukee were insane:
Feb. 3: Oklahoma City (played six minutes for the Thunder)
Feb. 4: Traveled to San Antonio. Traded to Charlotte, stayed four hours in the hotel. Informed he would be traded to Chicago.
Feb. 5: Flew to Chicago for a physical, passed it and was formally dealt to Bulls. Got on the Bulls team plane to Toronto and while in the air, was informed he was traded to Milwaukee.
Feb. 5: Landed in Toronto, immediately flew back to Chicago and drove in late to Milwaukee.
“It was crazy,” he told Jim Owczarski of the Journal Sentinel.
Dieng has now worked his way in to the starting lineup in the last three games with playing time hovering around 30 minutes, but the win against the Jass was one of his better shooting nights so far as a Buck (4-8 from the field, 3-6 from 3).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nickel: Keep an eye on Ousmane Dieng, the Bucks' quick learner
Continue reading...
