Bucks searching for their go-to guy in tight spots

Certain players have it, a late-game swagger that says they want the ball with the game on the line.

Denver's Chauncey Billups quickly comes to mind, a player who earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot."

Two of the best are Kobe Bryant, of course, and LeBron James. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki is another confident player in the clutch.

A young Milwaukee Bucks team is still searching for a true closer in critical moments of tight games. They have struggled in those situations this season, going 4-10 in a league-high 14 games decided by three points or fewer.

Forward Carlos Delfino got the call in Dallas on Tuesday night but missed a running shot in the lane at the buzzer as the Mavericks escaped with a 108-107 victory over the Bucks.

On Wednesday night, it was rookie point guard Brandon Jennings' turn, and he scored a go-ahead basket with 22.3 seconds left in the Bucks' 91-88 victory over Philadelphia. Jennings was able to get to his left hand and convert a 12-foot floater after beating 6-foot-8 defender Thaddeus Young off the dribble.

The reality of the Bucks' situation is that the 20-year-old Jennings and 25-year-old center Andrew Bogut are the closers of the present and future.

And they're still learning what it takes to end up on the winning side in National Basketball Association games.

"Even Bogut, as well as he's playing, has not had a lot of late-game, tight-game experience in his career, where he has the ball in his hands," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said.

"It's 'Is the other team going to double me? Am I one on one, am I faced up, do I have my back to the basket?' We've got to stay with it and believe at some point we're going to win some of those close games."

Elton Brand missed an easy layup to help the Bucks survive against the 76ers, and Milwaukee was fortunate to win after going 2 for 8 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks have lost close ones in a variety of frustrating ways. Washington guard Earl Boykins drew a foul on Jennings and sank two late free throws in a two-point Bucks' loss; rookie Darren Collison hit a three-pointer to force overtime in an eventual Milwaukee defeat in New Orleans; and Bryant hit a buzzer-beating 15-footer to edge the Bucks in overtime at the Bradley Center in December.

Jennings took a long three-pointer at the end of regulation with the score tied in Houston, and Skiles said the Bucks needed a better shot. They lost that game in overtime when Luke Ridnour missed a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer.

But Skiles thinks Jennings will accept responsibility in tough situations and has the tools to trouble opponents.

Jennings has worked hard to develop a reliable floater, a running shot in the lane that he can get over taller defenders.

"Right now, it's a little tricky for him because he does have that nice floater he can make," Skiles said. "He's always a little bit in between of whether to go all the way (to the rim) or whether to shoot that shot.

"It's just something he's got to work through with experience. Again, it's an offensive rebounding opportunity. Normally when he gets into the painted area he makes a pretty good decision. He either plays in a crowd and kicks it to somebody who is open for a shot, or he gets it up on the rim."

Jennings is not prone to turnovers, another positive sign. During the last seven games, he dished out 53 assists and committed just 12 turnovers, a ratio of 4.4 to 1.

"As time has gone on, he's really gotten a better grasp for his teammates and the offense, which is understandable," Skiles said. "That stuff takes some time.

"When you think about his lack of professional experience, he should be a high turnover player, and he's not. It's an understatement to say that really bodes well for him going forward."

Jennings thinks the late-game magic will appear for the Bucks this season.

"Last night (in Dallas) we fought to the end," he said after the Bucks held off the 76ers on Wednesday. "Carlos Delfino had a great look, another floater.

"Before that he shot a three-pointer from darn near halfcourt and made it. We're just going to keep fighting and hopefully things will start turning our way sometime soon."