Since advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals nearly eight years ago, the Bucks have posted a record of 248-408. Since the franchise parted with head coach George Karl after the 2002-'03 season, the Bucks are 165-245 with two playoff appearances.

It's no secret that the Bucks have lacked stability, direction and discipline during the last few years. In nearly eight years since the Bucks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, they've gone through four coaches and numerous roster upheavals.

When John Hammond took over as general manager this winter, his first order of business was to find a coach that would set an example for his players. A guy that would, for lack of a better term, lay down the law and help shape a strained roster into a cohesive unit.

In Scott Skiles, Hammond has found his guy ... the guy the Bucks need if they ever hope to be a contender again.

A former top draft pick of the Bucks, Skiles established himself as a winner in the National Basketball Association, compiling a 281-251 record in just under eight seasons with Phoenix and Chicago.

Along with a winning pedigree came reputations that Skiles was intense, abrasive and aggressive. Those are characteristics that go far in the NBA as a player, but for coaches ... those traits can quickly wear out on players making 10 times what the coach does.

For his part, Skiles doesn't give the accusations a lot of thought. He is who he is, and he offers no apologies; nor should he.

In an age where the inmates run the asylum, his dedication and style is a refreshing change of pace, especially for a fan base that has endured annual claims of tougher attitudes and better defensive efforts.

"I always feel like I'm supposed to apologize for that," Skiles said at his introductory press conference earlier this year. "Anybody that is going to come to work with enthusiasm, concentrate and play hard will never have a problem with me."

And he's still learning, too.

Whether or not his hard-nosed reputation led to his firings in Phoenix or Chicago - or led to his hiring - can be left up for debate. The fact of the matter is that type of attitude is exactly what these Bucks desperately need.

Hammond, though, saw something else in Skiles' approach to the game. It was a different kind of discipline.

"The true way to discipline a team is through organization," Hammond says. "Scott comes to work prepared for every practice. He comes to every game prepared. He's good at his trade. And the players realize they have the responsibility to do the same.

"It's not just all about emotion for him."

Whatever it is, Skiles' message has gotten through early in the season. In the locker room, players are buying into the program.

"We've had good spirited practices," Richard Jefferson said. "Guys have been giving it to each other. When things are starting to slow down in practice guys are realizing that they have to pick it up because we know what he demands of you and what he expects."

The results haven't been earth-shattering, but there have been signs of change. Wednesday's come-from-behind, overtime victory over Washington provided glimpses of hope that the players have embraced Skiles.

"There's not too many coaches out there that have had a tremendous amount of success by always coddling their players; hugging them, kissing them and telling them how great they are," Jefferson says. "You have to get after people, tell people you expect more from them and it sets a standard for the best players on down to the rookies. He does a good job of treating everybody fairly." 

The Bucks have a long, long way to go before they will see themselves mentioned among the better teams in the East. But with Skiles calling the shots, the right guy is in place to get the team there.