But the Bucks' defense is not a lost cause. That's according to no less an authority than coach Scott Skiles, who has reason to be frustrated when his team fails to make the progress he is seeking.

"We've spent a great amount of time on our defense," Skiles said after the Bucks' practice Friday as they prepared for a home game tonight against the Indiana Pacers. "Occasionally it shows in a game; sometimes it doesn't.

"We have to be much more consistent on that end. We also know when we've done the things we need to do, for stretches of a game or for a given game here or there, we look pretty good. So it's not about us not being good enough. It's about us not doing the right things enough of the time and standing in our own way."

The statistics tell a rough story from the just completed trip. The Bucks allowed Phoenix to shoot 58.7% and score an opponent season-high 125 points, while Suns center Shaquille O'Neal went off for 35 points.

The next night in northern California, Golden State shot 48.9% and erupted for 37 points in a decisive fourth quarter.

Another set of season statistics is telling: The Bucks are 1-13 when their opponents shoot 45% or better. When their opponents shoot 44.9% or lower, the Bucks are 8-2.

Bucks center Andrew Bogut agrees with his coach that the team has the ability to defend at a higher level.

"We do it better in practice than we do in the game," Bogut said. "I think the reason for that is we have Coach howling at us in practice. You're held more accountable in practice; if you screw up, Coach is going to blow the whistle. He's going to go at you and embarrass you in front of your teammates.

"When you get into a game, guys are, 'OK, now I can be free again.' You can be free again, but you can't go out of the system."

Bogut accepted blame for a poor defensive performance against O'Neal, who also had 29 points against the Bucks in a Suns victory Nov. 8 in Milwaukee.

"Shaq just killed me; I'm not going to lie," Bogut said. "It was all 1-on-1. He was hitting shots.

"He's confident against us. It's disappointing. A couple times I didn't push (him) off the block, and he takes one dribble and just shoots over you from 7 feet. You've got to take it on the chin. Kudos to him, he's a Hall of Famer."

Skiles said Bogut had proved he can have big games this season but also needed to be more consistent.

"He (O'Neal) was catching the ball wherever he wanted to catch it, turning and laying the ball in the basket," Skiles said. "You have to meet him earlier, not let him get down to his spot.

"It's tough duty. In both games he made some shots he hasn't been making against other teams. But it all happened because he got going so early in the game."

Bogut went up against Andris Biedrins the next night, and the Warriors center finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds in 20 minutes.

"I go to help, and he gets offensive rebounds," Bogut said. "I wasn't worried about that."

Veteran forward Malik Allen, out with a rib injury, played under Skiles with the Chicago Bulls and has seen the success experienced by those teams.

"Malik says just stick in the system," Bogut said. "It's going to take time, but it definitely shouldn't take this long. No doubt all 13 or 14 guys haven't bought into the system yet, for whatever reason.

"You can't have Coach saying the same thing every day."

Bogut missed practice to rest a swollen ankle but said he thought he would be able to play against the Pacers.

Bell ready to return: Guard Charlie Bell has been inactive for the last five games but might return to the Bucks' lineup tonight.

Bell has used the last few weeks to rehabilitate an ankle injury that has bothered him throughout the season, after he underwent ankle surgery in May. He went through a full practice Friday at the Cousins Center.

"I feel a lot better," Bell said. "I kind of wore down a little bit as practice went on, but I just wanted to get out there and help the team."

Bucks vs. Pacers

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Bradley Center

TV: None Radio: AM-620

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