<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">St. Francis - T.J. Ford passed a big test Thursday, the final day of the Milwaukee Bucks' summer camp at the Cousins Center. The point guard showed his usual quickness and explosive moves to the basket, and he moved with ease in the five-on-five, full-court session. He also offered a few signature moves and displayed a definite bounce in his step, while hooking up often with No. 1 draft pick Andrew Bogut. It was the step forward Bucks management wanted to see before sending Ford back to Houston to resume daily workouts under the tutelage of John Lucas. Ford has not played in a National Basketball Association game since Feb. 24, 2004, when he fell hard to the floor after crashing into Minnesota Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen. Ford underwent spinal surgery that summer and missed all of the 2004-'05 season. Last month he was cleared by doctors to resume full contact, and since then Ford has made steady progress on the way to a return to the Bucks' starting lineup this fall. "Yesterday and today was very encouraging," said Bucks coach Terry Stotts, who held a lengthy post-practice conversation with his point guard. "He was building up his stamina and his quickness, and I think he gained confidence. "On Monday, he was a little tentative with it, a little cautious, and he didn't practice Tuesday. But these two days, I think it gives him something to build on."</div> Source
