JS Online The long-awaited moment occurred at the start of the second half of the Milwaukee Bucks' National Basketball Association exhibition game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night at the Bradley Center. Center Ervin Johnson returned after a two-year hiatus in Minnesota. Johnson, getting his first action of the exhibition season, started the second half Saturday, played 11 minutes and contributed to a big third quarter that propelled the Bucks to a 91-89 victory. "I think everybody could see that Ervin Johnson can still play," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said. After playing six seasons with the Bucks, Johnson was shipped off to the Timberwolves along with Sam Cassell in June 2003 in the deal that brought Joe Smith to Milwaukee. Johnson signed with the Bucks as a free agent in August. When Johnson returned, it was generally assumed that the team was bringing him back primarily to mentor rookie center Andrew Bogut and show him the ways and means of the NBA. But to hear Stotts tell it, the Bucks are expecting a contribution from Johnson on the court also, particularly on defense. Johnson played almost the entire third quarter Saturday and missed all three of his shots, but he played solid defense, grabbed three rebounds, and had an assist and a steal. Trailing by two at halftime, the Bucks limited Cleveland to 17.6% shooting in the third quarter and outscored the Cavaliers, 30-13. Stotts liked what he saw from Johnson. "He's more than just a mentor," Stotts said. "I thought his performance in the third quarter was very good. Defensively, he was helping everywhere. We got some stops and I thought defensively in the third quarter he was a big part of it." Johnson has no problem with playing a leadership role on the team. "When I was younger and I came in (the league), the old moved out," the 37-year-old Johnson said. "Now it's being done to me, where the younger players are coming in and the older have to move out again. So I've got to take a step back and let those guys do their thing and try to give them information and be there for them. Source
