A sluggish start to the season has Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova feeling a bit perplexed.

This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen for the 25-year-old Ilyasova after he signed a four-year, $32 million contract during the off-season.

Instead of picking up where he left off last spring when he finished second in the league’s most improved player voting, the Bucks starting power forward has struggled with his shot and his confidence.

His minutes are down and he has not been able to reprise his role as a gritty rebounder and accurate three-point shooter.

“It’s hard to explain,” Ilyasova said. “Sometimes those things happen. You just try to fight through it and find a way, just help my teammates any way I can.”

Skiles clearly is concerned about Ilyasova’s play but isn’t panicking about it.

“Ersan just flat has to play better,” Skiles said. “He’s letting his missed field goals affect him a little bit, it feels like. That’s human nature.”

via Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel