East Notes: Bucks, Goran Dragic, Nets, Nerlens Noel, Hornets

Bucks

Point guard Goran Dragic will have his Bucks debut delayed by knee soreness, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Dragic already seems to have a firm grasp of his role once he does finally suit up.

“I didn’t talk nothing about the role because I understand those guys are the main guys,” Dragic said, via Owczarski. “I’m here just to help. So, you know, I’m at that point of my career. I want to win, so I came here and whatever they want me to do I’m going to do it and hopefully we get that ring.”

• The Bucks will be without All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) and All-Star guard Jrue Holiday (neck) for Tuesday’s game vs. the Magic, per the NBA injury report.

Nets

Center Nerlens Noel said he intends to bring energy to the Nets’ frontcourt, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“This is already a Top 10 defense I’m pretty sure, especially with what they have, so I’m going to put it over the top,” Noel said, via Lewis. “And how ever (coach Jacque Vaughn) sees fit into what position he wants to put me in, I’ll accept regardless.”

Noel was signed to a 10-day contract after being waived by the Pistons. We have that full post here.

• There is no update on when guard/forward Ben Simmons might return from his latest set of injuries, as Lewis relayed. We have more on that here.

Hornets

The Hornets are about 17 points off their scoring average in the three games since point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) was ruled out for the season, per Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

“We’re limited to a certain degree,” coach Steve Clifford said, via Boone. “And we just were not patient enough. We’re going to have to play to second side of the floor offensively more than we were willing to do (Sunday vs. the Nets). Our offensive energy wasn’t good.

“But it all starts with just the right mindset. You don’t play good on offense if you don’t have good readiness either and that was the biggest part.”

Clifford added that the Hornets have had to fight since injuries and adversity since about the very moment the season tipped off.

“For the most part, these guys have handled an incredible amount of bad luck and adversity all year,” he said, via Boone. “And we’ve played really hard. Our effort and our energy have been the best thing that we’ve done. Tonight, that was not the case. Wednesday night, we are going to play a really good (New York Knicks) team who’s on a roll, and we are going to need everybody’s best.