San Antonio won a close game four 87-81 over the Utah Jazz Monday night, joining Oklahoma City as the only teams to sweep their first round series. The Spurs dominated Utah in virtually every facet, winning by an average of sixteen points per game, including a 114-83 drubbing in game two. In typical Spurs fashion, each victory was a team effort, though Tony Parker stepped up with two big performances in games one (28 points, eight assists) and three (27 points, 6 assists). Manu Ginobili, who missed last year's disappointing first-round exit due to an arm injury, was relatively quiet in limited minutes off the bench. However, the Argentina-native will certainly see plenty of playing time as the playoffs progress. Coach Gregg Popovich has consistently gone eleven-deep with his team throughout the season, utilizing a strong, young bench to give provide rest to Ginobili and fellow veterans Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. The Spurs now await the winner of what has been the most exciting series of these playoffs thus far between the Grizzlies and Clippers. Los Angeles, after a thrilling overtime victory in game four, leads the series 3-1 and will look to close it out Wednesday in Memphis.

Oklahoma City had a slightly tougher time handling the defending champion Mavericks in their opening-round series, but was able to get by Dirk and Co. behind some strong performances from their big three. Though Kevin Durant struggled from the field for most of the series, he was able to draw fouls on the Mavericks' big men and get to the line consistently. Russell Westbrook also experienced some shooting woes, but played very well in games one and two, scoring 28 and 29 points respectively. However, it was James Harden who came through in the closing game, pouring in 29 points on 11-16 shooting to go along with five boards and five assists. Oklahoma City will likely face the Los Angeles Lakers (who lead Denver 3-1) in round two, a matchup that certainly has the potential to go seven games.

The third-seeded Lakers appear to match up well with Oklahoma City on paper and will certainly hold the advantage in terms of size. The Thunder's front line of Kendrick Perkins and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Serge Ibaka will have their hands full defending talented seven-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in the paint. The Lakers will also welcome back Metta World Peace from his seven-game suspension for elbowing Harden during the teams' final regular season matchup back on April 22nd.

As for San Antonio, a potential matchup with the Clippers would represent an "old school vs. new school" dynamic sure to produce some memorable playoff moments: The Spurs, who many believe may be making their final run at a championship during the Tim Duncan era, versus the Clippers - whose young core of Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, Nick Young and Chris Paul are making their first trip to the playoffs together. Both clubs are extremely deep, particularly in the backcourt, and boast two of the best point guards in the league in Parker and Paul. The Griffin-Duncan matchup down low will also be interesting, as the Clippers' star has struggled to effectively make post moves against savvy, physical defenders like Duncan.

Lebron James' mouthguard says it all. The number sixteen, printed in roman numerals, is a constant reminder to James, and the millions watching, of the number of games his Miami Heat need to win in order to capture the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Two nights removed from the 33-point onslaught the Heat unleashed on the Knicks in the series' opening contest, James and crew were back at it Monday night, defeating New York in game two to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

James, who will likely be named this season's MVP, has certainly lived up to the title thus far. In the game one blowout, James scored 32 points in three quarters of action, all while holding Knicks star Carmelo Anthony to just eleven points on 3-15 shooting. After a physical, back-and-forth first quarter, Miami pulled away in the second behind a 24-2 run capped off by nine straight points from the King himself. Following a flagrant screen by Tyson Chandler, James knocked down the subsequent two free throws and then banked in an and-one 20-footer from the wing. The next two Heat possessions, James connected on a tough fadeaway jumper and dropped in a contested layup just before the first-half buzzer. Miami headed to the locker room with a 54-31 lead and never looked back, winning 100-67.

In game two, Dwyane Wade, who scored a rather quiet nineteen points in game one, took advantage of New York's focus on James to notch 25 points on 11-18 shooting. Both Wade and James were continually able to get to the rim and finish or kick to the Heat's 3-point shooters. Lebron finished with nineteen points, seven rebounds, and a game-high nine assists while playing more of the facilitator role for Miami. Chris Bosh added 21 points and provided strong defense against the Knicks' Amare Stoudemire. Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 30 points, but attempted 26 shots, often forcing the issue instead of looking to dish to open teammates. After knocking down his first couple shots, the Knicks' star was kept in check by James, but was able to catch fire again after Shane Battier took over the defensive assignment. New York kept the game close throughout, but was never able to overcome Miami's big three, eventually falling in much more respectable fashion 94-104.

As if the loss was not painful enough for New York, moments after the game's conclusion, Stoudemire reportedly punched through a glass door protecting a fire extinguisher, injuring his left hand and leaving his status for the remainder of the series in doubt. The forward, in his second season with the club, offered a sincere apology via his Twitter account following the incident, but his actions could spell disaster for a Knicks team already dealing with injuries to guards Jeremy Lin and Iman Shumpert. Without Stoudemire, who has officially been ruled out for Thursday's game three, New York will turn to Jared Jeffries and little-used Dan Gadzuric for help inside.

Miami will look to take a commanding 3-0 lead as the series shifts to New York Thursday, and from what we have seen thus far, there is no reason to think they will not do just that. James has historically played very well at The Garden and given the Knicks' now-thin front line, even more pressure is placed on the shoulders of Anthony. If the Heat can attack the rim and get New York's bigs in foul trouble early, the game could get ugly in a hurry. With a victory in game three, Miami could look to close out the series Sunday in what would be New York's second consecutive first round sweep.

With the sun officially setting on the Bucks' playoff hopes Monday night, Milwaukee's front office will begin to switch focus toward June's NBA Draft. The Bucks will likely land a pick in the 10-14 range and will be looking to add some size to a team lacking a true center (Kwame does not count) since the departure of Andrew Bogut. While typically late-lottery picks are not expected to yield star players, the 2012 draft is viewed as one of the strongest in recent memory and Milwaukee should come away with a rookie who can step in and produce from day one.

Kentucky freshman and Naismith Award winner Anthony Davis is the clear prize of the draft and will almost certainly hear his name called first by Commissioner Stern on draft night. The 6'11" forward is a nightmare defensively and showed great improvement in his offensive game as the season progressed. Davis and other big names, such as Thomas Robinson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, will be long gone by the time Milwaukee is on the clock, but several impact players will likely be available.

If Milwaukee does indeed decide to select a big man, Illinois' Meyers Leonard and North Carolina's Tyler Zeller are two potential options. Leonard, considered to have the greater upside of the two, has an ideal NBA frame but will need to add some muscle to survive inside against the likes of Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum on a nightly basis. His production in college was nothing spectacular, but at just 20 years old, the athletic Leonard could develop into the center of the future for Milwaukee. Zeller, the 2012 ACC Player of the Year, put up more impressive numbers than Leonard, but lacks the elite athleticism and strength of his younger counterpart. The senior has a very high basketball IQ and work ethic, but his ceiling is rather low and he may even project more as a power forward than a center due to his thin build.

If the Bucks choose to look elsewhere for a quality big man in this year's draft, they may target Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie or Jared Sullinger of Ohio State. Moultrie's inside-outside offensive game has drawn comparisons to Jermaine O'Neal and his elite athleticism could make him an effective defender at the next level. At 6'10" he is a bit undersized for the center position, but would give Scott Skiles some flexibility, as Moultrie has experience at all three frontcourt positions. Sullinger excelled in his two years at Ohio State, earning all-conference honors both seasons and bullying his way to easy baskets in the paint. The question is whether his game will translate well to the NBA, where every team will have a player bigger than the 6'9" Sullinger. If he performs well in individual workouts and exhibits a more effective mid-range game, Sullinger could be a top-ten pick. If he is available when Milwaukee is on the clock, it would be a tempting pick, but his lack of size and relatively low ceiling may ultimately ward the Bucks off.

Should Milwaukee opt to address its need for a center via free agency or trade, they may simply select the best player available at the time. In such a deep draft, this possibility would almost guarantee the Bucks a player who can contribute immediately. The front office could choose to roll the dice on Baylor sophomore forward Perry Jones, once considered a candidate for the top overall pick. The 6'11" Jones has arguably the highest ceiling of any prospect, but was plagued by inconsistent play throughout his two years at Baylor. He notably disappeared in several big games, but showed flashes of brilliance at times. Jones has the ability to play the two, three and four positions, but will most likely see the most action at the small forward spot. He would offer Milwaukee a versatile option capable of creating mismatches against smaller defenders.

The Bucks could also choose to address the guard positions, especially if Brandon Jennings decides to sign elsewhere this offseason. If Jennings does opt to stay, Milwaukee could look to add a scorer off the bench, such as Syracuse sophomore Dion Waiters. The 6'4" Waiters came off the bench to lead the Orangemen in scoring in 2011-12 and his penetration-focused game should translate well to the NBA. On film he looks like a slightly-smaller Tyreke Evans clone, right down to the unorthodox jumpshot mechanics. Waiters has an NBA-ready frame and excels at getting to the rim, but also boasts deep three-point range. He is a player whose stock steadily rose all season and that trend should continue as individual and group workouts commence in the coming months. Should Jennings decide to sign with another club, Milwaukee may look to trade up in order to grab a point guard for the future. North Carolina's Kendall Marshall and Weber State's Damian Lillard are the two most-coveted floor generals, though neither is thought of as a future superstar. In this scenario, Milwaukee would most likely refrain from trading up and instead try to fill the void via free agency.

The Milwaukee Bucks' playoff hopes are quickly diminishing after a lackluster loss to the 16-46 Wizards. It's been just over a month since the Andrew Bogut trade - one widely seen as an attempt to "win now" and sneak into the playoffs - and the Bucks appear destined for the ninth seed, just as they did prior to the trade.

Milwaukee finds themselves 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with only five games remaining in the regular season. The Bucks' playoff odds, according to ESPN's John Hollinger, are sitting at a meek 14.8 percent. Perhaps more disheartening - especially for the fans who sought a rebuild - are Milwaukee's odds of winning the lottery: 0.4 percent. It appears the Bucks are destined for a mediocre season and a mediocre draft slot once again.

The lackluster race to the finish line, highlighted by the Bucks' 1-7 record against teams with a .500 record or better since the trade, will certainly leave a sour taste in the mouths of head coach Scott Skiles, general manager John Hammond and, perhaps most importantly, owner Herb Kohl. There are rumblings that Kohl could release Hammond and Skiles from their contracts after the season. Both contracts run for another year and a combined $7 million, so Kohl would be taking a significant financial hit if he chose to hit the 'reset' button. There are also rumors that Kohl might sell the franchise this offseason. However, that seems much less likely, as he won't sell the team to anyone who doesn't commit to keep the franchise in Milwaukee (and keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee is far from a profitable venture).

So, while the prospects of considerable change loom in the background, here's a review of the last three games for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bucks (113) at Pistons (97) - Friday (4/13/12)

The Good: The Bucks controlled the game from the tipoff and shot 51.7 percent from the floor. Starting center Drew Gooden - whose offensive production has regressed - chipped in 26 points on 12-18 shooting. Milwaukee tallied over 30 assists in the game once again, which is nearly becoming as much of a guarantee as death and taxes.

The Bad: Rookies Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer played a combined one minute in the win - which has become a theme late in the season. If the Bucks miss the playoffs, the decision to play veterans over young players could be another regrettable aspect of the season.

The Ugly: Detroit's starters were a combined -100 in the box score.

Bucks (99) vs. Pacers (105) - Saturday (4/14/12)

The Good: The Bucks stuck with the third best team in the Easter Conference - one that has won 10 of their last 11 games. If the Bucks would have shot better from the free throw line down the stretch, where they shot 16-26 for the game, it could have been an important, signature win.

The Bad: The Bucks were outrebounded 54-43 on the game and were noticeably undersized at every position on the floor. Roy Hibbert, the 7-2 center for the Pacers, dominated the paint with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

The Ugly: The Bucks needed every win they could get down the stretch, and they let one get away against the Pacers. This loss also put the Bucks' record against teams above .500 at 1-7, a poor mark for a team that traded its best player, albeit injured, for a run at the playoffs.

Bucks (112) at Wizards (121) - Wednesday (4/18/12)

The Good: This was one of the worst losses for the Bucks this season. In a game that Scott Skiles called a "must win," the Bucks showed up with little energy and resolve. The good thing, if any, to come out of this game is the 56 combined points for Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

The Bad: The Bucks had won 14 consecutive games against teams under .500 before losing this game. While that is an impressive feat, losing to a 16-win team, when the stakes are high, is not acceptable.

The Ugly: Not only did the Bucks lose this game in convincing fashion, they gave up 121 points to a team that averages only 93 points per game, fifth worst in the NBA. Jordan Crawford torched the Bucks for 32 points on 17 shots. Perhaps not surprisingly, Monta Ellis guarded him for the majority of the game. The undersized backcourt of Jennings and Ellis has had considerable problems containing the penetration of opposing guards. With a starting frontcourt of Ersan Ilyasova and Drew Gooden - neither of whom protect the rim with much authority - it's not hard to see why Milwaukee's defense has been among the worst in the NBA since the trade.

Looking Ahead: The Bucks will likely have to win out in their five remaining games to have a legitimate chance at the playoffs. They will face the Pacers in Indiana, return home to play the Nets, Raptors and 76ers (who currently hold the eighth seed by 2.5 games), and finish the regular season in Boston against the Celtics. The 76ers play the remainder of their games on the road, against the Pacers, Nets, Bucks and Pistons.

John Wall was supposed to be a sure thing. A freak athlete with perfect NBA size and blazing speed that was certain to make him a star from day one. He had his own shoe, his own dance and even his own rap song. But with his second NBA season now almost in the books, critics have begun to wonder if "doing the John Wall" was merely a fad.

With five games remaining in this abbreviated lockout season, Wall's Wizards sit at second to last place in the Eastern Conference with an abysmal 15-46 record that only the Bobcats would envy. Last season, which the Wizards finished with a similar winning percentage (.280), fans were quick to point the blame at the rest of the team and dismiss Wall's miscues as rookie mistakes. While that seemed more than plausible at the time, after a second year of wildly inefficient shooting and careless turnovers, at least some of the responsibility has to be shifted toward the 21-year-old point guard. In his rookie year, Wall struggled mightily in two areas: shooting percentage and turnovers. This season, Wall's 236 turnovers (3.9/game) are tops in the league, an area he has failed to improve upon statistically from a year ago. Though he has slightly improved his field goal percentage to a blistering 42% (up from 40% last year), Wall has yet to prove he has any sort of game outside of the paint.

While his combination of speed and size makes him the most dangerous fast break guard in the league (it's true), Wall's inability to shoot from the outside has virtually eliminated the need to guard him closely outside of eighteen feet. The former top-overall high school prospect is a dreadful 3-40 from behind the arc this season. For a starting point guard who averages nearly 37 minutes per game, THREE made three-pointers is unacceptable. To put this in perspective, consider the following: Pau Gasol, Rajon Rondo (a notoriously awful shooter), and this strange man have all recorded more three point field goals than Wall this season. While Rondo has found success as an ineffective shooter, his passing and efficiency, two areas Wall must improve upon, make up for the void. With a developed deep-range jumper, Wall would force defenders to guard him further out, opening up the lane for penetration - one of his strongest suits.

Offensive struggles aside, Wall's career is still very young and he is far from being written off as yet another number one overall bust. Despite the poor shooting, he finds ways to score (16.5 per game) and by all accounts has provided leadership for an immature Washington squad. Perhaps the success of Derrick Rose (who, remember, had Deng and Noah instead of Blatche and McGee), created unrealistic expectations for fans who expected the former Kentucky star to step in and lead the Wiz to the playoffs immediately. However, the sensational rookie season being put together by this year's top pick, Kyrie Irving, has to create some doubt as to whether Wall may have been a bit overhyped. With 'me-first' teammates Nick Young and Javale McGee (this about says it all) now out of the picture in Washington, next season may be the best chance to evaluate Wall, as his supporting cast will certainly be improved. Whether or not Wall develops into the elite player he is capable of being will depend upon his willingness to work on improving his flaws. He recently told reporters that the numerous charity games he participated in over the summer may have left him ill-prepared for this season, but with a full 82-game schedule on the slate for 2012-13, few obstacles should stand in the way of Wall's improvement. If he can develop a jumpshot and increase his offensive awareness, Wall will have fans around the league doing the "John Wall" a lot more often.

Currently sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a game-and-a-half behind the Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to put together a late run to seize the eighth and final playoff spot. With just nine games remaining in this lockout-shortened season, time is running out for Milwaukee to catch the Knicks or 76ers, who are currently a half-game ahead of New York for the seventh seed. Of the three teams, Philadelphia has arguably the easiest remaining schedule, with six of their final nine games against teams with losing records (including an April 25th showdown in Milwaukee).

Since making the year's biggest splash at the trade deadline, acquiring star guard Monta Ellis, young forward Ekpe Udoh, and veteran big man Kwame Brown from Golden State in exchange for center Andrew Bogut, the Bucks have gone 10-5, but most of the damage has been done against poor teams. All five of the Bucks' losses have come at the hands of playoff-bound teams, and their only victory over a .500 or above team was against a Joe Johnson-less Hawks team. Ellis has struggled since the trade, shooting poorly from the field and scoring more than twenty points in just three games. His repute as a "me-first" player (Stephen Jackson, anyone?), clashes with Scott Skiles' team-oriented coaching style, but Ellis does not seem discontented with the change. His numbers are down, but the chance to qualify for the playoffs, something he has achieved just once in his six-year NBA career, is certainly a sufficient motivator. The 6'3" guard from Jackson, Mississippi has a reputation as a big-time scorer (he once put up 72 in a high school game), and the Bucks will need him to be just that if they are to sneak into the playoffs.

Milwaukee will play its most important game of the season to date Wednesday as the Knicks come to town, looking to avenge a March 9th loss in which both teams shot extremely well from the floor. The Bucks hold a 2-1 advantage in the season series, splitting the two contests in the Big Apple. On paper, New York appears to hold the advantage, but the Knicks' star-studded roster has greatly underachieved all season. Despite a ridiculous performance in Sunday's overtime victory over Chicago, Carmelo Anthony has struggled, for the most part, through his second season as a Knick. He is shooting a career low 41 percent from the field, and scoring less than three points per game off his career average (24.6). Amare Stoudemire has also experienced a down year in terms of production, seeing his numbers drop in nearly every statistical category, most notably scoring (nearly eight points per game decrease from 2010-'11). He will not play in Wednesday's contest due to a recurring back injury, but is expected to return later this week. With Jeremy Lin injured and Baron Davis looking just about washed up, the Bucks will have a chance to exploit the Knicks' erratic backcourt of Iman Shumpert and JR Smith. Shumpert, though a premier defender with excellent size, has a very limited offensive game and is prone to carelessness. Smith, a veteran sharpshooter back from a lockout-induced stint in China, has been shooting poorly from the field, but has the potential to get hot from behind the arc (he scored 60 points, including FOURTEEN three pointers, in a Chinese playoff game).

Following Wednesday's showdown, Milwaukee will head to Detroit Friday to face a lowly Pistons squad before returning home for a contest against Indiana the following day. It is worth noting that, if the battle for the eighth seed comes down to the final game, Milwaukee is scheduled to play the Celtics, who may opt to rest starters for a playoff run. Philadelphia, however, faces Detroit - a team that would love to play spoiler for a conference rival. New York is scheduled to face Charlotte, arguably the worst team in NBA history (Byron Mullens and Derrick Brown started tonight, just to give you some perspective), which should be an easy victory for a playoff-hungry squad.

At this point, seeds one through six in the East are essentially set, but Philadelphia, New York, and Milwaukee all have great opportunities to grab hold of the final two slots. Milwaukee will need continued stellar play from Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova, along with an increase in production from Ellis, if they hope to return to the playoffs after missing out last season. The race will come down to which teams can take care of their business in games against poor teams. The Bucks have fared well in these situations over the course of the season; but at this point in the season, as KG said it best, anything is possible.

So far, so good for the new look Bucks. The run and gun Bucks have won six straight games and are averaging 113 points per game during that span. In addition, Milwaukee has dished out at least 30 assists for the fourth straight game. Sharing is not only caring for the Bucks, it's winning - at least for the time being.

With their recent hot streak, the Bucks now boast the seventh best offense in the league, averaging 98.0 points per game this season. For sake of comparison, the Bucks were dead last in offense last year, averaging only 91.9 points per game. Although there are many factors at play, it appears Milwaukee's willingness to pass the ball - sometimes to a fault - is the driving force behind the drastic improvement. The Bucks were last in the NBA in assists per game last season, but they're currently fourth best in that category this season.

Although everything seems to be on an upswing for the Bucks, there are still some legitimate concerns that lie ahead. Milwaukee's defense is becoming increasingly worse as the season progresses. Part of that is a result of the uptempo style - which results in more possessions per game - but numbers don't lie and neither does Drew Gooden's post defense (or lack thereof). The Bucks are ranked 23rd in points allowed per game after being the third best defensive team in the NBA. Not having Andrew Bogut for a majority of the season has definitely had an impact, but his absence alone shouldn't justify a huge drop in defense. If the Bucks want to be a legitimate contender in the playoffs - where run and gun offenses are notorious for failing - they will have to improve their defensive effort.

In order to be a legitimate contender in the playoffs, you obviously have to get there first. That's not a foregone conclusion for the Bucks as the Knicks have stormed off a five-game win streak of their own. The Knicks haven't lost a game since they fired head coach Mike D'Antoni and appear to be playing as a team - a novel concept for them. It will be interesting to see which team - the Bucks or the Knicks - can maintain a winning pace. The final playoff spot will be at stake.

While the spontaneously intriguing race for the 8th seed continues, here's a quick review of Milwaukee's last two games (blowouts).

Bucks (120) at Warriors (98) - March 16 (Friday)

The Good: The Bucks' debut of Monta Ellis came against his former team, and he did not disappoint. Ellis scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and tallied four assists in the winning effort. In a debut game full of emotions, it's hard to expect much more.

The Bad: There wasn't a whole lot of "bad" for either team in this one. The Bucks got a much needed road win on the west coast, while the Warriors picked up a loss and a bump in the lottery standings. The Warriors forfeit their first round pick next year if they don't have a top seven pick, so they have significant tanking incentive.

The Ugly: The biggest ovations from the Oracle Arena faithful were for Monta Ellis - not their own team. Ellis received numerous standing ovations in the first half, and the fans even cheered for his baskets - against their own team.

Bucks (116) vs. Trail Blazers (87) - March 20 (Tuesday)

The Good: The Bucks finished up their sweep of the short west coast road trip - where they've struggled historically - in convincing fashion. Milwaukee shot 57.8% from the field and dished out 35 assists on 48 made field goals. Ekpe Udoh - the other player acquired in the Bogut trade -made his presence known by hauling in six rebounds and blocking four shots. It would be a huge boost for the Bucks if Udoh could protect the paint in consistent, extended minutes.

The Bad: The Bucks were facing another team seemingly tanking. The Trail Blazers signaled a complete rebuild when they flipped two of their starters at the deadline for draft picks and cap relief. As a result, the Bucks played against the likes of Luke Babbitt, Johnny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet. That list of players alone may make you fear the lottery.

The Ugly: Portland center Joel Przybilla committed a jump ball violation after arguing with the ref for over 20 seconds about how he lined up his feet. It was...odd.

A look ahead: The Bucks now face a stretch of five games in six days, after only playing two games in seven days. It's a crucial set of games for the Bucks as they face four teams they're chasing in the playoff race in that span. They host the Celtics, Pacers and Hawks and visit the Knicks. If the Bucks want to make a serious run at the playoffs, now would be a good time to keep winning.

Random stat of the day (brought to you by the @BucksPR twitter handle):

The Bucks are 5-0 when Mike Dunleavy Jr. scores 20 or more points and 11-3 when he scores 15 or more points.

It was "March Madness" for the Milwaukee Bucks this week as they traded away Andrew Bogut, their longest tenured player, for a dynamic wing player they've been searching for.

The Bucks received guard Monta Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown's expiring contract in exchange for Andrew Bogut and the maligned Stephen Jackson.

Before analyzing the trade - and Milwaukee's future as a whole - here's a breakdown of each player in the trade:

Andrew Bogut

Although many Wisconsinites are content to label Bogut a bust, that simply isn't the case. It's true that mediocrity marred Bogut's tenure with the Bucks - only landing in the playoffs twice in his six years. It's also true that Bogut missed a significant amount of games for the Bucks - missing over 100 games the last four seasons. However, Bogut was by far the best player on the Bucks during his time here. He's certainly better than Marvin Williams, the other player the Bucks were targeting with the number one pick in 2005. People are quick to point out the Bucks could have had Deron Williams or Chris Paul in that draft. My rebuttal is simple - Chris Paul and Deron Williams forced their way out of New Orleans and Utah respectively, and it would have happened sooner in Milwaukee. Not to mention the Bucks already had a promising point guard in T.J. Ford.

If anyone is to blame for the Bucks' lack of success, it is Milwaukee's management for consistently failing to surround Bogut with talented, unselfish and efficient players (i.e. not the carousel of Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Bobby Simmons, Charlie Villanueva, Richard Jefferson, Corey Maggette and Stephen Jackson). This year the Bucks were 7-5 when Andrew Bogut played and 12-19 when he did not. To argue the Bucks were and are better without a healthy Andrew Bogut is simply not true. However, you can argue the Bucks are now better without Bogut than with a consistently injured Bogut, which is why the trade was made.

It is not fair to dismiss Bogut's value and talent because of his injuries. Legitimate 7-foot centers are disappearing in the NBA, and just two years ago - before "the injury" (where he slipped from the rim and dislocated his right elbow, broke his hand and sprained his wrist) - Bogut was arguably the best center in the league aside from Dwight Howard. Bogut was averaging 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game until his injury in 2010. Last year, while practically playing with one arm, Bogut's blocks and rebounds increased. Unfortunately, his offense never returned to form. His patented righty hook shot was nonexistent after the reconstruction of his elbow. Bogut admits his elbow would never be 100 percent again and his latest ankle injury may deteriorate his talents even further. The Bucks are no longer willing to risk that reality and wait on Bogut's health, but the Warriors clearly are.

Just two seasons ago, the Bucks seemed to have a legitimate core - a young, electrifying point guard and a dual threat center in his prime. Bogut's fall robbed him of his development into a dominant center and robbed the Bucks of their promising future. The Bucks had a clear plan in 2010; it's hard to see a plan in 2012.

Stephen Jackson

There's not much to say about Stephen Jackson's career in Milwaukee. He said a contract extension was mandatory in his introductory press conference, despite the fact his contract ran for two years and nearly $20 million. He's played in 26 games this season and averaged 10.5 points a game while only shooting 36 percent from the field - ranking 387th in the league. Jackson played poorly on the court and acted questionably off the court. He hosted numerous parties in visiting cities on nights before games, according to widespread flyers on the internet. Jackson slept through a pre-game shoot around in New York, which prompted a suspension from the Bucks. A few days later, he was suspended for verbally abusing a referee and failing to leave the court in a timely manner after an ejection during a game. The Bucks wanted desperately to get him off the team - even if it meant devaluing their return on a trade. Milwaukee got their wish by packaging him in this deal.

(Note: The Warriors traded Jackson a day later to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson and a conditional first round pick.)

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis is a quick, flashy combo guard who has averaged nearly 20 points per game in his career. The Warriors drafted him out of high school in 2005 with the 40th overall pick in the NBA Draft. He captured the Most Improved Player award in his second season after averaging 16 points and 4 assists a game. In 2008, he shot 53% from the floor and averaged over 20 points per game - prompting a 6 year, $67 million extension. He injured his ankle in a moped crash that offseason and lost some of his explosiveness he displayed earlier in his career. Ellis has regained most of his quickness, but his shooting percentage has topped out at 45% since the moped incident. Nonetheless, he's still a high volume scorer - averaging 24.1 points per game last year and 25.5 points per game in 2010.

Ellis will be playing shooting guard next to Brandon Jennings, which makes him a matchup nightmare on offense. However, he's undersized at that position - only 6'3 - so he's known to struggle on defense. The Bucks have been looking for an exciting, dynamic scoring wing for the last few years, and Ellis now fills that void. Ellis' acquisition means Milwaukee will feature a run and gun style of offense, but how that meshes with Scott Skiles's defensive philosophy remains to be seen.

Ekpe Udoh

Udoh was the 6th pick in the 2010 NBA draft by Golden State. He struggled in his first season, only averaging 4 points and 3 rebounds per game. His play has improved this year, and the Warriors recently inserted him into the starting lineup after several impressive performances. At 6'10, his natural position is power forward, but he will be forced to play the center position (also see Drew Gooden and Larry Sanders) for the undersized Bucks. Udoh's rebounding rates are alarmingly low, but his defense and shot blocking abilities make up for that deficiency. Milwaukee is hoping Udoh will be able to clog the lane and develop a legitimate post game, which would lessen the impact of losing Bogut.

Kwame Brown

The former number one overall pick was included in the deal for salary relief. He's likely out for the year because of surgery on a chest muscle, but his expiring contract will save the Bucks $7 million in the offseason. This is important because that money can go towards retaining Ersan Ilyasova or extending Brandon Jennings.

Conclusion

It's too early to speculate on this deal without watching how Ellis and Udoh perform with the Bucks. Ellis and Brandon Jennings could be the most exciting, dynamic backcourts in the NBA. Conversely, they could be the most undersized and inefficient backcourt - they've combined to miss 827 shots this season, the most for any pair of teammates in the NBA.

One thing is clearer than ever: Milwaukee's management is not willing to blow up its team and go for a high draft pick. Historically speaking, this development should not come as a surprise. This trade is similar, in some ways, to the Ray Allen trade in 2003. The Bucks traded Ray Allen, Ronald Murray, Kevin Ollie and a conditional first round pick to Seattle for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. Gary Payton quickly expressed his displeasure with Milwaukee and left the Bucks in the offseason, while Desmond Mason played several effective years with the Bucks as a role player. Ray Allen, however, would go to the All-Star game seven more times and win an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008. Although the Ray Allen trade failed for the Bucks - sending them into the cycle of mediocrity - it was the classic "win now while we rebuild" trade Bucks fans have become accustomed to seeing. An older Gary Payton was supposed to help them remain a playoff contender and Desmond Mason had some potential. The Andrew Bogut trade follows the pattern of "winning now while rebuilding." Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh will help the Bucks this year in their playoff push for the 8th seed, while Brown's expiring contract - and dumping the contracts of Bogut and Jackson - will give the Bucks plenty of flexibility in the future. The Bucks are also getting younger in this trade, which is another justification they can use in their claim of building for the future. The reasoning behind the Bogut and Allen trades are similar, but Milwaukee is hoping the result will be vastly different.

The Winner of the Deal

There isn't a clear winner of this deal. I'd argue Andrew Bogut is the best all-around player in the trade. There's a reason the Warriors were willing to give up their best scorers and best defender to get an injured Bogut. If, and that's a huge "if," Bogut can return to decent health and regain the form we saw two years ago, the Warriors come out on top in this deal. A quality center is substantially more difficult to find than a high volume scorer is.

The real wildcard in this deal is the Bucks' interior defense. The Bucks have a chance to be a potent team in the Eastern Conference if Udoh, Larry Sanders and Luc Mbah a Moute are able to protect the paint. However, if other teams take advantage of Milwaukee's porous interior defense, the scoring prowess of the new-look Bucks will be largely irrelevant.

Just weeks before the 2010 playoffs, Andrew Bogut was playing the best basketball of his career and, along with a rookie named Brandon Jennings, appeared to be leading Milwaukee back toward basketball relevance. Then came the injury. We've all seen it: Bogut elevates for a fast break dunk, receives a little tap from behind courtesy of Amare Stoudemire, and lands awkwardly on his arm, resulting in a gruesome elbow contortion. Since that night, the former number one overall pick has not been the same. Last season, his numbers took a slight dip as he struggled to regain confidence in the elbow (as evidenced by a nineteen percent decrease in FT percentage), but steadily improved as the year wore on. This year, however, the Australian-born big man has played in just twelve games and is currently nursing an ankle injury that is likely to keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. So, the Bucks are faced with a decision: do they shop the 27-year-old? Or keep him in hopes he'll regain his once-productive form?

Either way, there will be consequences. Bogut is a fan-favorite in Milwaukee, even going as far as to buy out an entire section of season tickets in the lower bowl and giving them to the 50-or-so rowdiest fans he selects via American Idol-style tryouts. The gang, known as "Squad 6" shows up decked out head to toe in Bucks gear to every home game and would certainly be devastated if their hero was traded. However, the NBA is a business and while the Bucks certainly don't want to rub fans the wrong way, decisions must be made in the best interest of the team. Keeping Bogut would be a considerable risk, taking into account his injury history, but if no offers appease Milwaukee's brass, they certainly won't be disappointed to have him on the roster.

Reports indicate several teams are showing interest in Bogut, as well as Brandon Jennings, with the most likely candidate being Golden State. Rumor has it the Warriors would be willing to part with some young pieces, including Ekpe Udoh and Dorell Wright among others, in exchange for Bogut. However, the Bucks have seemingly made it clear that any deal for Bogut will include Stephen Jackson, whose large contract and questionable attitude may ward many organizations off. Another rumored trade partner is the Boston Celtics, who have yet to find a center to replace Kendrick Perkins following his departure last season. While Boston lacks the breadth of young talent the other teams can offer, several players on the roster may intrigue the Bucks, such as Avery Bradley and Jeff Green. There have also been rumors that Boston has all but abandoned the thought that their current roster can contend for a title, and would be willing to part with Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett. It would certainly be interesting to see if Allen would return to Milwaukee, where he enjoyed much success, in a potential Bogut deal.

It's worth reiterating that this is all rumor-based and none of these deals have even been officially discussed, but there is certainly some interest in Bogut amongst NBA teams. Houston is another team rumored to be searching for a starting center, having discussed trades with Los Angeles involving both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. If they are unable to obtain either, which appears increasingly likely, Bogut could be next on their list. The Rockets could offer intriguing young players such as Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson who the Bucks may be interested in obtaining. Houston may also consider taking on Stephen Jackson (a Houston native) in hopes that playing in front of a home crowd would rejuvenate his career.

With Thursday's trade deadline fast approaching, any deals for the Bucks' big man will have to materialize quickly. Losing Bogut would definitely be a hit to the city of Milwaukee, but could ultimately net the Bucks some young talent to help persuade Brandon Jennings into sticking around past this season. Personally, as a Bucks fan, I'm in the "trade him" camp for exactly that reason. There is no way Jennings re-signs with Milwaukee next season if the roster looks like it does now. He's undoubtedly going to have offers from teams in more attractive markets and with more talented rosters. Plus, Bogut is not one of those players you're reluctant to part with because you fear he could blow up and come back to haunt you (i.e. T-Mac leaving the Raptors for Orlando). We know Bogut's ceiling. He's is not, and never will be, Pau Gasol or Dwight Howard; but, when healthy, he can be a very productive center capable of affecting the game on both ends of the court. While these are rare in today's fast-paced NBA, the chance for a sub .500 squad to gain some promising young talent and unload a bad locker room influence is too valuable to keep an injury-prone Bogut around.

The All-star break did little to change the Milwaukee Bucks' winning fortunes. After a layoff of five days, the Bucks defeated the Washington Wizards 119-118 thanks to an Ersan Ilyasova tip-in basket with 2.2 seconds left. While "Ersanity" has continued, wins have not. The Bucks have lost four of their last five games - falling to nine games below .500. Nonetheless, the Bucks remain in 9th place in the top-heavy Eastern Conference and three games out of a playoff spot. Perhaps just as importantly, the Bucks are only 2.5 games ahead the New Jersey Nets for the fourth-worst record in the NBA. This puts Milwaukee's management - from the owner to the coach - in a difficult position. They have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs but a reasonable chance to get a top five pick in a draft full of talent as well.

With the trading deadline less than 10 days away, we may find out quickly what direction the franchise wants to go. Gery Woelfel, reporter for the Racine Journal Times, told a Milwaukee radio station he would put the odds of the Bucks trading Andrew Bogut, the Bucks' longest tenured player, before the trading deadline at 70 percent. If that trade occurs - or a trade with the likes of Ilyasova, Carlos Delfino, Drew Gooden, etc. - it would be safe to assume the Bucks are rebuilding. However, there are also rumors floating around that the Bucks are interested in veteran guard Jamal Crawford, a volume scorer. As a result, it appears Milwaukee's management is unsure which route to take - winning now or improving their draft position. Time is ticking.

While we continue to wait for something - anything - to happen, here is a brief look at the last three games for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bucks (98) at Magic (114) - Saturday, March 3.

The Good: The Bucks fought back from an 18-point deficit early in the game and were only down five points headed into the fourth quarter. Brandon Jennings posted an efficient 27 points and got to the free throw line - a frequent nemesis of the point guard - 12 times. Jennings has bounced back nicely in March, averaging 26.3 points and 6.8 assists in four games.

The Bad: The Bucks fell apart in the fourth quarter against the Magic, in what has become a consistent theme. The Magic outscored the Bucks by 11 in the final frame of this game. In the fourth quarter of all four games this year, Orlando outscored Milwaukee by 34 points.

The Ugly: The Magic swept the season series (4-0) against the Bucks in less than one month's time.

Bucks (97) vs. 76ers (93) - Monday, March 5.

The Good: The Bucks won, which has been rare. The Bucks also beat a quality opponent, which has been even rarer. Jennings and Gooden combined for 58 points, while Ilyasova grabbed 18 rebounds.

The Bad: Although the 76ers are 23-17, they had lost five of their last seven games before heading to the Bradley Center. Still an impressive win for the Bucks, but perhaps not as impressive as a first glance would suggest.

The Ugly: Nothing to report here - unless you want the Bucks to "tank" in order to get a higher draft pick. If that's the case, this win derailed the tank for at least one night.

Bucks (104) vs. Bulls (106) - Wednesday, March 7.

The Good: The Bucks battled hard the whole game and only lost by two points to the Bulls, who boast the best record in the NBA. The teams seemed destined for overtime until Derrick Rose hit a fadeaway jumper as time expired. The Bucks and Bulls were matching each other basket for basket the entire game in front of an energetic split crowd. It was nice to see a playoff-like atmosphere at the Bradley Center - even if it was for one game.

The Bad: The Bucks have been accustomed to buzzer-beaters for the last several years. Milwaukee has generally been on the receiving end of such baskets - sans an Andrew Bogut alley-oop off an inbounds pass to beat the Pacers last season - and Wednesday night was no different.

The Ugly: Déjà vu. The Bucks have been victims of three buzzer-beating losses in recent years - Kobe Bryant in 2010, Manu Ginobili in 2011 and now Derrick Rose in 2012. All of these were at the Bradley Center and all were fadeaways at the elbow of the court.

A look ahead: A critical section of Milwaukee's schedule lies ahead if they want keep their playoff hopes alive. They host the Knicks - who currently own the 8th position in the East - on Friday and follow that up with winnable games against the Raptors, Nets and Cavs before the trade deadline. If the Bucks win three or four of those games, they will likely be within a game of the final playoff spot. If they lose three or four, decisions at the trade deadline could be significantly easier to make.

With monster games from some big-name point guards over the weekend, the often-pondered question of who the league's best floor general is has once again arisen in NBA circles. Currently, the league is absolutely stacked at the position, with the likes of Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, and many others putting up huge numbers on a nightly basis. This present crop of point guards is arguably (and by arguably I mean definitely) the overall most-skilled the NBA has ever seen and the best part is, most of them are in, or nearing, the prime of their careers. By my calculation, 23 of the NBA's 30 teams (the exceptions being Toronto, Detroit, Charlotte, New Orleans, Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles) have at least one above-average point guard on the roster; a few, namely the Clippers, T'Wolves and Knicks have two. Of those 23, I would consider twelve (Rose, Westbrook, Rondo, Nash, Williams, Lawson, Jennings, Paul, Curry, Parker, Irving, and Wall) to be "elite" at their position. While this number may appear a bit generous, would anyone dispute that any of the aforementioned dozen players are not capable of playing at an all-star level? The league has not had this breadth of talent since, well - ever, where many of the struggling teams have franchise-type point guards who appear poised to lead strong rebuilding efforts in their respective cities.

While it is still a fact that dominant big men and wing players win championships, it has become difficult to succeed in today's fast-paced NBA without a topnotch point guard running the show. Sure, the Bulls and Rockets dominated the 90s with strong post and wing play, as did the Lakers and Spurs of the past decade, but without a formidable point guard, a team in the today's NBA is all but doomed. Just three of the league's current top 20 teams, Miami, Dallas, and the Lakers, lack an above-average point-guard, but the four great superstars on each of these squads virtually offset this. A case could even be made that Mario Chalmers has developed into a suitable floor general, as he has become a deadly three-point threat for Miami, but for our purposes I'm grouping him in the "average" category.

The conversation now returns to the question of which point guard reigns supreme as the league's best overall floor general. While this could be determined a number of ways, we're going to use the "who gives your team the best chance of winning if all else is equal?" strategy. So, while Russell Westbrook might throw down some thunderous (pun intended) dunks in traffic and Rajon Rondo may turn a simple pass into an And1 Mixtape-esque dime, is either the best overall at his position? The answer, in my mind, is no. While both are exquisitely talented, the honor absolutely belongs to the reigning MVP - Derrick Rose. He's the league's best penetrator, finisher, and easily takes the "best chance to win" category. Though is jumper is still a work in progress, it has greatly improved since his days at Memphis and he has expanded his game beyond circus layups and ankle-shattering crossovers. If Rose can stay healthy, which is a big if, Chicago is the only team in the East strong enough to challenge the mighty Heat come playoff time. Beyond Rose, four other point guards (Westbrook, Rondo, Williams, and Paul) are essentially interchangeable as far as the top five overall at the position. Each presents a different skill set, but all four equally invaluable to their franchises. While Paul and Westbrook have been brilliant all season, Rondo and Williams struggled with inconsistency throughout the year, but have undoubtedly found their strides as of late. Williams erupted for a franchise-record 57 points Sunday, just hours after Rondo recorded the first 18-20-17 line in over two decades. Though the top five point guards in the league are certainly a few steps above the rest, the fast-paced NBA certainly appears to be in good hands for years to come with names like Jennings, Wall, Irving, and Rubio all 22 and under. It will certainly be interesting to observe who takes their game to another level and enters future debates regarding the cream of the crop at the point guard spot.

The Lakers seem to be making a serious run for Orlando superstar center Dwight Howard. However, for that to happen they will be forced to part with one of their two stud centers in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, both all-star caliber players.

My question here: is replacing one all-star center with another going to drastically reverse the fortunes of a struggling, aging franchise? Sure, Howard, who leads the league in rebounding, is certainly an improvement from either Bynum or Gasol, but in my mind, the Lake Show is solidified in the frontcourt. The aforementioned two Los Angeles big men boast five all-star appearances between them, and have both proven to be elite offensive and defensive forces.

What the Lakers really need, and have lacked for a remarkably long time now, is a point guard who can distribute the ball to the big men (and Kobe, of course), but also score and facilitate when necessary. But are there any big-name players in their prime, on struggling teams, who may be looking to make another title run? In my mind, a certain floor general for the Boston Celtics makes a lot of sense for the Lakers, provided management is not looking to enter post-Kobe rebuilding just mode yet. Though trading for the Rajon Rondo would certainly be a gamble, and would likely cost LA the services of Gasol and some picks, it would give the team new life and provide what would likely be Kobe's last chance at a ring. A lineup of Rondo, Bryant, Barnes, Murphy/World Peace, and Bynum is strong enough to contend for a title, provided Bryant maintains his scoring touch and stays healthy.

While trading for Howard would certainly make a splash, it would essentially give Los Angeles what it already has--two all-star caliber centers that, along with the league's leading scorer, have the team tied for fifth in the West. Simply replacing Gasol with Howard would be an improvement, but Howard is not a great passer and may demand the ball too often to coexist with Bryant.

Rondo, on the other hand, would bring the energy and youthfulness the Lakers desperately need to keep up with the likes of Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul come playoff time. Acquiring Rondo, who's just 26-years-old, and pairing him with Bynum would give the Lakers a solid core to build on after the inevitable retirement of Bryant within the next few seasons. Despite this, LA is clearly looking to win now and even the hypothetical addition of Rondo would not guarantee success.

With Gasol gone, the Lakers would be extremely thin in the front court (Troy Murphy, Devin Ebanks, or the immortal Josh McRoberts would likely be forced into starting duty), and would need to shop around for a more-formidable starting forward. Considering Los Angeles' few valued trade assets, this void would be difficult to fill; however, if former-Nugget and Knick Wilson Chandler is able to return from overseas this season, he would be a nice fit.

It's been status quo for the Milwaukee Bucks this past week--play hard, beat the really bad teams and lose to everyone else. With a win against the Nets and losses to the Magic and Bulls, the Bucks limp to the All-Star break with a 13-20 record. They drop to seven games below .500 for the first time this season and are 10th place in the East--two and a half games behind the Celtics for the 8th seed.

Interestingly enough, the low point of the 2009-2010 season, the "Fear the Deer" year, also occurred when the team sat at seven games below .500. The Bucks finished that season on a 29-12 run and clinched the 6th seed with a 46-36 record. Unfortunately for this year's team, it's a shortened season and John Salmons--the 2010 version--is not walking through that door anytime soon. Milwaukee desperately needs a dynamic scoring wing and an adequate center, to replace the injured Andrew Bogut and make a legitimate playoff run. In order to make those acquisitions, General Manager John Hammond would likely have to mortgage part of the future by offering draft picks and young players. However, the front office may opt to wave the white flag, trade a few veterans and attempt build through the draft. Both options are far from ideal, and Milwaukee's management will have some big decisions to make as the March 15 trade deadline looms.

With the All-Star break upon us--and a week hiatus of regular season basketball--here is a recap of the Bucks' last three games:

Bucks (92) at Nets (85) - Sunday (2/19/12)

The Good: Forget "Linsanity," it was all "Ersanity" Sunday evening. In what was a relatively lackluster game, Ersan Ilyasova dropped 29 points and grabbed 25 rebounds in only 36 minutes. He took his stat-stuffing performance to a new level when he fouled out at the end of the game. It was by far the most impressive single-game performance for any Bucks player this season, and the only other NBA player to score 29+ points and collect 25+ this season is Kevin Love. Ilyasova's performance also put him in elite company in Bucks history; only Ilyasova, Swen Nater and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (nine times) have had over 29 points and 25 rebound games for Milwaukee.

The Bad: Drew Gooden, who has assumed the center position since Bogut fractured his ankle, did not make the road trip. It turns out Gooden has been playing through a partially torn ligament in his shooting wrist. He has not played in the last four games, but hopes to avoid surgery and be ready to play after the All-Star break. This is especially bad news for the Bucks as he had been putting up impressive, though arguably superficial, numbers before he got hurt. Now, it may prove harder to shed his contract--a 5-year $32 million deal he signed before last season--before the trading deadline.

The Ugly: The entire game--sans Ilyasova's outburst--was rather unexciting. Both teams shot under 40% from the field and combined for only 177 total points.

Magic (93) at Bucks (90) - Monday (2/20/12)

The Good: Dwight Howard got his 28 points and 16 rebounds, but he was forced to work for most of those stats due to second-year player Larry Sanders. Sanders, who has played sparingly this season, played 27 minutes and posted his first double-double of the season--13 points and 12 rebounds. His defense on Dwight Howard in the fourth quarter was particularly impressive, as he shut down the All-Star center on a few key possessions down the stretch.

The Bad: This loss marked the sixth straight at home--a disappointing development considering the Bucks started the season 4-0 at home.

The Ugly: Déjà vu. The Bucks played the Magic for the third time in 10 days. For the third time in 10 days, the Bucks held a lead against the Magic in the fourth quarter and still lost the game. This time the Bucks had a two-point lead with 31.2 seconds left and quickly gave up a three-pointer off of an offensive rebound. The Bucks, down three with 12.2 seconds left in the game, still had two chances to tie the game, but they failed to get off a three-pointer both times. The beat goes on.

Bucks (91) at Bulls (110) - Wednesday (2/22/12)

The Good: There wasn't much good to come out of this game for the Bucks. While watching this game, something dawned on me. Roughly 18 months ago, before last season, many "experts" predicted the Bucks to win the Central Division. Since then, John Salmons mailed it in, Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut regressed, locker room cancers (note plural) prevailed, and injuries mounted. Oh, and Derrick rose turned into a superstar for the Bulls. Nonetheless, given the current state of both franchises, it's amazing to think about.

The Bad: With the 19-point thrashing, the Bucks mercifully head to the All-Star break in hopes of a better, healthier second half of the season. The odds are certainly stacked against them with Bogut potentially out for the year and several malcontents still in the locker room.

The Ugly: The Bucks allowed Joakim Noah to notch his first career triple-double--12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in less than 30 minutes. Need anything else be said?

A Look Ahead: The Bucks won't play again until next Tuesday when they host the Washington Wizards. After that, they face six straight teams who would be in the playoffs if the season started today in the Celtics, Hawks, Magic, 76ers, Bulls and Knicks. Things could certainly get worse before they get better.

Despite very low expectations, the much-maligned 2011 NBA rookie class has certainly turned some heads this season. What was dubbed by many to be one of, if not the, least-talented draft classes of all time has seen several players step into significant roles for their squads. Most namely, of course, have been a pair of point guards on young teams who appear to be heading in the right direction. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota's 21-year-old Spanish import, has surpassed almost everyone's expectations by ranking in the top five in the league in assists. However, anyone who watched the FIBA championships last summer, or the Olympics in 2008, knew that he could pass with the best of them. What has been most surprising is Rubio's scoring impact (12.5ppg). Despite shooting a Brandon Jennings-esque 38% from the field, he is showing much more aggressiveness than many anticipated he would in his first season in the American system. Turnovers have also been an issue for Rubio, but with more experience (he's played just 33 NBA games!), they are sure to diminish. Overall, the young Spaniard has been exceptional in the first half of his maiden NBA season and, along with the still-underappreciated Kevin Love, has fans at the Target Center at their loudest since the Kevin Garnett days.

The NBA's other sensational rookie point guard, Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, has burst onto the scene as an efficient scorer and leader. Irving leads all rookies with nearly nineteen points per game, and has the Cavs just a game-and-a-half out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. To put this in perspective, Cleveland needs just six more wins to match their total from all of last season. Irving's remarkable efficiency is to blame for much of the Cavs' resurgence since the LeBron saga. The Duke alum is shooting nearly 50% from the field and almost 42% from 3-point range, both impressive statistics for a first-year point guard. Though the assists numbers are rather low at about five per game, you have to consider who he is passing the ball to - most teams have better options on the perimeter than Alonzo Gee and Anthony Parker. Coming out of college, having played just eleven games due to a foot injury, Irving faced many doubters who believed Cleveland had taken a huge gamble in selecting such an inexperienced player. However, the New Jersey native has proved the doubters wrong, and shown that his exceptional half-season for the Blue Devils, in which he averaged eighteen points per game on 53% shooting, was a sign of things to come.

Aside from Rubio and Irving, the league's other first-year point guards have been solid, but not extraordinary. The Knicks' Iman Shumpert, Detroit's Brandon Knight, and Charlotte's Kemba Walker have all seen big-time minutes, but still have much to improve upon. Prior to the onset of "Linsanity," Shumpert handled much of the point guard duties for the struggling Knicks and enjoyed some success, though his inexperience was evident. The former Georgia Tech standout, who will participate in this weekend's dunk contest, started seventeen games and flashed potential as a lockdown defender and explosive athlete, but shot a poor percentage, especially from beyond the arc--shooting just 27%. With the emergence of Lin, Baron Davis' recent return, and the signing of JR Smith, Shumpert's minutes are sure to decrease, but this will provide him opportunity to focus on improving and learning from the more experienced Davis. Brandon Knight has been rather enigmatic for the struggling Pistons, but the potential is clearly there if the former Kentucky star can work out his consistency issues. His numbers are fairly typical of a rookie point guard, though Detroit would like him to improve upon his assists (just 3.5 per game in 32 minutes of action). He has enjoyed some big games this month, most notably a 26 point, seven dime performance against the Bucks back on February third. Knight also recorded his second double-double of the year against Sacramento on Friday, dropping 23 points to go along with 10 assists. As for Charlotte's Kemba Walker, the hero of UConn's miraculous 2011 NCAA title run, he has been the lone bright spot for a Bobcats team that may go down as one of the most dreadful of all time. With very little experience and talent on the roster, Walker has been thrust into the role of starting point guard and handled it relatively well. In 30 minutes of action per night, Walker averages just over thirteen points to go along with four assists and four rebounds. Though shooting a less-than-impressive 37% from the field, Walker has kept his turnovers in check (fewer than two per game) and exhibited the heartand aggression that was so often on display for the Huskies last season.

About two weeks ago Milwaukee Bucks fans were ready to bring back the "Fear the Deer" slogan. Now, after five consecutive losses at home, many fans are pleading for management to "blow it up."

A home loss to the 6-23 Hornets put the Bucks' record at 12-17, the first time Milwaukee has been five games under .500 this season. To make matters worse, the Bucks are falling victim to "Linsanity" as the surging Knicks appear more likely to hold on to one of the final playoff spots in the East. The Bucks are now 2.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

In what is becoming a regular theme this year, drama in the locker room persists and speculation about the job securities of Scott Skiles and General Manager John Hammond is growing.

Some sort of shakeup will likely happen to the Bucks as the All-Star break and trading deadline quickly approach. Whether it is a firing, a large trade involving Stephen Jackson or a small trade involving expiring contracts - Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova - something seems imminent. The last thing the Bucks can afford is another 9th or 10th place finish in the Eastern Conference, which would result in missing the playoffs and receiving mid-round draft pick.

Making a win-now trade or "tanking" for a higher draft pick would, at the very least, give the franchise a sense of direction. Not doing anything would probably result in the Bucks missing out on the playoffs and still not receiving a top draft pick. Many know that position as "NBA Hell" - a recurring cycle of mediocrity.

So as we wait patiently for something to happen, here is a closer look at Milwaukee's last four games.

Bucks (113) at Cavaliers (112) OT - Friday (2/10/12)

The Good: The Bucks won for the second consecutive game. It was their first overtime game of the season, and they outscored the Cavs 11-7 in the extra period before Cleveland's point guard Daniel Gibson made an irrelevant three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Bad: The Bucks barely won this game even though the Cavs were missing, arguably, their two best players. Kyrie Irving, the first overall pick in last year's draft, was out for the game with a concussion. Irving is Cleveland's leading scorer, averaging 18 points per game. In addition, Anderson Varejao missed most of the game after fracturing his shooting wrist. The center, who is expected to miss at least six weeks of action, is averaging 10.8 points per game and 11.5 rebounds this season.

The Ugly: Carlos Delfino shot 2-12 for the game. The Bucks won despite shooting 40.8% from the field while allowing the Cavs to shoot 48.9%.

Bucks (94) vs. Magic (99) - Saturday (2/11/12)

The Good: The Bucks held Dwight Howard to 11 points, on 5-15 shooting, and 14 rebounds. That is a rather impressive feat considering Howard is averaging over 20 points and 15 rebounds per game and the Bucks don't have a true center without Bogut.

The Bad: Instead of Dwight Howard dominating the paint as many predicted, Jason Richardson stole the show by catching fire in the second half. Richardson shot 9-11 from the three-point range en route to 31-point performance, 28 of which came in the second half. It was a career high in three-pointers and a season high in points for Richardson.

The Ugly: The Bucks had a 10-point lead with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter. They lost the game by five. I'll leave the math to you.

Bucks (96) vs. Heat (114) - Monday (2/13/12)

The Good: The Bucks were going for an improbable three-game sweep of the Heat this year. Predictably, the Heat did not let that happen. The Bucks did keep the game close in the first half, trailing by only five heading into intermission, before they fell apart in the second half. Nonetheless, winning two out of three games against the Heat, and three of the last four overall, is pretty remarkable.

The Bad: Brandon Jennings continued his recent slump scoring just 12 points on 4-10 shooting while turning the ball over three times.

The Ugly: This article. Evidently, Brandon Jennings is "doing his homework on big market teams." There are two interpretations that can be taken from it: A) he wants to leave Milwaukee or B) he is simply keeping his options open like every professional athlete. Jennings later tweeted he never said for sure he is leaving Milwaukee, but the timing of the article - combined with his recent disinterested play - is curious.

John Hammond didn't exactly give Jennings resounding support after the article came out. Here are some "highlights":

"I'd like to say how much respect we as an organization have for Brandon and how much we appreciate what he's done for us since he's been a Milwaukee Buck," Hammond said.

"But what Brandon has done is put the cart before the horse, so to speak," Hammond continued. "The five guys mentioned all signed rookie extensions and all had player options at the end of those extensions. That's the case with Dwight Howard right now."

"I know Brandon's name was mentioned in the all-star discussion, which is a real honor to him," Hammond said. "But when Brandon mentions himself with such players, while I appreciate his comments, I will be excited if some day other people around the NBA are also mentioning Brandon's name with Chris Paul and Dwight Howard."

Bucks (89) vs. Hornets (92) -- Wednesday (2/15/12)

The Good: There isn't much good that can come out of a loss to the second-worst NBA team at home. Bucks' forward Ersan Ilyasova continued his impressive play by scoring 23 points and collecting seven rebounds. Unfortunately for the Bucks, Ilyasova is an unrestricted free agent after this year, and he has already let it be known he will go to any team that pays him the most money -whether that is in the U.S. or Europe.

"Financially, whoever pays me more will be the team that I decide to sign with," Ilyasova said.

The Bad: If there's one thing the Bucks have provided lately, besides losses, it's been worrying quotes. Brandon Jennings offered this personal assessment after the game:

"I need to come out with a lot more energy, and I need to play harder," Jennings said. "I can't say I've been playing hard the last couple games because I really haven't. I need to look in the mirror and ask myself, `Is this something that I'm up for?'"

I'll let you interpret that.

The Ugly: There was perhaps one thing uglier than the Bucks' loss to 6-23 Hornets - New Orleans' jerseys. They are not easy on the eyes.

A Look Ahead: By all indications, from performances on the court and dialogue off the court, the Bucks are a bit of a mess at the moment. The Bucks' schedule doesn't get any easier either. Before the upcoming All-Star break, they play the Magic and Nets on the road, return to Milwaukee to play the Magic again and face the Bulls in Chicago. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks as the March 15 trading deadline looms - there could soon be some new faces in a Bucks uniform.

With All Star weekend set to commence in Orlando in less than two weeks, the NBA's brightest stars have once again risen to the front of the race for the league's most coveted award. While Heat forward LeBron James is the consensus favorite at this juncture, a lot can change as we are still less than halfway through the season. Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, and Chicago's Derrick Rose have all put together exceptional seasons, as well as the Magic's Dwight Howard, despite his obvious discontent in Orlando. Other stars, namely Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki and New York's Carmelo Anthony, have gotten off to relatively rough starts, but if they find their grooves, both could factor into the MVP debate as the season wears on. With that, we take a look at the top contenders for the 2011-12 Most Valuable Player award:

LeBron James, F, Miami Heat

At 27, King James is having arguably the best overall season of his career, averaging 28 points, seven assists, and eight boards, all while leading the Heat to the best record in the conference. What is most impressive, however, is James' ridiculous efficiency. He leads the league at 32.39, a whopping six points higher than number two man Chris Paul. To put this in perspective, Paul's 26.85 efficiency rating is roughly six points higher than that of DeMarcus Cousins, who ranks 30th overall. In Monday's win over Milwaukee, one of the best of his career, LeBron poured on 35 points (on 16-21 shooting), grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists in just 33 minutes of action. While Miami still has some issues to correct, they are finally starting to look like the team we all thought they would be last season, and James is clearly the main reason. If he keeps up this blistering pace (and there's no reason to think he won't), The King will have earned his third MVP trophy in the last four years.

Kevin Durant, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Durantula is on pace for another All-NBA caliber season, averaging 27 points, eight boards, and three assists per game. Like James, Durant has amped up his efficiency this year, shooting a searing 51% from the field, quite a feat considering the high level of difficulty of many of his shots. His eight rebounds per game are a career high, and Durant has posted double-digit boards in six of OKC's last nine contests. With point guard Russell Westbrook having another strong year and James Harden playing productively off the bench, Durant and the Thunder appear ready to take the next step and compete for a championship.

Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic

Despite the rampant trade rumors and reports that Dwight is unhappy in Orlando, the NBA's best center is once again leading the league in rebounding and putting together another dominant year. Howard is basically expected to carry a Magic team that even he knows is not a serious championship contender, but he has done so about as humbly as possible. He has refrained from speaking out against management or underachieving teammates and despite some problems with consistency, is posting excellent numbers. His 15 boards per game are a career high and he has failed to grab at least seven in just two games, a remarkable stat for an, at times, foul-prone player. In my mind, Howard holds the best chance of catching James in the MVP race, as a potential trade to a contender could increase his motivation and production to unknown heights.

Kobe Bryant, G, Los Angeles Lakers

Despite the Lakers' well-documented struggles this season, Bryant has been one of the few bright spots for a team looking to contend in the deep Western Conference. Kobe's 29 points per game are tops in the league and his best since the 2006-07 season. His rebounding and assists totals are up, and though shooting just 44% from the field, Bryant still remains the most feared closer in the game. If the Lakers are able to acquire him some help via trade he could have a chance to earn his seventh ring and solidify his place as one of the league's all-time greats.

Derrick Rose, G, Bulls

Despite missing seven games due to various injuries (most recently, back trouble), Rose's Bulls are tied with Miami for the East's best record. Last season's MVP is not quite on pace to match last season's brilliance, but his 22 points per game to go with eight assists aren't too shabby. The Bulls were fortunate in that the bulk of the games Rose has missed have been against poor competition, but Chicago is clearly a better squad with him in the lineup. Though Rose will be playing on the same team as LeBron come All Star Weekend, the young Chicago-native poses the biggest threat to Miami's "Big Three" come playoff time, and if he's healthy, could give the Windy City its first Finals berth since the Jordan years.

Other Top Candidates:

Kevin Love, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

Chris Paul, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Tony Parker, G, San Antonio Spurs

LaMarcus Aldridge, F, Portland Trail Blazers

Dwyane Wade, G, Miami Heat

The Milwaukee Bucks improved its record to 11-14 after defeating the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night. Thanks to the top-heavy Eastern conference, an 11-14 record is good enough for the 8th seed in the East, earning the Bucks a trip to the playoffs if the season ended today. Despite sitting at three games under .500, the Bucks have been anything but boring, but inconsistent would be an accurate depiction of the team.

Here's a brief look at the unpredictable journey for the Milwaukee Bucks through 25 games:

1) Lost the season opener against the Bobcats, who now boast the NBA's worst record at 3-22. 2) Won the next two games at home against the Timberwolves and Wizards. 3) Lost five games in a row on a west coast trip. Center Andrew Bogut missed four of those games after he left for Australia to deal with undisclosed personal matters. 4) Won the next two games at home against the Spurs and Pistons after Bogut's return. Bucks stayed undefeated at home, 4-0. 5) Lost the next three - against the Mavericks, 76ers and Nuggets by an average margin of 16 points. Bucks stayed winless on the road, 0-8. 6) Won six of the next eight games - against the likes of the Knicks, Rockets, Lakers and Heat - while improving to one game under .500. During that stretch, Andrew Bogut fractured his ankle and will miss at least two to three months of action. 7) Lost the next three games against the Pistons, Bulls and Suns. 8) Won on the road against the Raptors on Wednesday night.

While I try to figure out the 2012 Milwaukee Bucks and the meaning of "Be Milwaukee," the Bucks' new slogan, here's a closer look at Milwaukee's last three games.

Saturday (2/4/12) Bulls (113) vs. Bucks (90)

The Bad: There weren't many positives to pull from the 23-point loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks yielded 67 points to the Bulls in the first half and never got closer than 17 points from that point on. Any momentum and hype that the Bucks garnered from beating the Knicks, Lakers and Heat seemed to completely vanish after this loss.

The Good: If there was a silver lining for the Bucks it would be that Scott Skiles, Milwaukee's head coach, waved the white flag early in the second half. As a result, promising rookies Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer saw plenty of action. Harris scored an efficient 19 points and Leuer contributed four points and eight rebounds.

The Ugly: The Bradley Center turned into the "United Center North" on Saturday. A conservative estimate by Milwaukee's announcers had 70 percent of the "home" crowd rooting for the Bulls. The sold-out crowd chanted "MVP" for Derrick Rose, "Let's Go Bulls," and "Scal-a-brine-e" for Brian Scalabrine, the Bulls' cult hero.

Bucks starting power forwards Drew Gooden did not have too many nice things to say about the Bucks fans at the game, or lack thereof.

"I knew the nature of Milwaukee fans long before I got here," Gooden said. "I think we're used to it."

Tuesday (2/7/12) Suns (107) vs. Bucks (105)

The Bad: The Bucks lost for the third game in a row. Milwaukee gave up 67 points, again, in the first half and trailed by 17 at halftime. Although it was able to come back and take the lead on a couple of occasions, Suns point guard Steve Nash hit the game-winning layup with five seconds remaining. Brandon Jennings also looked disinterested for a majority of the game, only shooting four times while being inactive on both ends of the court.

The Good: The Bucks fought back in the second half, outscoring the Suns 55-40. Stephen Jackson, after being benched and suspended twice, appeared to get out of Scott Skiles' doghouse and scored 12 points in nearly 30 minutes. Jackson, who was seen as a key acquisition in the offseason, had been suspended once for missing a shoot around and once for verbally abusing a referee.

The Ugly: The Bucks' locker room appeared to be in turmoil after the game. Scott Skiles, Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jennings all had eye-opening comments after the game. The disinterested mannerisms on the court, in addition to the postgame remarks, triggered a lot of speculation among the fan base and local media. Strong reactions - such as "fire Scott Skiles," "trade Stephen Jackson" and "Brandon Jennings does not want to stay in Milwaukee" - were out in full force after this game.

Here are a few highlights of the postgame remarks:

When asked by Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine whether he still wants to be in Milwaukee, Stephen Jackson said, "If I answer that, "I'll get fined though."

Brandon Jennings, when asked about his only made field goal of the game - one of only four he attempted: "Umm, yeah. You know, the shot clock was going down. And it went in. So, that's about it."

Scott Skiles on whether he talked to Brandon Jennings at halftime: "There's some sensitive guys on occasion in there. You want to let it play out how it plays out. Brandon could have had 25 in the second half. There's no reason to put too much emphasis on one half. But we'll talk and see what was going on."

Wednesday (2/8/12) Bucks (105) at Raptors (99)

The Good: The Bucks won, snapping a three-game losing streak. Bucks guard Carlos Delfino had his best game of the season, scoring 25 points on 7-12 shooting from the field along with 6-8 beyond the arc. Stephen Jackson and Mike Dunleavy Jr. combined to score 35 points off the bench.

The Bad: Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee's leading scorer on the year, struggled again by shooting only 3-12 from the field and 4-8 from the free throw line. His play in the last two games has generated speculation about his deferring manner on the court. Common theories have been he's upset at Scott Skiles, how Stephen Jackson has been handled, or his all-star snub. However, there is no evidence of any of these issues; Jennings claimed he just hasn't been getting his shot.

The Ugly: For an unbeknownst reason, the Raptors have a 3-D sign on their baseline. It is ugly.

A look ahead: The Bucks have several important games coming up on their schedule. They travel to Cleveland on Friday to play the Cavs, who are one spot back of the Bucks in the standings. Then they return to the Bradley Center to battle the Magic and Heat, on Saturday and Monday respectively. They finish up the three-game home stand on Wednesday night against the Hornets. If the Bucks win two or three of those games, there's a good chance they hold their spot in the standings. If they drop three or four, things could get even more interesting in the locker room. Wins, losses or draws, it will likely continue to be a bumpy ride for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular thus far. Nearly every series has been competitive, and there have been some unexpected teams pushing perennial championship contenders to the brink of elimination.

In the Western Conference, nobody could have predicted that the Memphis Grizzles, who prior to this year had playoff wins, would be holding a 3-2 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs.

Led by big men Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies have shocked fans by being one win away from pulling off the upset as the No. 8 seed in the West. After an overtime thriller tonight, the Spurs came out on top and no one should count out a team with as much playoff experience as the Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili-led Spurs. However, it would take quite the effort from San Antonio to win this series, and it seems as if San Antonio has finally burned out after a remarkable 61-win regular season.

Last night in Los Angeles, with the series knotted up at two games a piece against the New Orleans Hornets, the Lakers needed Kobe Bryant to perform at his best on a gimpy ankle, and he did just that by pouring in 19 points and dishing out four assists.

In what has been another first round surprise, the Hornets currently trail the Lakers 3-2, with the series heading back to New Orleans for Game 6. Chris Paul has been stellar thus far, and although it still seems like a long shot, if the Hornets can find a way to win at home, anything can happen in Saturday's Game 7 at the Staples Center.

The series most experts predicted would be the likeliest for an upset was the matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers.

Trailing the Mavericks by 18 entering the final quarter, Brandon Roy led the Blazers on a remarkable run in Game 4 to even the series up at two games a piece. However, third-seeded Dallas, known for their first round collapses, regained their composure in Game 5 in a 93-82 victory. Under the leadership of Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas will look to silence their critics and advance to the Western Conference semifinals tomorrow night in Portland.

Now, the team that looks the strongest in the Western Conference is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Led by NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant, the Thunder took down the Denver Nuggets in five games.

After a mental lapse by point guard Russell Westbrook in Game 4, which essentially handed the Nuggets a meaningless victory, the Thunder will look to lean on the shoulders of Durant in their impending Game 5 contest. After the acquisition of center Kendrick Perkins on Feb. 24, the Thunder became a legitimate championship contender. With the recent struggles by the Spurs and Lakers, it would not be surprising to see the Thunder turn into the new powerhouse in the Western Conference.

Moving out East, there have been a few surprises, particularly one brewing in Atlanta. Although they have had difficulty containing center Dwight Howard, the Atlanta Hawks have done an excellent job of defending the Orlando Magic from the perimeter. With Game 6 set for Thursday evening in Phillips Arena, a rambunctious crowd is sure to electrify Josh Smith and company, and could lead the fifth-seeded Hawks to the first round upset.

LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh--the so-called Big 3--closed out their first-round series tonight in Miami. After a minor collapse in their previous matchup, the star-studded Heat--the team with the most pressure to make a run in the postseason--will look to advance and face the Boston Celtics in an intriguing Eastern Conference semifinals series.

Two other teams have clinched first round series victories so far, the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics took care of business fairly easily, handling the New York Knicks in a convincing four game sweep. The Bulls, on the other hand, could have easily lost any of their first four games versus the Indiana Pacers, eventually winning the series in Game 5 by a score of 116-89.

Derrick Rose, likely the 2011 MVP, took matters into his own hands in the series-deciding contest while leading the Bulls to just their second playoff series victory since Michael Jordan left town in 1998.

As the dramatic first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs comes to a close, the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder have looked like the strongest teams in their respective conferences. Do not be surprised to see either of these squads make an impressive run through this year's postseason.

The 2010-11 season has been one of ups and downs for the Miami Heat. Facing immense expectations, the team faltered in the beginning of the year, but has since righted the ship. As the East's No. 2 seed, Miami has dominated the Philadelphia 76ers en route to a commanding 3-0 series lead.

In game one, a 97-89 victory, Chris Bosh set the tone with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while LeBron James overcame a tough shooting night to score 21 points and grab 14 rebounds. Though Philadelphia was able to hang around for much of game one, game two was another story. Miami jumped out to a 49-31 halftime lead and never looked back.

The Sixers' starters struggled to score throughout the game and Miami took advantage with James and Bosh combining for 50 points and 18 rebounds. Dwyane Wade was ineffective for much of the game, dealing with chronic migraines, but managed to score 14 points in 34 minutes. Thursday's game three was close throughout, but heading into the final period trailing 75-73, Miami's "Big Three" took over and led the Heat to a 100-94 victory as Bosh, James and Wade combined for a whopping 75 points, 31 rebounds and 15 assists.

As the Heat look to close out the series in Philadelphia on Sunday, a potential matchup with the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics looms in round two. Boston, playing against New York in the first round, has won both games by a combined five points, relying on late game heroics on both sides of the ball. In game one, Ray Allen nailed a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth to give Boston the lead for good, and a steal by Kevin Garnett with four seconds left sealed the Celtics' victory in game two.

If Boston can close the series over the next five games, a meeting with the Heat could give fans a dream second-round matchup. Though Boston took the first three of the two teams' four regular season games, Miami defeated the Celtics by 23 points less than two weeks ago in what many saw as a playoff preview.

Boston hopes it was anything but and is out to prove its veteran core is still the squad to beat in the East. However, with all three of Miami's superstars playing at a high level, it will not be an easy task. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen must contain James and Wade off the ball, as Kendrick Perkins is no longer present to help defend the paint. Miami also has to contain point guard Rajon Rondo and keep him out of the paint, as he struggles mightily shooting from beyond ten feet.

The NBA playoffs are underway and there are plenty of intriguing storylines, but one of the most fascinating has to be the Los Angeles Lakers' quest for a third consecutive NBA title. The team remains mostly unchanged from last year, but you get the feeling that any team with Kobe Bryant on the floor and Phil Jackson on the bench would stand a good chance of winning the NBA Finals. Bryant has starred on five championship teams in his career while Jackson, who has stated that he will retire at the end of this season, has won 13 NBA titles overall, including an astounding 11 as a coach.

However, this season has seen plenty of rough patches for the Lakers, who have endured several losing streaks unbefitting a team with the quality, experience, composure and coaching of Los Angeles. Perhaps the lowest point of the season came when the Lakers lost to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers, suffering not only the embarrassment of a three-game losing streak going into the All-Star break, but also a loss to a team which had dropped 37 of their last 39 games. In that time, the Cavs had endured a record-breaking 26-game losing streak that included a whopping 55 point loss to a very different looking Lakers team.

At the time, this loss and the overall struggles of the Lakers were becoming a serious story and many questioned whether the squad had already seen its best days and whether they remained a legitimate threat to claim their third straight title.

However, others speculated that the Lakers simply weren't putting their best foot forward and that, come playoff time, they would be able to step up and play the way a two-time defending champion should. Lakers star forward Lamar Odom took this stance as well, admitting, "That's our problem...we take teams lightly at times," before declaring, ironically, "I'm not that worried."

The Lakers went on to seemingly prove their critics wrong by winning 17 of their next 18 games following the All-Star break, including a statement victory over their rivals, the Western Conference-leading San Antonio Spurs. Unfortunately, this streak was directly followed by a disconcerting five-game losing streak that once again raised questions about the consistency and mentality of the team.

The Lakers enter the postseason as the second seed in the West, having won their previous two games. Few now doubt that Los Angeles has the talent and experience necessary to overcome Chris Paul and the seventh-seeded New Orleans Hornets, as well as any other teams they may encounter.

However, after an unimpressive 109-100 Game 1 loss to New Orleans at the Staples Center, one has to wonder if the Lakers are once again playing down to their competition. If this is the case, the Lakers could be on the verge of suffering a perplexing first round upset that would be an unfitting end to the illustrious career of Phil Jackson.

With the NBA regular season in its closing stages, the playoff field is being whittled down by the day. So too is the field in contention for the league's annual player awards. Though almost any player will downplay the value of individual awards and direct the gratitude toward the team, anyone who believes the accolades are irrelevant to the recipients is mistaken. That said, let's take a look at the 2010-11 award candidates:

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls

The Chicago native has blossomed in his third year in the league, averaging career highs in points, assists, rebounds, blocks and free throw percentage en route to leading the Bulls to the East's best record. Though not a pure point guard, Rose's superior athleticism and strength allow him to blow by slower defenders and finish at the rim. He has added range to his jumper, evidenced by a seven-point increase in three-point field goal percentage this year, and is shooting better than 85 percent from the charity stripe. Rose has brought competitive basketball back to Chicago and has given the city someone to build around for a long, long time.

Dwight Howard - Orlando Magic

In what has been an up-and-down year for Orlando, one thing has been consistent - the man in the middle. Howard is enjoying his best year statistically since entering the league in 2004, averaging more than 23 points and 14 rebounds (four offensive), all while shooting an efficient 60 percent from the field. Howard spent the offseason working with former Rockets' great Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his post-up game and the results speak for themselves. His 63 double-doubles trail only Kevin Love (64) for the league lead. Defensively, Howard ranks third in the league with nearly 2.5 blocks per game and plenty of other shots altered or deterred altogether. He is aiming to be the first player since Michael Jordan in the 1987-88 season to garner both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Really, the only knock on Howard this season has been his penchant for disputing calls which has resulted in a league-leading 17 technical fouls. With the league's new policy, this could prove costly.

LeBron James - Miami Heat

Despite perhaps the most tumultuous, scrutinized offseason ever by an NBA player, LeBron James has once again turned in a spectacular statistical season, averaging 27 points, 7 assists and nearly 8 boards per game. His career high 51 percent field goal shooting is a testament to a much-improved shot selection and unmatched finishing ability. Though still not a deadly outside threat, King James is shooting a respectable 33 percent from beyond the arc and knocking down the mid-range jumper with ease. As the league's biggest star, and most-hated player outside of Miami, James has dealt with unparalleled attention all season. He has seemed to feed off of the "boos" and detrimental chants from bitter fans and channeled them to his play on the court. LeBron, more so than any player in the league, passes the "if he wasn't on the team would they still compete?" test. Remove LeBron from Miami and the Heat instantly plummet to fifth or lower in the East. Not convinced? Look what happened to Cleveland when he took his talents to South Beach. LeBron dragged a borderline awful Cavaliers team to 63 wins a year ago. This season, the Cavs are likely to finish with fifteen wins, 48 fewer than last season. 48. Take Rose or Howard from their respective squads and there is no way the Magic or Bulls finish with 48 fewer wins (and also no way their cities react as Cleveland did--another testament to James' value).

LeBron earns my MVP vote indirectly, not by how well he has played, but by how poorly the Cavaliers have performed. We all expected Cleveland to drop off in terms of wins, but no one expected it to be this bad. Had they won even ten more games I would somewhat-easily hand the award to Rose or Howard, but the Cavs' futility has proven once and for all that LeBron James is by far the league's most valuable player. After all, that is what the acronym stands for.

Most Improved Player (MIP)

Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves

Love has been the definition of an improved player, progressing in literally every major statistical category except steals (down a hefty .2 per game). He has elevated his scoring numbers by over six points per game, is averaging a career high in assists, and leads the league in his true forte - rebounding. Love has a ridiculous 12 games with more than 20 rebounds, including a 31-point and 31-rebound outburst against the Knicks in November. But Love is not merely a glass cleaner. He ranks in the top twenty in scoring, while shooting 47 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. Amidst another disappointing season in the post-Garnett era in Minnesota, Love has been one of the lone bright spots for a young Timberwolves squad.

DeMar DeRozan - Toronto Raptors

While DeRozan is very much still a work in progress, he has more than doubled his scoring this season (17 per game) and has emerged as a legitimate star-in-the-making for the rebuilding Raptors. DeRozan is perhaps the league's best pure athlete, but is still learning to translate it to the court. He has nearly no perimeter shot (4-41 on the season), but still shoots a very respectable 47 percent from the field and is usually good for an electrifying dunk or two each night. If DeRozan can develop an outside jump shot and work on his distributing, the Raptors may have the next Vince Carter on their hands.

Kris Humphries - New Jersey Nets

Humphries has received little attention this season, but is quietly having a career year. He has raised his scoring average and ranks fifth in the NBA in rebounds in only 27 minutes per night. New Jersey is confident enough in Humphries' abilities that they were willing to part with highly-regarded rookie Derrick Favors at the trade deadline. He is connecting on 53 percent of his shots and doing pretty well for himself off the court, as well (you may have heard of his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian).

The award has to go to Kevin Love. No player has improved his all-around game more than the T-Wolves forward. He may not be the most fun to watch, and other candidates may have more appealing girlfriends, but you can't argue with over 15 boards per game.

Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)

Dwight Howard - Orlando Magic

See above.

Andrew Bogut - Milwaukee Bucks

Despite a myriad of injuries, Bogut leads the league in blocks (2.6 per game) and is hauling in a career high 11 rebounds per game. Due to last season's gruesome elbow injury, the Aussie's offensive game has suffered. His free throw percentage has plummeted to under 45 percent, but he can still score on the low block consistently. Bogut's defensive effectiveness is due in part to his ability to avoid foul trouble. At just above three fouls per contest, he is able to play big minutes for the league's third-best defensive team.

Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics

The league's best defensive team has to have a candidate for this award. Garnett is the Celtic's unquestioned defensive leader, both by example and vocally. For a team that really does not score well (22nd in the league), defense is key to winning games, something Boston has done all season. Garnett averages nine rebounds per game, eight of which are defensive, and a shade under one block per game. His on-ball defense is unparalleled as he routinely gives opposing forwards fits. Statistics aside, Garnett plays perhaps the smartest defense of anyone in the league. He often deflects shots rather than swatting them into the stands, helping teammates who are beaten off the dribble while also leading the Celtics emotionally during tough contests.

Dwight Howard's combination of shot blocking and rebounding should easily win him the 2010-11 Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett is not a dominant shot blocker and Bogut has missed too much time and has been too inconsistent on the glass to warrant the honor. While both have undoubtedly played well, Howard offers a much more comprehensive defensive game.

Rookie of the Year (ROY)

Blake Griffin - Los Angeles Clippers

Technically part of last year's rookie class, Griffin sat out all of last season with a fractured knee cap but has come back stronger than ever. "Blake Superior" has all but wrapped up the ROY award with dunk, after dunk, after dunk, after dunk. The 2011 Slam Dunk champion is averaging over 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, both first among rookies. In 38 minutes per game, Griffin is connecting on 65 percent of his field goals, a remarkable number for a rookie. Though not a serious outside threat, Griffin shoots a respectable 30 percent from three-point range. If he can develop this portion of his game, he will be as close to unstoppable as any player in the league.

John Wall - Washington Wizards

This year's top pick, Wall has been overshadowed by his West Coast counterpart for much of the season. He has somewhat-quietly enjoyed a promising rookie year, averaging 16 points and 9 assists to go along with nearly five boards and two steals. Wall has dealt with several minor injuries, but when healthy has shown flashes of his blazing speed and astonishing athleticism. Turnovers and a low field goal percentage (39 percent) are among his faults, but both are common among rookies, especially point guards. With an improved jump shot, the Wizards should have one of the league's elite point guards on their hands for years to come.

Wall and Griffin are really the only candidates (though the Knicks' Landry Fields has had a productive year), as the 2010 draft class has been less than impressive. Shockingly, I have to go with Griffin here. Twelfth in the league in scoring, and fourth in rebounding as a rookie, nonetheless. The choice is obvious. Blake Superior has electrified fans all season and has, by all accounts, exceeded the lofty expectations of a No. 1 pick. As the first rookie to be selected to the All Star Game since 2003, Griffin has made watching Clippers basketball tolerable, and dare I say... enjoyable.

Despite a disappointing season in many respects, the Milwaukee Bucks sit just two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. In what has been a well-chronicled, weak year for the East, the Bucks' futility has been masked by even poorer performances from several squads. Injuries and inconsistencies have run rampant in Milwaukee all year, but things have been looking up lately as the Bucks are riding a two game winning streak and have a favorable schedule in the coming weeks. However, with only 13 games remaining, each one will be critical.

Forward Carlos Delfino has caught fire from beyond the arc of late, draining 14 threes in the Bucks' last two contests, both victories. Point guard Brandon Jennings has also played well, coming up an assist short of his first career triple-double in Sunday's win over New York. Jennings also recorded 16 points to go along with 10 assists Friday in a win over the Nets.

While the Bucks have dealt with a barrage of injuries this season, Milwaukee welcomes back former superstar guard Michael Redd to the lineup Friday at New York. Redd, who has been out since January 2010 with multiple torn knee ligaments, has reportedly dropped several pounds and is close to being in game shape. Bucks fans are hoping Redd has enough left in the tank to remind them why the he was selected to an All-Star game and chosen to be a member of the Olympic team that captured the gold medal in Beijing.

The Ohio State alum averaged over 20 points per game for six consecutive seasons and was known as one of the league's deadliest three-point shooters prior to the injuries. While Redd is unlikely to see significant time right away, his impact as a veteran in the locker room and on the bench is sure to provide a boost to the young Bucks as they attempt to close in on the final playoff spot.

Of Milwaukee's thirteen remaining games, only four draw teams with winning records. One of those games, April 13 at Oklahoma City (the final game of the season for both teams), could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Milwaukee. The Thunder will likely have locked up a playoff spot and, as many teams do late in the season, may rest star players in preparation for a playoff run. However, all of this speculation is meaningless unless the Bucks play well enough over the next month to keep pace with Indiana for the eighth seed. The two squads face off at Conseco Fieldhouse April 1 in what promises to be a hard-fought, telling game for both teams.

Around this time last year the Milwaukee Bucks took part in a midseason trade that brought Chicago Bulls shooting guard John Salmons to Milwaukee. Following this deal, the notoriously irrelevant Bucks won 22 of their final 30 games in an epic push toward the postseason.

After finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks were playoff bound for the first time since 2006. Although they lost to the third-seeded Atlanta Hawks in seven games, the Bucks dominant performance, especially without center Andrew Bogut, showed potential that this season could be even more successful. After acquiring defensive standout Chris Douglas-Roberts and offensive-minded forward Corey Maggette, preseason polls and NBA analysts chose the Bucks to win the Central Division this year and pose a real threat in the Eastern Conference.

Those preseason polls came out last October. It's now February and the Bucks are a disappointing 21-33, trailing Chicago by 16 games in the Central Division. However, there is no reason for Bucks fans to stop cheering for the deer quite yet. Playing in the top heavy Eastern Conference works out in the Bucks' favor, because unlike the West it does not take 50 wins to make the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, the East would have two teams eligible with a .500 record or lower. Although the Bucks have nowhere near a winning record, they show the potential to mirror last year's late season push that would ultimately give them a chance to reach the playoffs.

This season has been an emotional roller coaster for the Bucks. Dealing with injuries, questionable calls and horrendous shooting performances, they have still been able to compete at a high level on a nightly basis. In games against NBA powerhouses Dallas, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Bucks were able to pull off convincing victories, including a win that snapped Dallas' 12-game winning streak. Another game with the league's win leader San Antonio Spurs was lost on a last second basket by Manu Ginobili.

Unfortunately, victories have continued to come at a minimum and great performances against elite teams were followed up by losses to below .500 teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers. The injury plagued Bucks have spent a lot of time this season without their center Bogut, point guard Brandon Jennings and shooting guard Carlos Delfino in the starting lineup. Over the past few weeks the Bucks have gotten these players back into the rotation and are rebuilding team chemistry in hopes of clinching the eighth and final playoff spot.

After last night's blowout victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Bucks moved to five games back of the Indiana Pacers, who currently hold the eighth seed in the East. Following the All-Star game, the Bucks will have 27 regular season games left, which is more than enough time to make up ground in the playoff race. Out of these 27 games, 16 of them will be played against teams that as of today are .500 or below, and three games in the final two weeks are against already playoff-bound Boston, Orlando, and Oklahoma City, who may be resting their starters late in the year.

For Bucks fans, there is still one reason to remain optimistic about the rest of this season; the ball is in their court. The Bucks have been close in countless games this year, against the best and worst teams in the league, yet have failed to execute in the closing seconds.

These upcoming games against bad teams are must wins for the Bucks. Now that their roster is healthy, they get a week off to regroup and the tough part of their schedule is behind them. Last season they were in this almost identical situation, and hard-nosed coach Scott Skiles did not let them falter. There is a world of potential in this young and energetic Bucks team, and a second half run is within their grasp. Come May, the NBA may fear the deer once again.