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.
