Don't Turn Your Back On The Bucks

I have worked in Milwaukee since July of 2005. I have lived here since October of 2005. In that time, I have come to a number of conclusions about where the local teams rank in terms of public support.

1. Packers
2. Brewers
3. Marquette
4. Wisconsin
5. Bucks
6. Panthers

The Bucks used to be a lot higher on this list. Back in 2001, when the Bucks were making their run to the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals, the Bradley Center was the place to be. It was loud, and the Bucks actually had a home court advantage.

But the building has been a lot quieter over the last six years. The Bucks have been in a downward spiral since the Ray Allen trade nearly six years ago. This team has gone through four coaches since I started working here. There has been exactly one playoff appearance since Terry Porter was fired in June of 2005.

The low point was last year, when the Bucks were a horrible 26-56. It was a team that didn't care about pretty much anything, let alone defense. Blowout losses were routine. The low point might have been that night when Andrew Bogut made a free throw, and not ONE BUCK bothered to give him a high five or a fist bump.

After the 26-56 debacle was over, the owner - Senator Herb Kohl - cleaned house. There was a new GM, new coach, big trades, and seemingly a new direction. The result of those changes were there for everyone to see. The Bucks were a team that played defense. They were a team that competed for 48 minutes a night. The record was a hell of a lot better than it had been in the past few years. Fans started talking about the playoffs, and for a while it looked like the playoffs were more than just a dream.

But the NBA is an 82 game season, and injuries do happen. Michael Redd went down with a torn knee ligament. We won't see him again until next January. And Andrew Bogut will not miss the next eight weeks (at least) with a back injury. And now Luke Ridnour is going to miss the next four weeks after injuring his thumb in practice yesterday.

The result of those injuries - There's pretty much no air left in the balloon. The fans have stopped talking playoffs. The media has started to pay attention to 20-2 Marquette and the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers. Fans (the few die hards that are left) are on message boards talking about tanking the rest of the season.

And I say that this basketball team deserves better. MUCH better. They deserve, no NEED the fan support now maybe more than ever.

I know, most fans think it's the other way around. Most fans feel they are entitled to a good product. They feel that if the product isn't good, they have the right to dump on the team.

In some cases, I would agree with that. Last year's Bucks team was rightfully dumped on from top to bottom. This year's team doesn't.

Scott Skiles has this team competing hard every night they take the floor. Even though they lost to the Nets by fourteen earlier this week, they competed (for a little while). They have the kind of work ethic that a blue collar city such as Milwaukee should appreciate.

It would be easy for this team to fold, but Skiles won't let them. It's not in his nature.

It isn't like this team has a bunch of jerks on it. Last year's team had a point guard that decided it was a good idea to punch out an assistant coach (without any action being taken against him i might add). Last year's team had a bunch of guys who cared about nothing more than their stats and their bank account.

A lot of those players are gone. The ones that didn't want to be here (Yi) - gone. The guy that decided to punch out Tony Brown (Mo Williams) - gone. The overpaid and into his numbers Bobby Simmons - gone.

The one player that had a bad reputation that remained was Charlie Villanueva. It took a while, but Skiles got into his head and Villanueva has been playing the best basketball of his Bucks career this season.

This is also a team that, despite being under .500, has a chance to make the playoffs. Is it as good of a chance as it was a couple of weeks ago? No. But, remember that the Bucks play in the Eastern Conference, which means pretty much everyone is in contention for a playoff spot. The Nets aren't as good as they've been in years past. The Bulls are fighting with their new coach (Vinny Del Negro) and reportedly wishing their old coach (Skiles) was still there.

If GM John Hammond can somehow find a way to add a piece (besides the newly acquired Keith Bogans), - whether it's another point guard or a big man, before the NBA trading deadline on February 19th, then the outlook is going to dramatically improve.

It's not out of the realm of possibility. And besides, Hammond got someone to take Yi off his hands. He got someone to take Me Williams (not a typo) off his hands. Hell, he got someone to take on Bobby Simmons' contract! That alone should make him a contender for the Executive of the Year Award.

Are the Bucks playoff hopes on life support? Yes, but the priest hasn't been called in to give last rites just yet.

And as long as they are still alive, it would be nice if their fan base would show them some support instead of writing them off two months before the end of the regular season.

Check out my podcast and find out why I think it's a mistake for the Brewers to keep Rickie Weeks!