Milwaukee got a big win a few nights ago against Phoenix, bringing them a game closer to the fifth position they have been in and out of all season. One of the best offensive teams in the league, the Suns, had an offensive clinic put on them by one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Bucks. Milwaukee composed a balanced attack, with seven players in double digits and 42 points off the bench, yet after this game Milwaukee's hope for a playoff win is now as low as it has been all season.
The big Australian, Andrew Bogut, fell hard on a dunk attempt in the second quarter, breaking his hand, disloacting his elbow and spraining his wrist all at once. This should effectively end the 'Fear the Deer' Bucks for this year after this year's squad over-achieved and earned an unexpected playoff berth.
It's a sad end to a great season for Milwaukee where almost everything went well for them.
Brandon Jennings was expected to be the second coming of Iverson, but he has committed himself to defense and has kept his teammates involved all season.
Questions were starting to raise of whether or not Bogut would ever live up to the expectations of a first overall pick but he's second in the league in blocks and averaging a double double, while leading his team to the playoffs.
The season began with questions marks all over the bench with an aging Kurt Thomas, an inconsistent Carlos Delfino and an unknown in Ersan Ilyasova, but all three have lived up to or exceeded expectations.
John Salmons' attitude has been questioned in the past, by giving up on teams and calling his own number too often, but he has fit right in with this team and provided them with an offensive punch since the trade brought him over.
Scott Skiles is well known for losing teams with his dictatorship form of coaching, but he has had the team focused and prepared for every game this season.
Between all of this it seems to me like there are just too many variables that could go wrong come April 17th, making it unlikely that they will be able to continue their success through the playoffs. With their anchor, Bogut, they are a much more consistent team on both ends of the court but this injury leaves them seriously short-handed at centre. With Kurt Thomas and Dan Gadzuric in the paint, it will probably mean a first round exit for Milwaukee, but I'm still hoping that the pieces fall into place again and the Bucks can prove me wrong these playoffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment