Posted: February 21, 2011 4:45 p.m. CT
By CRAIG COSHUN
FOX Sports Wisconsin
We should have known something was wrong as early as Oct. 29th when on the second game of the NBA season the Bucks shockingly fell to the lowest of lows, the Minnesota Timberwolves. With all due respect to Timber Wolf nation (not), it was the beginning of that nightmare where you see yourself running but realize you're really going nowhere. And so it was, the Bucks' big build-up to the season started with a real zinger at 0-2 before even playing a game at the Bradley Center.
Soon that record bloated to 1-4 and then a five-game slide gave no thanks at Thanksgiving. What happened? You name it -- beginning with injuries. Still, at this point it's hard to believe the Bucks have been so riddled with injuries that they have not had a full squad practice since... oh... LAST SEASON!
Sorry to use that excuse as a crutch folks, but until you can put a healthy team together you don't know what you really have. We do know they have some talented players: Bogut, Jennings, Salmons, Maggette, Gooden and on and on. But we don't know for sure how well they can play together because it's never happened. All of these guys and have spent more time in the trainer's room for an extended period of time rather than spending time on the court in a game.
So what happens in the "unofficial" second half of the season that begins Tuesday? Well first things first. How ironic that they play the Timberwolves because you've got to start somewhere and it's got be a win so no better time than the team with the second-worst record in the league. Next comes health. It appears that John Salmons has finally hit his scoring stride and Corey Maggette has also found his touch either as a starter or off the bench. Andrew Bogut is hoping the all-star break provided enough rest for his body to allow him to get some points again. This guy averaged a mere 6.8 points over his last four contests. And if Drew Gooden can make a comeback from his plantar fasciitis that can only help this team ever more.
There are only 28 games remaining to make up a 31/2 game playoff deficit (sorry Scott Walker is not allowed to correct this one). The schedule tips in Milwaukee's favor with 12 of the next 19 games at home and also three games remaining against teams directly ahead of them in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spots (Charlotte, Indiana and Philadelphia).
There are no "wildcard" playoffs in the NBA, but there is a wildcard in the mix for the Bucks. Michael Redd returns to the team this week. Yes, the same Michael Redd many thought would never return. He is scheduled to report after rehabbing over the last year from his second major tear in his ACL.
For a team that has become mysteriously ineffective on offense, Redd and a healthy cast could provide a spark that has been missing since those first two games of the season.
