NBA Travels: Bucks find triumph in the midst of multiple adversities (PHOTOS)
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Mar 2015
MILWAUKEE -- With a 15-67 record, the Milwaukee Bucks finished the 2013-14 regular season with the worst record in the league.
And while a turnaround was expected following a coaching change, a high draft pick and new ownership, nobody expected that the Bucks would be this good, this soon.
With a healthy 32-27 slate, the Bucks are sitting pretty at sixth place in the Eastern Conference. And barring a catastrophic collapse, they are on pace to make the playoffs, thanks to a seven-game cushion that separates them from 8th place Miami Heat.
The Bucks' success is made even more remarkable by the fact that it comes in the midst of a series of upheavals.
Last December 15, prized rookie Jabari Parker, who was enjoying a fine season averaging 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25 games, tore the ACL on his left knee during his team's 96-94 win over the Phoenix Suns.
A month later in London, where the Bucks dueled with the New York Knicks, Kendall Marshall tore the ACL on his right knee and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season.
During the February 19 trade deadline, the Bucks dealt their court general and leading scorer -- Brandon Knight --- for reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams and a few assets. Letting go of Knight meant losing the 17.8 points and 5.4 assists that he averaged per game in 52 starts.
On February 22, The Bucks parted ways, via buyout, with longtime center Larry Sanders, who was dealing with personal issues.
Through it all, the Bucks have amazingly kept it together, thanks in large to the stern and able leadership of head coach Jason Kidd, a former star player who distinguished himself as co-Rookie of the Year in 1995, a 10-time All-Star, and an NBA champ in 2011.
Even without Parker, Marshall, Sanders and Knight, it's never boring at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo provides much of the electricity these days. Known as "The Greek Freak," this 6-foot-11, 217-pound stud is averaging 12 points and 6.6 rebounds per. The 20-year old small forward also provides an endless stream of highlight dunks.
Veterans O.J. Mayo and Khris Middleton average 11.9 and 11.8 points, respectively while Jerryd Bayless and Jared Dudley combine for 16.1 per.
Milwaukee's defense is not necessarily on an elite level, but its better than most, allowing just 96.6 points an outing while holding the opposition to a mere 43.2 percent
from the field.
Yes, there are no superstar players in Milwaukee, just a group of hardworking guys playing with each other and for each other.
Watching it all unfold, is simply a lot of fun, fun, fun.
The author on site at the BMO Harris Bradley Center (top), while "The Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo sails for a dunk to the delight of Bucks fans (above). Photos by Irene Ledesma.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 15 Sep 2025