Bucks Slide In Standings With Losses at Bradley Center

By Jackson Bucks Fan | Posted Wednesday, February 15

Chicago Bulls fans swamped the Bradley Center last week. Before the Bucks lost to their Central League rivals last Monday, the team had won seven of their first nine games at home. Sadly that trend has dropped off, as the team has now lost four in a row at home, including a stinging defeat on Monday against the Heat. Had they won, the Bucks would have swept the powerhouse team, achieving three straight victories for the first time in over twenty years. Just when you think the Bucks are a playoff caliber team, they rush back down to their small market reality.

Scott Skiles and his staff did not try to smooth over the losses with the media. The coach and his players acknowledged that at this point in the season, it is useless to try to look for silver linings. With half of the shortened season nearly gone a win is a win and a loss is a loss.

Bucks Defense Struggling Late

The defense is where the Bucks need to step up their game. While the offense is able to keep up, shutting down their opponents seems to be a bit harder. Last Wednesday, Steve Nash of the Suns capped off a dazzling night with a bank shot in the final seconds that gave his team a 107-105 victory. The Magic's Jason Richardson followed suit with a three point shooting-spree on Saturday, helping his team overcome a ten point deficit by hitting nine from outside the arc.

Milwaukee has a positive record at home, currently 7-6 this season. Their road record is substantially worse, losing double what they have won when playing away from the Bradley Center. A pair of consecutive road wins at Toronto and Cleveland last week may signal a shimmer of light at the end of that tunnel. The Bucks will have their next chance at turning their fortunes around at home on Thursday when the Hornets travel to the Bradley Center. The team is just a few games out of playoff contention.