In a turn of events as surprising as the Bucks success in the first part of the season, Milwaukee is now in serious danger of missing the playoffs entirely.
Milwaukee has spent the bulk of the season as the sixth seed, and even looked at one point to have a chance to make it into eighth.
But the last two weeks have seen a crucial shift in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Washington Wizards, after freefalling through most of January and February, have regained form and won five straight. And the Bucks have done the opposite, losing four straight and eight of the last ten games.
Even worse for the Bucks and their fans, four East teams that started off the season horribly have caught fire and are now right on Milwaukee’s heels.
The Miami Heat, winners of six of their last ten games, are now only 2.5 games behind the Bucks thanks to the resurgence of Dwyane Wade. The red hot Indiana Pacers might have already caught up to the Bucks if not for their recent three-game losing streak. Along with the Pacers, the Boston Celtics are just 3.5 games behind Milwaukee. And the Charlotte Hornets lurk just a half-game behind them.
If Milwaukee’s woes continue, then the playoff picture could end with the Bucks on the outside looking in, a prospect coach Jason Kidd is aware of.
“You have to put more effort into the game,” Kidd said after the Bucks’ 114-103 home loss to San Antonio on Wednesday.
“I think we have 14 games left. There’s plenty of time. You take it one game at a time. We’re in the sixth spot. We have to continue to get better, and we have to continue to get healthy.”
Strength of schedule and the number of home games versus away games play a big part this time of the season, with less than 20 games left. But the Bucks’ recent losses have been to teams including the Lakers and Nuggets, sporting two of the worst records in the league.
The primary issue is All-Star break trade, which saw leading scorer and starting point guard Brandon Knight depart and newcomer Michael Carter-Williams take his place. The Bucks are 4-11 since the break, are scoring less points, generating fewer assists and steals, committing more turnovers, and shooting worse than before the break, when they went 30-23.
