I’m often criticized for having shown the Milwaukee Bucks no respect this season. Let’s examine the facts.
It’s been pointed out I placed the Bucks dead-last in my initial CBSSports.com NBA Power Rankings in October. Can’t dispute that.
Scott Skiles’ Bucks are 15-2 since acquiring John Salmons (right) from Chicago. (Getty Images) Some say I haven’t given Brandon Jennings his just due in a season in which he has been one of the league’s top rookies from Day 1, despite having watched nine guys get selected ahead of him. Gotta say: That’s probably true.
Then there are those who note I basically wrote off the Bucks after Michael Redd blew out his ACL in January. Yeah, they’re right about that.
And many have complained as recently as last week that I’ve been slow to move the Bucks up the rankings, despite the fact they’ve been playing some of the best ball in the league since the All-Star break. OK, I’ll give ‘em that.
Recapping, a team I thought would stink has gotten better and better, led by a low-lottery rookie rather than the guy universally seen as its top player. They’ve gone 15-2 since Feb. 19, yet I’ve still had them languishing in the teens in the rankings.
OK, so I was wrong. Hey, at least I’ve spelled Bucks right most of the season.
The question is: How has this remarkable run happened?
Even I know the answer to that one: Scott Skiles. He has to be the Coach of the Year.
Yeah, I know. Mike Brown has done a remarkable job of keeping the Cavaliers focused despite endless banter about this being LeBron James’ last season in Cleveland unless he wins a championship. And maybe even if he does get one.
And what can you say about Scott Brooks, who has directed a young Thunder club solidly into the heart of the Western Conference playoff picture one season after the team won just 23 games?
Honestly, though, the choice has to be Skiles. He led this turnaround despite Milwaukee not having a top-five draft selection since using the No. 1 overall pick in 2005 on Andrew Bogut, otherwise known as Andrew Bogus until Skiles came to town last season.
The Bucks are amazing. They edged the Hawks on Monday night when Skiles called the same play for Bulls castoff John Salmons basically every possession of the fourth quarter.
That was two nights after, at the end of a Western trip, Skiles gave some guy named Ersan Ilyasova 32 minutes and he responded with a double-double in an improbable win at Denver.
Did I mention Skiles is a genius?
I’m so fired up about this team, I think I’m going to move it up a spot or two (OK, three!) in the CBSSports.com NBA Power Rankings this week. Sorry for the delay, Bucks fans.
Power Rankings
CurrentTeamPrevious1Cavaliers · Trends1LeBron James beats Kobe Bryant by two years in race to 15,000 career points. … Still work to do: Cavs’ last four road games are at San Antonio, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta.2Magic · Trends4Let’s be honest: Surging club is playing better than Lakers, as March 7 head-to-head win can attest. … T for trouble: Technical-foul leader Dwight Howard claims refs are out to get him.3Lakers · Trends2Been there, done that: Team marching forward without injured Andrew Bynum. … Epitome of unimpressive: Wins over Warriors, Kings, Timberwolves, Wizards by total of 25 points.4Nuggets · Trends3Critical trip looms: Division lead on line during seven-day roadie featuring Celtics, Magic, Mavericks. … Fashion update: Chris Andersen no longer gelling hair.5Jazz · Trends5Fear not: Loss to possible playoff foe Phoenix was first in last four meetings. … Added dimension: C.J. Miles heating up, averaging 19.7 points in last three games.6Suns · Trends9Five-game win streak highlighted by wins over Jazz, Blazers. … Who’s gonna stop ‘em? Mostly Eastern lightweights among next six foes.7Hawks · Trends8Busy week (five games in seven days) features overtime wins over Bobcats, Spurs. … Hot-shooting Jamal Crawford (14 straight in double figures) clinches first playoff berth in 10-year career.8Spurs · Trends10Perennial contender heating up (only March losses: Cavaliers, Magic, Hawks) without losing focus (resting injured Tony Parker). … Ultimate test: Lakers, Cavs, Celtics up next.9Celtics · Trends12Signs of life: Paul Pierce leads way in road wins at Houston, Dallas. … Mr. May: Kevin Garnett (three double-singles this month) saving best for postseason.10Bucks · Trends13Club has best record in NBA since John Salmons steal from Bulls. … Who needs him? Brandon Jennings pours in 35 at Sacramento, then totals 11 in wins over Nuggets, Hawks.11Mavericks · Trends7Even 7-3 record (losses to Knicks, Celtics, Hornets) a bit embarrassing given cupcake schedule this month. … Wildly inconsistent Caron Butler goes for 27 in win over Bulls.12Thunder · Trends6First chinks in armor: Losses to Pacers, Spurs put Thunder on Western playoff bubble. … Kevin Durant becomes first to score 45 or more against Spurs this century.13Trail Blazers · Trends11Loss vs. Suns is sign of times: Club’s last quality win was more than month ago. … Priority 7: Win Sunday at Oklahoma City could go long way toward avoiding Lakers in Round 1.14Heat · Trends15Sneak attack: Quentin Richardson gets hot in key win over Bobcats. … Etch it in stone: Remaining schedule points to Heat-Celtics matchup in playoff opener.15Bobcats · Trends14Bad time for a slump: Club averages 85.7 points in losses to Pacers, Hawks, Heat. … Welcome, friends: Five-game homestand looms, featuring three creampuffs.16Grizzlies · Trends17Not giving up: Club has won eight of 11 since last stop at .500. … Team hoping season finale at Oklahoma City is meaningful, but road there is rocky.17Rockets · Trends16Club loses Shane Battier (sprained knee) at bad time with Thunder showdown on tap. … Houston’s 7-4 month keeps hopes alive, but can ill-afford more losses to teams like Kings, Pistons.18Raptors · Trends19Chris Bosh hits winner in season-saving victory over Hawks. … It’s now or never: Any win a good one with Jazz, Nuggets, Heat, Bobcats on deck.19Bulls · Trends20Things looking up: Club loses 10 in a row with Joakim Noah sidelined, but he returns for wins over 76ers, Rockets. … Bulls will be plenty fired up for rematch with rival Heat on Thursday.20Hornets · Trends18Just being there helps: Chris Paul returns in win over Mavericks, but club scores 23 straight with him on bench. … Hornets’ record in star’s absence: season-dooming 8-17.21Pacers · Trends23Earl Watson shows way as Indiana beats Bobcats, Pistons, Thunder in six-day stretch. … Troy Murphy’s rebound average reaches 10.0 in effort for fifth double-figure season.22Knicks · Trends21Home-and-home sweep sends statement: At least we’re better than 76ers. … Tracy McGrady’s scoreless fourth quarter vs. old team helps assure loss to Rockets.23Kings · Trends22Concussion-forced absences cut into Tyreke Evans’ Rookie of the Year lead. … Remember me? Beno Udrih takes over at point, has 17 assists in victory over Clippers.24Warriors · Trends25Got a spare $400 million? Warriors announce Chris Cohan putting team on market. … Latest Development League call-up, Reggie Williams, goes for 28, 22, 29 in 15-day stretch.25Clippers · Trends27Home triumph over Bucks comes out of nowhere; Clippers hadn’t won in L.A. since March 1. … Steve Blake more productive as Clipper (5.8 assists) than Blazer (4.0).2676ers · Trends24Free-falling club has just one home win in last month, and that hardly counts (Nets). … Marreese Speights explodes for 17 vs. Bulls after totaling 14 previously in March.27Pistons · Trends26Not like old days: Crushing loss to Cavaliers completes first season-series sweep in 30 years. … Best news of season: Rodney Stuckey returns from scary collapse, scores 25 vs. Pacers.28Wizards · Trends28Prideful in defeat: Western trip ends with competitive losses to Nuggets, Blazers, Lakers. assist figure (5.3 last three games) impressive.29Timberwolves · Trends29The 0-for-March skid continues with close loss to Raptors. … Triangle working for Wayne Ellington: He’s averaging 13.2 points in last six games.30Nets · Trends30Chill the champagne: Chance for second two-win week of season with Kings, Pistons visiting. … Highlight-reel stuff: Josh Boone pulls 20 rebounds in loss to Hawks.
