A week ago today, the Milwaukee Bucks were coming off of a one-of-a-kind win after they became the first team (and, as of now, only team) to beat the best team in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors.
So, how did the Bucks follow it up? With a loss to the worst team in the Western Conference, falling 113-95 to the Los Angeles Lakers. This strange, beat-the-best then lose-to-the-worst vacillation in play (and emotion) is only the beginning of what can only be characterized as the weirdest week of the season for the Bucks.
After the Warriors win, after a late-night announcement that Greg Monroe had injured his knee in practice and would miss some time, and after the Lakers loss, there was a TMZ report (with video) showing several Bucks players at a strip club in LA the night before the loss to the Lakers.
Chalk it up to immaturity. There was no punishment for any of the players involved.
Concurrently, Miles Plumlee, despite having played just seven minutes all of December, emerged to play in three straight games, topping 15 minutes in all three and 20 minutes in the first two, and contributing two near double-doubles. Add this to the rumors already instigated by Marc Stein’s report that Plumlee was on the trading block, and a player that had played in just one December game suddenly became a cult-hero for his hard-nosed play. More trade rumors, (also originating from Stein), swirled as he reported that the Bucks were the favorites in receiving Caron Butler from the Kings.
Simultaneously, the Warriors prepared for a rematch with the Bucks with a series of divisive comments, first with Draymond Green calling out Michael Carter-Williams for losing his spot (getting benched) and with Klay Thompson saying the Bucks didn’t show enough class when they won. Also, a series of 10-18 shirts were printed in Warriors font and colors, taunting the Bucks, and suddenly, a regular season, out-of-conference game in December became a big deal. Mix in a forgettable loss to the Clippers with the Warriors pre-game vehemence and oddsmakers opened with the Warriors favored over the Bucks by 19.5 points.
But, once the game began, the Bucks played tough, as only they could after two uninspiring losses. They scored 70 points in the first half and led by 12 at the break, and had a lead after each of the first three quarters. However, once Steph Curry entered in the fourth quarter, the Warriors outscored the Bucks 32-12 to finish the game and ultimately the Bucks lost 121-112.
Of course, that couldn’t be the end to this strange week. After the game, O.J. Mayo’s love-tap to the back of Draymond Green’s head as the two stood nose to nose started a shouting and shoving match that was a continuation of the physical play during the game.
On Sunday, the Bucks faced the Phoenix Suns to end their road trip, pitting the two teams against each other whose trade-deadline deal last year still has people wondering about the direction of the Bucks franchise. As Carter-Williams has struggled this year, many point out the fantastic start that Brandon Knight, the player whose the Bucks traded away to get MCW, got off to with the Suns. But, in this one, it was Knight who struggled, shooting just 3 of 10 and scoring 9 points, and Carter-Williams who flourished, dropping 20 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists, as well as coming up with a huge block/steal at the end of the game to seal a Bucks victory.
Strange how the tides turn.
Yet still, the week was not finished. After the game it was announced that head coach Jason Kidd would be undergoing hip surgery and could miss two months. In the interim, assistant coach Joe Prunty will fill in. And while Kidd has dealt with hip problems since his playing days, this was still a huge surprise to many.
Really though, at the end of a week like this, a week with big wins and bad losses, strip clubs and trade rumors, trash talk and post-game scuffles, nothing should take a Bucks fan by surprise.
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