Winning Ugly
I was wrong.
It’s only about three weeks since I completely wrote off any possibility of the Bucks reaching the playoffs, and now it may be realistic for them to set their sights as high as a potential fifth seed. But I know why I’ve been proven wrong.
In their recent run of good results, the Bucks have shown a level of grit, desire and professionalism that was frankly unfathomable at any point earlier in the season. The problem for the Bucks has never been about failing to dazzle and rack up signature wins when everything clicks into place, but rather what happens when the game comes down to something other than that.
Milwaukee’s problems have been less about talent, and more about attitude and confidence. Now, there’s a steely resolve. Whether they needed their backs up against the wall and the goal of the playoffs fading away to focus their minds, we may never know, but the Bucks have found their motivation.
They’re navigating games when they’re far from their best and coming out with wins. Just like good teams are supposed to. Everyone from the ownership to John Hammond to Jason Kidd has talked about the need for this team to learn how to win in recent years, and this is what’s meant by that.
You don’t need to learn how to win a game when everything is in sync, they’re the games when the result takes care of itself. But winning a game on the road, at the end of a long trip, when you don’t really have anything going is a different challenge.
As they’ve done on multiple occasions recently, the Bucks rose to meet that challenge on Tuesday. It may not be glamorous, but if they can continue that trend to seal a playoff place, that may be the most significant development to come out of this season.
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The Bucks are back in action for the final game of their road trip on Wednesday night from the Golden 1 Center, where tip-off against the Kings comes at 9.30pm CT