Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 49 years in 49 days – 2009-10 season

By Ti Windisch

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 8: John Salmons #15 of the Milwakee Bucks moves the ball against the New Jersey Nets on January 8, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 8: John Salmons #15 of the Milwakee Bucks moves the ball against the New Jersey Nets on January 8, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks drafted Brandon Jennings and added some quality veterans en route to their strongest season since the team’s Eastern Conference Finals run.

The season: 2009-10

The record: 46-36

The postseason: 3-4, lost in first round

The story:

The Milwaukee Bucks had another busy summer in 2009. A series of trades resulted in the Bucks sending out Richard Jefferson and ultimately getting Carlos Delfino and Kurt Thomas, among other pieces.

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Milwaukee brought Ersan Ilyasova over from Europe for the second time, and drafted Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks as well. All of these moves led to a completely different squad in Milwaukee, one that wasn’t done changing until the 2010 trade deadline.

Among Bucks who were on the team the whole year, it wasn’t any of the new additions who led the team in scoring. Andrew Bogut, known especially these days for his defense above all else, added 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game in a nice 69 games played that season.

Jennings had a flashy but horribly inefficient rookie season, shooting less than 38 percent from the field, but averaging 15.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game without missing a single contest all year.

Delfino, Ilyasova and Hakim Warrick were the other three Bucks who averaged 10 points per game that season, up until the trade deadline when Warrick was dealt to Chicago. In exchange for him and Joe Alexander, Milwaukee received John Salmons and a pair of second round picks.

Salmons adapted to his new home well. The long shooting guard saw his point per game scoring increase from 12.7 points per game all the way up to 19.9 points per game, just barely missing out on putting up 20 a night for the Bucks.

The team won its first six games with Salmons, on the way to a 22-8 record with him the rest of the way. Having that primary scorer gave Milwaukee a new dimension on offense, all the team needed after finishing the season second in defensive rating.

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That strong finish propelled the Bucks to 46 wins and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Atlanta Hawks were their first opponent in the postseason after the Hawks won 53 games in a strong regular season of their own.

Back before the team added Paul Millsap, the Hawks relied heavily on prime Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. That Atlanta team looked a lot different than the Mike Budenholzer varients that were yet to come, but Mike Woodson‘s squad was still ready for the Bucks in 2010.

The series was a battle, with the Hawks taking their two home games followed by Milwaukee defending its advantage at home as well. The Bucks then shocked the Hawks by stealing a road Game 5 thanks in large part to Jennings pouring in 25 points.

Unfortunately the Bucks offense faltered in a Game 6 that could’ve ended the series in Milwaukee, as the Bucks put up just 69 points in a not-so-nice loss. The Hawks then proceeded to blow out the Bucks again in Atlanta, ending Milwaukee’s playoff hopes after seven games.

Next: 49 years in 49 days: 2008-09 season

As short as that run was, the 2010 Bucks put up more regular season and postseason wins than any Milwaukee team since has been able to, a fact Bucks fans are likely very familiar with.

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