Bucks are officially tank-ready after latest crushing blow

After a demoralizing loss to Phoenix, the writing is on the wall for the Milwaukee Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. is still hurt. Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't himself after a lengthy injury absence of his own. The Play-In is slipping farther and farther away, and the Bucks are now 10 games below .500. 

Time to shut it down. 

That's the message the Bucks should be reading in the tea leaves. Secure whatever draft position is left to be had and regroup for the offseason.

Brutal losses and Porter's injury have tanked the Bucks' chances 

For the majority of Tuesday night, Milwaukee made a run at extending its hopes a little longer. The Bucks entered halftime up 65-62, with every starter scoring at least eight points. 

They gave up ground in the third quarter, but it was a close game entering the final period. Then the wheels fell off. The Bucks whimpered into the loss column for the sixth time in seven games, effectively ending all justifiable reasons to continue risking Giannis' health on a nightly basis. 

It's not just the Greek Freak and the risk of aggravating a calf strain that held him out for a career-high 15 straight games. Everyone knows the fear there, and it's spelled torn Achilles. 

Porter's injury is also critical, as far as win probability goes. With or without Giannis healthy, he has been vital as a shot creator. For all of Ryan Rollins' outstanding promise, turnovers have increasingly been an issue. Say what you want about Porter's inconsistency, in the second half, he has been a stabilizing force as a facilitator. 

On top of that, his overall production is undeniable. On the season, Porter has averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. A substitute isn't going to spring up out of nowhere. At four games and counting, his absence hurts badly. 

Pivoting to summer is the obvious right choice 

For the Bucks, pushing for the Play-In made sense as long as they gained ground out of the break. Ousmane Dieng and Cam Thomas gave the roster a boost at the trade deadline. There was Giannis' return to look forward to. 

They gave themselves a chance, which is all you can ask for, and ultimately, they couldn't do anything with it. In the Play-In picture, Charlotte and Atlanta have both won eight of ten. The Hornets have opened up a 5.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the final spot. 

With 18 games remaining, it would take a miracle to catch up.

Rather than stubbornly plunge onward until mathematical elimination, they have a clearly charted course ahead, one that means keeping Giannis off his feet and giving Porter all the time he needs to return. Shutting them down for the season should be seriously considered. 

Can the Bucks make substantial progress in the draft lottery? Unlikely, but they can steal back their spot from Chicago. The Bulls apparently underestimated Milwaukee's own losing capabilities. The two teams now sit tied in the win column at 27.

Either way, the Bucks are staring down the ninth or 10th-best draft odds. They only own the worse of their pick and the Pelicans', further capping their draft position. Still, they should grab the Bulls' spot if they can and, more importantly, ensure Giannis makes it to the summer intact. Whether or not he remains in Milwaukee, that's in everyone's best interests.