Stern Lives

After going up 3-0 and 2-0, respectively, it was beginning to look like the Celtics and Lakers were destined to sweep through the Conference Championships and battle it out in the Finals for the 11th time. Not so fast. Despite a poor effort from Vince Carter (shown above), the Magic outlasted the Celtics in OT to send the series back to Orlando for Game 5 Wednesday night, thus delaying the inevitable.

But the question I've been pondering since Sunday is whether the Suns can sneak by the Lakers in this series. I think they can, but they must win tonight to have any chance at all. Nash's nose is broken. Lamar Odom should bounce back from an awful Game 3. And no way Amare gets 42 again. Someone is going to have to step up for the Suns tonight, and I suspect it'll come down to whether Jason Richardson hits his 3's. Stay tuned...

Not Done Yet

Everyone seems to be resigned to losing in Atlanta today. I'm not quite sure why. For three quarters Friday night, the Bucks thoroughly outplayed the Hawks. But that 3rd Quarter was a disaster of epic proportions.

Well, Scott Skiles isn't going to be outcoached like that today. In Game 6's 3rd Quarter, the Hawks played a 1-2-2 defense and held the Bucks to a team playoff record low 9 points in the quarter. Skiles, who reacted far too slowly to this development, got the Bucks to attack the zone late in the quarter and by 2 minutes into the 4th, the Hawks were back to man-to-man.

I suspect today's game (noon on ABC) will be tightly contested. And while I think the Hawks will win, it's only a 60-40 proposition. Young Buck shines in big moments. And today will be all about who has the best shots in the last two minutes. Go Bucks!

BREAKING NEWS!

As reported by Bill Simmons: Bennett Salvatore has been assigned to tonight's game! For those unfamiliar with Mr. Salvatore's work, let's just say that he's easily swayed by the crowd...

Tonight Matters

If you're an NBA junkie like I am, you've heard every possible 2010 free agent rumor there is ('Bron to Chicago, 'Bron, Johnson, and Bosh to NY, Bosh in a sign and trade to LA for Bynum). This has been really, really fun to discuss. The LeBron-to-Chicago is my personal favorite, as LeBron is switching his number next year to 6 (he wouldn't be able to wear 23 in Chicago, would he?) and the Rose/Noah combo screams "Multiple Titles." But as Bill Simmons noted on a podcast this week, Chicago's front office is too dysfunctional for King James to consider signing there. But I digress...

The one thing about all of this talk that has been frustrating for me is that Milwaukee has never entered the national conversation as a potential destination for ANY of these free agents. How amazing would it be if the Bucks had a chance at, say, Carlos Boozer? Sure, he stabbed a blind guy in the back. Who hasn't? But when athletes cheat on their wives with literally hundreds of women, and the public doesn't seem to care, isn't breaking an illegal handshake deal fairly innocuous? I think it is. So, how does a lineup of Jennings, Salmons, Delfino, Boozer, and Bogut sound to Bucks fans? That's a Conference-Finals quality group right there. But it has no chance of happening, as the Bucks are already over the salary cap for next season ($55.2 million committed on the estimated $53.6 million cap). However...

The Milwaukee Bucks are very well positioned to make a run at a marquee free agent at the conclusion of next season. The Bucks currently have $24.6 million committed to the 11-12 season. While this number will certainly rise (only 5 players are under contract for 11-12: Bogut, Jennings, Delfino, Ilyasova, and Bell), there is a very good chance the Bucks will have $20+ million to spend in the Summer of 2011.

You may ask "Oberon, if all the good players are free agents this summer, who's left in 2011 to spend our 20 large on?" That's a great question. How's this: Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Shane Battier, Troy Murphy, Zach Randolph, Jason Richardson, Tony Parker, and Andrei Kirilenko. Salmons will also be an UFA, so we'll have the option to resign him as well.

That is why tonight is so important. If we can get to Round 2 this season AND next season, it will show the 2011 crop of FA's that this team is on the brink. Let's face it, no one is coming to Milwaukee for the weather or the fine dining. But there are players, and one in particular, who appreciate the legacy that a championship brings elite ballers. I'm looking at you, Melo. Let's say King James stays in Cleveland (still the most likely outcome this summer) - James' supporting cast is Jamison and Williams for the next few years. While the Cavs would be perennial contenders, they wouldn't be shoo-ins for the title every year(as James, Rose, and Noah would be in Chicago). In that scenario, Melo will survey the landscape and choose his supporting cast. If you were Melo, wouldn't you want to run with Jennings (someone who raises his game when it matters and can take the scoring burden off your shoulders when necessary while sticking to the "creative" roll first and foremost) and Bogut (a shotblocker and rebounder who doesn't need the ball to get his 15ppg)? Isn't that a recipe for a championship team? Throw in Salmons or Jason Richardson at the two, so you have a sweet shooting compliment to keep defenses honest. We'd need a banger at the four (say, Leon Powe?) to rotate with Delfino and Ilyasova (think of the versatility), and they'd be set. That's a very, very good team.

It's likely a pipe dream one way or another. But there's a glimmer of hope if the brass have an inspiring playoff run this year and a successful run next year to tout Melo. So, Brandon has his chance to convince Melo down the line, just as Rose and Noah played their hearts out in the Cleveland series in an attempt to get James to sign with Chicago this summer. But it starts tonight at 6pm. I can't wait to see if he's up to it...

Fear the Deer...

Let's Not Start Suckin' Each Other's Popsicle Sticks Just Yet

Yes, that was a tremendous win for the Bucks last night. Going away. 91-87. Down 8 heading into the 4th. Yes, very impressive. But riddle me this: are we going to see another game where Joe Johnson stupidly picks up his 6th foul on a charge? Or the Hawks going 2/11 from three, after shooting 10/19 on Monday? Above all else, those were the stories from last night's game.

(Martin Lawrence: "Damn this guy is white!" Carlos Mencia: "He's a Bucks' fan.")

The Bucks now have an excellent opportunity to close out, at home, on Friday. The Bradley should be rocking, even if the League didn't do us any favors by choosing a 5pm tip-off. Yes, 5pm. Tickets in the section I sat in on Monday (purchased for $55/each on the wonderful www.seatgeek.com) are now selling for $681 each. W.O.W. So I assume everyone in attendance on Friday really wants to be there. It'll be a good crowd. But I wouldn't buy futures on worker productivity in Milwaukee on Friday afternoon, though. The bars will be hoppin'. Major Goolsby, I salute you...

2-2

There's so much to like about this Bucks team. Brandon Jennings is the type of player who can do anything at any time. Carlos Delfino is something of a fan favorite (at least when he's hitting 6 threes). John Salmons can get to 22 points without you even noticing. And even Dan Gadzuric can play 16 quality minutes in a must-win playoff game.

I was in section 203, row C, seat 5 to watch a wonderful Game 4 last night. To those unfamiliar with the Bradley, that's 3 rows behind the Bucks' bench, in the corner (the extreme upper right of the TV screen for everyone at home). The image above is from the 4th quarter, with Joe Johnson launching another beautiful rainbow that, ultimately, didn't matter (does anyone shoot with more arc than this guy? It's like the St. Louis Arch for goodness sake).

Anyway, the Bucks played hard throughout, winning 111-104. Save for a slow start at the beginning of the 1st Quarter, the Bucks controlled the entire game. Some observations you won't find at ESPN:

• The crowd did a great job affecting the game. Josh Smith was HAMMERED with "boos" every time he touched the ball. He was agitated throughout.
• Jennings was timid in the first, getting yanked about 6 minutes in. I heard Skiles screaming at him to be more aggressive. He did. It worked. Skiles gets a Tommy Point.
• The fathers of the Energee! girls are one step away from failing as fathers.
• Gadzuric responds to the crowd. I've seen this every time I've been to a Bucks game. That contract must really be in his head - he wants to live up to it, but when the crowd turns on him, he becomes less than worthless. He was not worthless last night.
  
• The starting five of the Hawks are the most athletic in the league (OK, only if you sub Crawford for Bibby, who died 2 years ago). I'm shocked we were even with them in total rebounds last night (33-33).
• Pachulia is a dick. (Not hard-hitting journalism, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it).
• The drinks in the VIP Lounge are very, very strong.
• Bango is Bad Ass. (that's me in white, right above the left side of the basket, waiving a white towel 20 seconds in like I'm one of Palin's kids...)
  

Looking forward to Game 5, but I can't help but wonder what might have been had the big Aussie not tried to dunk on a breakaway a few weeks back...