Bucks against the wall

Milwaukee on brink of saving season with late surge

Maybe it was just a coincidence. But the Bucks' season-saving surge against the Raptors on Tuesday night began just after the Pacers had sealed a 99-95 victory against the Cavaliers in Cleveland.

It was almost as if Milwaukee's "Big Three" of Ray Allen, Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson needed to have their backs to the wall.

"It wasn't about Indiana," said Robinson, who had been told the Pacers result during the fourth quarter. "It was just about us coming out and playing our game."

Bucks head coach George Karl can only wonder what took so long.

Fighting for its playoff life -- and hoping to avoid going down as one of the biggest busts in NBA history -- Milwaukee has shown in its last two games (wins against the Hornets and Raptors) that it can still knock down enough open shots, make enough stops and grab enough loose balls to stay alive.

The good news for the Bucks, a preseason Eastern Conference title contender, is that their leaders are finally stepping forward.

The fiery Cassell, hobbled by a sore big toe, scored and dished Tuesday night while backing up his guarantee of victory. Robinson worked the paint inside for tough points early. Allen, still buoyed by a career-high 47-point effort in Sunday's win against the Hornets, played as if he had no pain in his chronic sore left knee.

Milwaukee still will likely need to win its season finale Wednesday night at Detroit to reach the playoffs. The Bucks, Raptors and Pacers all are 41-40, tied for the No. 7 and 8 spots in the East. Milwaukee holds tiebreaker edges over both Toronto and Indiana.

The Pacers will play a banged-up Philly team that is fixed in the fifth spot and likely to rest stars Derrick Coleman and Aaron McKie.

Meanwhile the Raptors face the lowly Cavs at home, pretty much a gimme.

It will be interesting to see whether Detroit, which is now locked into the No. 2 spot, chooses to rest Jerry Stackhouse and Co.

Not that it matters.

With the wacky Bucks, anything can happen -- and probably will -- but not until their backs are flat against the wall.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

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