SBN Wisconsin Hall of Fame: Bucks Nominees

But I voted anyway. And it was so tempting to write Gadzuric in the other category….

but after hearing his “grilled-cheese” plays, and other terms he uses to suck Jim Paschket’s giblets while announcing for the Bucks over the past many years, I couldn’t do it..

Run and space

“It seems like every time I look up, teams bearing down on a lone defender,” said an NBA assistant who is coaching his organization’s summer league squad. “Everyone in the league is pushing the ball, even with big men.” The trend isn’t new. Ever since the rules committee eliminated hand-checking on the perimeter, the NBA has evolved into a more guard-oriented league. The best way to enable those quick guards to achieve maximum performance? Get out in transition when given the opportunity and space the floor when you aren’t. “You have to have at least one mobile 4 or 5 who can run the floor, space the half court, be mobile enough to ‘hard show’ on a pick-and-roll and step out to at least 18 feet,” said another NBA assistant. “Otherwise, you’re dead.”

That guy was the man

He was my favorite player when I first became a Buck fan, so he is definitely a sentimental pick.

I must confess I don’t know enough about Bucks history to write in anyone, but have there been any coaches/front office/broadcaster non-players that might deserve the honor?

He put up the numbers, but his effort didn’t really inspire the fans. He does have the luxury of playing in the last 15 years.

I would like to see some video highlights of some of the players from that era, but they are much harder to find than modern players. The NBA could learn something from NFL Films in this regard.

Fear the Deer

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected promising point guard Brandon Jennings, who had not gone to college, but played in Italy the previous year. The play of Jennings, along with the improvement of Andrew Bogut, the surprisingly improved Ersan Ilyasova, and the John Salmons trade, have catapulted the team to be a playoff contender. Midway through the season Bucks GM, John Hammond traded Hakim Warrick to Chicago, and acquired John Salmons. In a Bucks uniform, Salmons averaged a team leading 19.9 ppg. At the beginning of the season, the Bucks were viewed as a team that wouldn’t be in the playoff race. They hadn’t been in four years. In October, Milwaukee surprised many by taking a commanding lead in the Central division. The Bucks quickly fell behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Milwaukee ultimately clinched a playoff berth on April 6, 2010 with a road win over the Chicago Bulls. It was during this time that the phrase “Fear The Deer” started, most likely with a billboard in Milwaukee promoting Bucks tickets. The slogan rang well with Bucks fans, who started bringing signs with the phrase to games. The said slogan became the team’s battle cry in the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks finished the season with a record of 46-36. The Bucks clinched the 6th seed and were eliminated in a hard fought seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks. It was the farthest Milwaukee had gotten in the post-season since 2001. The Bucks short playoff run was also in part to Andrew Bogut suffering a broken arm after making an awkward fall after a dunk in a late-season game, thus ending his season.

This doesn’t capture the feeling of last year at all, it’s awkward and lame. Also, Fear the Deer was circulating for a while before the Bucks started using it, so let’s track down the origin. Anybody up to the challenge?

It might be an ugly era but he’s the best player of that era.

After the next high school sports season, my radio partner and I will be elilgble for the Sheboygan (county) Sports Hall of Fame. It will be our tenth year together doing HS football and basketball for East Central Wisconsin :)