The Bucks aren't in the playoffs, so in the last few days we've speculated about potential future Bucks, like Josh Howard and other small forwards.
And while we love to look ahead, we also can't help but notice Bucks from the past as we watch the postseason.
Last night was a good night for ex-Bucks like Joe Smith, Damon Jones, and Jason Hart. That particular trio punched tickets to the second round. On the other hand, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell have had better days. Much better days.
Here's a rundown of ex-Bucks in the playoffs and how they've performed:
Joe Smith: Advanced to second round 4-2 over Wizards. Averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.7 minutes. Smith followed up an 0-6 night in the Game 5 loss with eight points and five rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench in the series-clincher. This marks the third straight playoff series the Cavs have put away the Wiz and Racine native Caron Butler.
Damon Jones: Joined teammate Smith in the second round after the Cavs won 105-88 last night. Jones didn't score for the fifth time in six games, playing just a couple minutes. The Cavs prefer Wally Szczerbiak and Daniel Gibson as outside shooters who can do a little more than simply shoot from the outside, so Jones isn't getting court time. Naturally, his only points in the series came on a three-pointer, in Game 2's 116-86 rout.
Lindsey Hunter: Hunter scored three points in Game 1 but wasn't heard from since, playing less than four minutes combined in the last five games. Hunter, who played all 82 games for the Bucks that season, has watched Aaron Aflallo and Rodney Stuckey take over backup guard duties in Motown.
Kevin Ollie: See, not all ex-Bucks can win in the playoffs. They play each other after all. The Sixers took a surprising 2-1 lead over the Pistons before dropping three straight, though Ollie didn't really play a role in the good or the bad. Ollie, who shot a career high 45.9 % from the field in 2002-03 with the Bucks, scored four points and had three assists in the series -- all coming in the final game.
Calvin Booth: Booth didn't play in the Pistons-Sixers series, probably not a bad idea by coach Mo Cheeks. The seven-footer shot 33.3 % from the field in the regular season. On the good side, it's Booth's birthday in four days, on May 7. Happy almost-34th, Calvin. From Brew Hoop.
Ray Allen: The Celts lost for the third time in Atlanta last night, meaning there will be a Game 7 on Sunday between the number one and eight seeds. Down two points in the waning seconds, Allen missed a potential game-clinching three-pointer last night. He finished 1-8 from behind the arc in the game. He's averaging 17.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and is shooting 44.3 % from the field in the series.
Sam Cassell: Looking for a steady backup point guard, the Celts added former champion Cassell, but he's averaging 2.0 points on 20.0 % shooting in the team's three road losses. The Celts probably didn't think they worked for home court advantage so they could play a decisive Game 7 against the Hawks in the first round in Boston, but that's where things stand. At home in the series, Cassell is averaging 11.0 points and hasn't turned the ball over.
Zaza Pachulia: This big body is getting some nice minutes off the bench and played his best game yet in Game 6 with nine points, six rebounds, and two steals in 28 minutes. Oh, there was also that little moment in Game 4 when he stood up to KG and then some, which seemed to shock the Celts into a loss they haven't recovered from.
T.J. Ford: Ford and the Raptors have been long gone after falling in a surprisingly swift five games to the Magic. Ford started all five games despite being outplayed by Jose Calderon. His play was particularly troubling for the Raps in the first two games of the series, both losses, when he shot 2-17 from the field for just 11 points.
Mike James: Like Ford, his team hasn't played in a few days. Unlike Ford, that's because they won so quickly, ousting the Mavericks 4-1. James, who played with fellow ex-Buck playoff players Joe Smith, Zaza Pachulia, and Calvin Booth for Milwaukee in 2004-05, hasn't stepped on the court in the series, but does get a front-row seat to watch the best point guard in the world and the sensible MVP pick, Chris Paul.
Jason Hart: Well, Hart also gets to watch a premier point guard in Deron Williams as he sits deep on the Jazz's bench. The Jazz closed out the Rockets (and Marquette alum Steve Novak) last night. Hart, you might recall, started his NBA career with the Bucks.
Dirk Nowitzki: Dirk never took the court for the Bucks, but he was drafted ninth overall in 1998 by them. Another disappointing first-round loss this season for the Mavs, but this time they simply came up against clearly a better team in the Hornets. Nowitzki averaged 26.8 points and 12.0 rebounds on 47.3 % shooting.
An interesting trend here is that the big boys (Allen, Nowitzki, Ford, Cassell) are having mostly forgettable playoff runs, while some of the small names (Hart, Pachulia, Hunter, Smith) are at least playing on the right teams.