Bucks' Loss Stays True to Pattern

No matter how you feel about the Milwaukee Bucks, you have to admit that they currently find themselves in a rhythm right now. That is, a rhythm of win one game, lose the next. It's a pattern that started with a Dec. 23 victory over the Jazz and has been going on for 12 games.

It's a pattern that stayed in check with a 102-99 loss against the Miami Heat. The Bucks did play well on Wednesday, getting 25 points from Luke Ridnour and another 13 from Joe Alexander off the bench. You couldn't really argue with their defense or their shot selection, but it still wasn't enough tonight.

The Heat won this game because they pretty much made anything they wanted to, especially from beyond the arc.

While last year the Bucks made a star out of Chris Quinn, who came off the bench for the Heat, tonight those honors went to Daequan Cook. Cook had 24 points as a reserve, including going a ridiculous 6-8 from three-point land, with five of those happening in his first seven minutes of action.

Michael Beasley also contributed greatly off the bench, chipping in with 21 points.

So while this was more of a Heat win than it was a Bucks’ loss, it's still a little discouraging that the Bucks have settled into this win-loss, win-loss pattern. Although, if they keep it up, they'll still probably be able to sneak into the Eastern Conference Playoffs as a No. 8 seed.

However, if they keep up the pattern, they'll go 2-1 in their upcoming West Coast road trip, and I'd take that.

Before we leave you tonight, we'd like to congratulate Joe Alexander for the campaign he ran for the Slam Dunk Contest. We won't know until later whether he won or lost, but it was a good campaign that brought the Bucks more positive attention than Yi Jianlian ever could have.

But whether he remains a Buck for much longer, that still remains to be seen.

Where ever you play in the future, Joe, try to work on your three-point shot, will you?

Hey, shouldn't there be a score in that box? Oh wait, here it is.

TBC's Player of the Game: Luke Ridnour.