The Milwaukee Bucks had a big summer. Signing Greg Monroe. New jerseys. The NBA’s first alternate floor. A new broadcast team. And $500 million in public funding for a new arena.It was all a little much, wasn’t it?

Suddenly all eyes were on Milwaukee, and GM John Hammond’s rebuilding plan was in jeopardy.

The only way to temper expectations was to make sure that the team started off slow, say 0-3 for example. But how could John Hammond ensure such a thing?

It all started this summer when Michael Carter-Williams was searching for a new barber in Milwaukee. Hammond made sure to tell MCW how good the curls were looking. That confidence boost from such an influential man in the organization was all he needed, and Hammond knew that the extra weight of MCW’s locks would put a blanket (or maybe a headband) over all the hard work that they had put into his long-range shooting over the summer.

Next up on Hammond’s agenda was O.J. Mayo, whom he knew was searching for one of the final pieces in his Chia Pet collection. Hammond told O.J. all about his summer trip where he was sure that he had seen the piece, but couldn’t quite remember where.

It was just a crazy enough excuse to get out of the first few games of the season. Are you really going to tell a grown man go give up on his life-long dream of Chia Pet collecting? No? I didn’t think so. Kidd didn’t have the heart either.

Jul 2, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond speaks to the press during a news conference featuring new head coach Jason Kidd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

He knew that even with the rest of his scheme coming together, opening night with the Knicks was still going to present a challenge, but John Hammond didn’t win Executive of the Year for nothing.

That “Basketball for Beginners” DVD that ended up in the Knicks locker room last week was the final piece. By making sure that Derrick Williams remembered where the ball needed to go, Hammond made sure that this season wouldn’t go quite how everyone else was expecting.

In reality, Milwaukee needed some tempered expectations. They needed for the bandwagoners to find another League Pass wonder.

If the Bucks are an up-and-coming team, then they need to have up-and-coming results. Many were suggesting that these Bucks could make a red-hot start the season. Those expectations only lead to disappointment.

John Hammond knows that everyone is now just looking for a little victory to give them some hope before the snow comes. They’re focusing on Jabari Parker’s rehab adventures, and of course, hoping that O.J. doesn’t forget to water his latest Chia Pet acquisition.

Fans are suddenly more thankful for the discount pizza coupons and bobbleheads because they need to cling to some happiness in their lives. Which is why Hammond went to all the trouble to ease the predictions of contention; so that he could surprise everyone once again.

Just what does Hammond call his plan?

79-3.