D'Amato: Two takes on the puzzling state of the Milwaukee Bucks

I’ve watched almost every Milwaukee Bucks game this season, on TV or in person, except for a three-week interlude when I was in South Korea watching triple axels instead of triple doubles.

At times, I've found myself thinking, dang, these Bucks are good enough to trip up a three or four seed in the playoffs. At other times, when they’re down 15 and fading faster than a splotch of ice cream on summer pavement, I have found myself screaming in my mind, “No! No! Do not put Thon Maker in!”

I suspect I’m not alone. This team has had had more ups and downs than a fifth-grade class at a trampoline park. Just when you think they’ve turned a corner, they remind you a circle has no corners and they’re right back where they started.

Because I can’t make up my mind – buying or selling? – I’ll let the two competing voices in my head hash this out in a debate. We’ll call them Mr. Positive and Mr. Negative.

Mr. Positive: First of all, what do you have against Thon Maker?

Mr. Negative: Nothing, except that he passes to the wrong team, gets abused in the paint and fumbles the ball more often than a three-fingered running back. He does hustle, though. So he’s got that going for him.

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Mr. P: You’re being pretty hard on a guy who just turned 21. In fact, the team is young up and down the roster. And remember, they’ve gone through a coaching change and have had players in and out of the lineup because of injuries.

Mr. N: Come on, P, you sound like Jason Kidd now. Understanding that we’re young, understanding some guys are hurt, understanding other guys have to step up, understanding that roles change … wait, where am I going with this?

Mr. P: Very funny. The Bucks beat the 76ers on Sunday and then nearly beat the Pacers on the road, on the second night of a back-to-back. They’re trending upward.

Mr. N: That’s one way to look at it. Another way is that they lost four straight before beating the Sixers, who handed them the game with one of the most putrid third quarters in recent NBA history. This easily could be a six-game losing streak we’re talking about.

Mr. P: At least you come by your name honestly. OK, the ball’s in your court. What’s wrong with the Bucks?

Mr. N: Well, there’s the obvious. They don't rebound. They don’t have a big who can spread the floor, so Giannis Antetokounmpo is constantly running into a forest of Marcin Gortats and Nikola Jokics. They’re great in transition but tend to go solo too much in their half-court offense. These are recurring themes.

Beyond that, some nights they’re as flat as Bob Dandridge’s jumper. You might have to YouTube that one. Look, when Bango leads the team in energy, something’s wrong. Usually, their pride kicks in and they turn a 20-point deficit into a five-point loss. But turning an F into a D-plus won’t get you to grad school, Einstein.

Mr. P: There isn’t a single team that brings its “A” game every night. You do know the NBA schedule is an unforgiving grind, don’t you?

Mr. N: Give me young legs, a 7-foot wingspan and $20 million a year and I’ll get back to you. To your point, though, the good teams don’t take many nights off. That’s why they’re good.

Mr. P: Don’t you see any positives with this team?

Mr. N: Sure, I do. Antetokounmpo works harder for his points than anyone in the league. Love his passion. Jabari Parker has played with his hair on fire since coming back. Eric Bledsoe can be disruptive on the defensive end when the mood strikes. Khris Middleton’s mid-range jumper is only slightly less reliable than death and taxes. Tyler Zeller and Shabazz Muhammad were good pickups. …

Mr. P: Sounds like you’re describing a playoff team.

Mr. N: Yup. Eighth seed. One and done.

Mr. P: I beg to differ.

Mr. N: You can beg all you want. Jimmy Ruffin asks in an old song, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” I think he was singing about Bucks fans.

Mr. P: You’re impossible.

Mr. N: I’ll tell you what's impossible. Trying to figure out these Bucks.