Milwaukee Bucks had a season full of promise to begin the year, and after they added Eric Bledsoe, it appeared to be even more promising. But Milwaukee hasn’t capitalized as the team is only two games over .500 halfway through the month of January. They’re 3-5 for the month itself, and the team hasn’t won three straight games since mid-December. They’re getting blown out more often too. Milwaukee lost four games by 10 more points in the last six games. This week is a defining week for the Bucks season.

Milwaukee plays three games this week against Washington, Miami and Philadelphia. All three teams are either playoff teams or fighting for a spot like the Sixers. Bucks’ schedule gets easier after their game against the Sixers, but these three games are very important to set up a long stretch of games playing inferior opponents. Milwaukee needs go 2-1 in this stretch, but it’s not going to be easy. If the Bucks lose the next three, they’ll be a game under .500. Hope we all have this reality in our heads.

What needs to change is Giannis Antetokounmpo has to become a star player. The usage numbers for him are down, and it’s time that Giannis takes over this team again. Jason Kidd doesn’t have a system that works around Giannis because he’s one of the worst coaches in basketball, but Giannis has to act like he has that available to him. It’s not the time to be unselfish. Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton are good players, yet, they’re not on the same level of Antetokounmpo. It would help Milwaukee’s cause if Kidd could figure out the bench though.

Milwaukee has a tough one with Washington this afternoon. Wizards have been very good versus the Bucks especially in this building, and they’re on a bit of a roll even though they beat two bottom feeders over the weekend. We’ll see if things change in D.C.

Charlie.