Milwaukee Bucks fans believed that the regular season did not matter. After two years of having great regular seasons ending in disappointment in the playoffs, Bucks fans were ready to throw away the regular season and just think playoffs. Before the season started, I asked my podcast partner Mitch if ‘Bucks are 10-10, will you be alright given regular season doesn’t matter?’ “No, probably not. While that’s true, 10-10 means something is wrong.’ While the Bucks aren’t 10-10, they’re 16-13, there is something wrong. The Bucks’ offense looks out of sorts and they lost their fifth straight game.

What went wrong for the Bucks: They have to fix their end-of-quarter lineups – When did this game go downhill? Right at the end of the first quarter. Milwaukee has been outscored in the final two minutes of quarters all season. You’d think that after 29 games, the coaching staff would try something different to close out the quarter. But they have not. That started the ball rolling for Toronto who began its onslaught in the second quarter.

What also went wrong for the Bucks: Khris Middleton has to figure out double teams – Middleton cannot be that bad against double teams. He just cannot be. They need to do more things to free him up and give him easy opportunities. Bucks did not do that on Thursday night. Middleton did score 13, but it seems like Toronto has his number. That is not a good thing considering the Bucks-Raptors could meet again in the playoffs.

One last thing to think about: Where the fuck were the adjustments – A lot of people want Mike Budenholzer out as the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. My thoughts are simply anyone you add will be part of the Bud system so what will change? But I’ll stay this. When you play the same team from Tuesday night and don’t make any real tangible adjustments, it seems lazy and unprepared. I get it’s a day. But you still should have a wrinkle. The timeframe was a playoff series. Is that why Bud never adjusts in the postseason? There’s not enough time? Give me a break.

Next up: Milwaukee will try to start the revenge tour tonight when they play Oklahoma City. They owe this team. Milwaukee should be hungry and ready to deliver the hammer. I cannot imagine that they will be ill-prepared for this one. Like Thursday, this is a must-win for the Bucks.

Charlie.