I am just gonna come out and say it, the Bucks got schedule raped with this west coast trip. The highlights of a trip that includes @Lakers, @Suns, @Blazers, @Jazz and 3 games in 3.5 days.
There is no shame in losing back to back games on the road against the Lakers and Suns, but an 0-6 road trip could really put a dent in any serious Bucks playoff talk. The Bucks currently stand in 9th place in the East with a 15-20 record, they are only a 1/2 game behind Chicago. But, if the Bucks lose another four games on this trip they will likely fall behind the Knicks, Wizards and Pistons. Mathematically they would still be right in the race for a playoff spot, but an 0-6 west coast trip could be devastating for a young team to over come.
Which brings me to the question, where can the Bucks get a win on this west coast trip? Even if they only get one win, that would still be huge. The Bucks need to do everything possible to get one of these games, it could be vital to long term confidence for this season.
The problem is not only this west coast trip, it is the fact that all of their opponents are playing the Bucks while rested, coming off a home game, or both. The Bucks play tonight @Portland who has been off since Sunday. On Friday @Golden State who will have been at home since the 8th, then a back to back with Utah who will have had a night off after a home game with Cleveland on Thursday, then they finish up with Houston on Monday afternoon.
WHAT! That is schedule-rape. Isn’t it enough for the Bucks to have to play this 6game road trip where the majority of the opponents are playoff caliber(Lakers, Suns, Blazers, Jazz, Rockets) they will have to play 3 games in 3.5 days! While all of these teams are in the middle of home stands.
I do not want to bitch too much about scheduling, but the Bucks caught a really tough break with this stretch. How the Bucks are able to respond to this week could say a lot about the resolve of this team.
FanSided