Bucks are eager to win the tiebreaker Saturday
By MICHAEL HUNT
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: March 15, 2002
St. Francis - Darvin Ham was merely the first member of the Milwaukee Bucks to compliment the Detroit Pistons' overachieving ways when he said, "They play with so much enthusiasm.

Bucks


Photo/David Joles
Darvin Ham and the Bucks face the Pistons on Saturday.


Related Coverage

Preview: Bucks vs. Pistons

Bucks Etc.

Bucks: Virtual cards
Bucks: '01 schedule
Bucks: 2001-'02 stats
Preseason: '01 review
Bucks: 2001-'02 roster
Photos: 2001-'02 gallery
Bucks: Playoff history
NBA: Scoreboard
NBA: Standings

NBA Report

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic

Boston
Miami
New Jersey
New York
Orlando
Philadelphia
Washington Central

Atlanta
Charlotte
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Indiana
Milwaukee
Toronto  
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest

Dallas
Denver
Houston
Minnesota
San Antonio
Utah
Memphis  Pacific

Golden St.
LA Clippers
LA Lakers
Phoenix
Portland
Sacramento
Seattle
Standings | Statistics



"They are genuinely enthused when they do something good on defense," he continued. "I'd like to see us perform like that, win some games defensively and not depend on that three-point shot."

He probably won't be the last.

If the Pistons have demonstrated anything at this late juncture of the regular season, it is that they may not go away in their Central Division race with the Bucks. With a style of play diametrically opposed to that of Milwaukee, the Pistons, under first-year coach Rick Carlisle, have become one of better Eastern Conference stories of the year.

Predicted to be a lottery team, Detroit has risen to challenge the defending division champions while the Bucks have regressed during the second half of the season.

But Saturday night, the Bucks, with two victories against Detroit, could earn the season tiebreaker.

That could be important because the teams play on the final day of the regular season in Auburn Hills, Mich., and the Bucks would like to have the division title, and at least the No. 2 playoff seeding, wrapped up by that point.

Asked what he sees in the Pistons, and Bucks coach George Karl is quick to say, "Confidence. They have solid pros on their team.

"I think Clifford Robinson and Jon Barry do a great job of playing the game the right way all the time, and they weren't there last year. They lift (Jerry) Stackhouse's game. The (Corliss) Williamson kid has had a good year for them, and Ben Wallace goes into the paint and does a good job for them."

Whereas the Pistons once just cleared out for Stackhouse, Carlisle, who made his coaching reputation as Larry Bird's assistant in Indiana, has succeeded in building a defensive scheme around Detroit's high-scoring shooting guard.

One of league's premier defenders, the 6-foot-9 Wallace is first in the NBA in blocked shots, first in steals per turnover and is tied for second in rebounding. The acquisition of Robinson has allowed Wallace to move to power forward, his natural position.

Former Buck Michael Curry provides leadership and defense, while point guard Chucky Atkins has playoff experience from his days with Orlando.

The Pistons are even 5-1 without Stackhouse, which led Cleveland's Ricky Davis to say, "They are better without Stackhouse. You never know who is going to score the ball for them when he's not there."

But for all the Pistons' teamwork, skeptics are wondering if they will begin to unravel during a brutal stretch that continues tonight against the Bucks, their third game in four nights.

While the Bucks have completed Western Conference road play, Detroit continues on to Denver and Utah for back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday, then to Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Bucks want to send the Pistons reeling, now might be the time.

"Everybody in this locker room has prepared themselves for this stretch," Wallace said. "This is why guys come in early and stay late, lifting weights and getting some extra running in. We will be up for this challenge."

The Bucks, who have sustained their share of injuries, should be well-rested and reasonably healthy tonight for the conclusion of a five-game home stand. Off since beating Chicago by 29 points Tuesday night, the Bucks have had enough time to allow Ray Allen (hamstring, knee), Sam Cassell (toe) and Glenn Robinson (ankles) recover.

Tim Thomas, who has missed most of the last two games with a strained knee, may not play tonight.

While the Bucks expect to win the division, Carlisle is touchy when the subject is even raised about his team making the playoffs. When members of the Detroit front office announced a pricing plan for playoff tickets last week, Carlisle freaked.

"People have to quit talking about the playoffs like it's is something that is definitely going to happen," he said. "We have to make the playoffs first. Once we clinch a spot, I will be more than willing to talk about what may or may not happen in the playoffs.

"Right now our marketing department is printing up playoff tickets. We are getting ahead of things here. We have to make the playoff first and we have to win a lot more games yet before that is going to happen."