It's now time to resume the My List special and reveal the #6 team on the list, the Milwaukee Bucks. Before I do, let me say this; to everyone who mentioned Sam Cassell needing to be on the Rockets' list, I'll give him a honorable mention, and assure you that he'll be mentioned a lot more in the lists to come. Now then, here are the Bucks.
Starters:
PG: Oscar Robertson: At the time that Robertson and thd Bucks came together (1970), both sides wanted a title. And Robertson, freed from the Royals after a dispute with coach Bob Cousy, led them straight to that title in 1971, as the Bucks cruised to an 88-18 record (including playoffs) and a sweep of Baltimore for the title. Robertson averaged 19.4 PPG and 8.2 APG during that year, and also led the Bucks to the 1974 Finals in his last season. His career averages were 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG and 7.5 RPG.
SG: (tie) Sidney Moncrief/Ray Allen: Both were key parts of various Bucks runs during their respective eras, so both will be honored here. Moncrief joined the team in 1979, and over the next decade, was a solid scorer (four seasons over 20 PPG) and an excellent defender (five straight seasons with over 100 steals, winner of the first two Defensive POY in 1983 and '84). Allen, acquired in a draft day trade with Minnesota for Stephon Marbury, was also a prolific scorer; Jesus Shuttlesworth averaged over 20 PPG each year from 2000-03, with a high of 22.1 in 1999-2000, before being traded to Seattle for Gary Payton in 2004.
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The easiest choice on this list, Kareem came to the Bucks after being drafted #1 overall in 1969 (betcha Phoenix wishes they had called 'tails'!). In his first season, Jabbar turned the once lowly Bucks into immediate title contenders, winning ROY with averages of 28.8 PPG and 14.5 RPG, and leading Milwaukee to 56 wins (after 27 in their first year). In year two, he won his first league MVP and scoring title (31.7 PPG), leading the Bucks to their only NBA title. Kareem won another scoring title and MVP the following year (a career high 34.8 PPG) and added a third MVP in 1974, leading the Bucks back to the Finals, before asking for and receiving a trade to the Lakers in 1975.
SF: Marques Johnson: Johnson, like Kareem a fellow UCLA graduate, was a prolific scorer during his NBA career. Over the course of his seven seasons in Milwaukee, he averaged over 20 PPG five times (including a career best 25.6 PPG in 1978-79) and made four All-Star teams while there. Before suffering a career-ending (for all intents and purposes) injury with the Clippers in 1986 (he ran head-first into Benoit Benjamin's belly; AHHHHH!), his averages for his career were 20.1 PPG and 7 RPG.
PF: Terry Cummings: This was the hardest position to pick, but Cummings gets the nod here. Picked up from the Clippers for Junior Bridgeman in 1984, Cummings made the All-Star team in his first season in Milwaukee, with averages of 23.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG. Over his five seasons in cheese country, Cummings averaged about 21 PPG and 8 RPG, making a second All-Star team in 1989, before bolting for the Spurs the following season.
Reserves:
PG: Sam Cassell: There, Rockets fans; Cassell is on a list! But seriously, Cassell seems to spark a team to success beyond what it's accustomed to, and his time in Milwaukee was no exception. Acquired in a trade with the Nets and Timberwolves in 1999 (the Marbury-Terrell Brandon deal), Cassell shook of an injury-plagued debut season and 18.6 PPG and 9 APG his first full season there. Over the next three years, he averaged better than 18 PPG and about 6 APG each year (highs of 19.7 PPG in 2001-02 and 2002-03).
C: Bob Lanier: (Note: since Allen and Moncrief tied, there's no need to list a backup SG) Lanier may have been on the downside of his career when the Bucks got him (for Kent Benson) from Detroit in 1980, but who else should I list here, Alton Lister? Lanier still had enough in the tank to average better than 13 PPG in three of his four full Milwaukee seasons, making the 1982 All-Star team, and leading the Bucks to division titles in each year he played there, and a trip to the 1983 conference finals.
SF: (tie) Bob Dandridge/Glenn Robinson: Again, each was important to their teams in different eras, so both make it. Dandridge was a good find, coming in the fourth round of the 1969 draft. He averaged better than 20 PPG three times as a Buck (and came within fewer than 2 PPG on four occasions) and was a key starter on the 1971 champs. Robinson may not have fulfilled all expectations after being the #1 pick of the 1994 draft, but he sure could score; he had seven seasons of 20 or more PPG (with a high of 23.4 in 1997-98) and helped Milwaukee reach the 2001 Eastern Conference finals.
PF: Vin Baker: Before I hear the fat jokes, Baker was actually motivated as a Buck, and in his four seasons with the team, he had two years with over 20 PPG, and two years averaging a double-double in points and boards (his best stats year there was his final season in 1996-97, with 21.0 PPG and 10.3 RPG). Baker also made the All-Star team three times as a Buck (1995-97) and with limited comp, he gets this spot.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Larry Costello: Costello jumped right into coaching after retiring as a player in 1968, as he was named the Bucks' first head coach. After a rough 27-55 debut, Costello received his greatest blessing when the Bucks drafted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969. From 1969-70 to 1973-74, the Bucks averaged over 60 wins a year, made two NBA Finals, and won the 1971 title. Costello coached the Bucks until being fired early in the 1976-77 season, and won 410 games as Bucks coach. He also spawned two future great NBA coaches; Hubie Brown and Don Nelson, both of whom started as Bucks assistants.
Assistants: Don Nelson, George Karl: Nelson succeded Costello as Bucks coach during the 1976-77 season, and after finishing 27-37 his interim year, he took Milwaukee back to the postseason in 1978. Between 1979-80 and 1985-86, the Bucks won a division title (Midwest in 1980, Central each year after) every season, winning no fewer than 49 games over that span, and made three conference finals. Karl took a Bucks team that hadn't made the playoffs since 1991 (when he took over in 1998) to the playoffs in four of his five seasons, the highlight being the 2000-01 season, when Milwaukee won its most recent division title and made the Eastern Conference finals.
Honorable Mentions:
SG: Ricky Pierce: Solid sixth man (won Sixth man award twice in Milwaukee; 1987, 1990), but I can't put him past Moncrief and Allen.
SF: Junior Bridgeman: Very good stats, but again, who do you take out if you want him? If only he was a PF.
PG: Quinn Buckner: Too one dimensional; couldn't shoot from outside to save his life.
PG: Nate Archibald and PF/C Dave Cowens: Brought in by ex-Celtic Nellie because he like ex-Celts, neither played a full year, and thus should not be included.
SF: Jon McGlocklin: First good Bucks player, but really only had two decent years.
C: Jack Sikma: On the downside of his career when he arrived, and unlike Lanier, didn't lead team to even a conference final.
That's it for Milwaukee. Tomorrow, team #7, the San Antonio Spurs, will be revealed. Until then, don't bring in ex-Celtics because you're an ex-Celtic!
Downs, I really like these, it makes you realize how even some seemingly weak franchises have rich history when you put it all together. Kareem, Ray Allen, and Oscar Robertson on the same team, I will put that up against anyone.
Downs'
One tends to forget the vast assortment of players that the franchise has had over the years. Mnay of 'em have and will end up being Hall Of Famers.
That being said today's assortment of players would seemingly appear to have a long way to go if they're to replicate the success of their predecessors.
One can only hope that they'll hav success along the way in the future.
Below you'll see a link to a piece written by on the US Olympic Trials held in Eugene ,Or
. Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece by leaving a comment as and when you're ready.
justan' aka tophatal ...........
I would agree Sikma is more of a Sonics legend since I recently did a somewhat indepth study of the Sonics history.
As for Sam I am, I will be and never will stop being all about me, I think he's a loser. He's always been just about Sam and that's not what point guards are supposed to be about.
Nique It was that same PG that guided the Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships.
I may well be ugly but at least I've got three rings. Which is more than can be said for Kidd or Nash.
I left my heart in New Jersey .....Jason Kidd
I'm Canadian you know and in Canada we do also speak French. Who'dve thought that ?
Always keeping us aware as to his cultural background ...Steve Nash
Loser or not he knows how to guide a team. And espectially when one considers the likes of Kidd and Nash who've yet to garner any real glory for their teams at the highest echelons of the NBA.
justan' aka tophatal .........
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 11th at 12:07 AM.
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?