Even the cool George Karl masks provided by OnMilwaukee.com didn't work at the Bradley Center Tuesday night.
For the first time in the playoffs, and first time in 13 games overall, the Bucks lost before the home crowd, 94-86, to the Charlotte Hornets. The series could end Thursday night at Charlotte.
The fans certainly did their parts. The sellout crowd of 18,717 again had the BC walls shaking. It seemed like the magic would work again, as Ray Allen scored nine of the Bucks' first 15 points and Milwaukee grabbed an early lead.
But, as the game went on, the Hornets started to take over the pace of the contest. Karl put it best when he said, "the playoffs have a tendency to magnify fundamentals and team."
Unfortunately for the Bucks' fans, the Hornets are better at those two things than the Bucks right now.
In many ways, the Hornets reflect their coach, Paul Silas, who was a hulk of a forward who played fundamentally sound basketball and was known as a team player.
There was nothing fancy about Silas. There is little fancy about the Hornets, with the exception of an occasional acrobatic drive by Jamal Mashburn.
They play fundamentally sound defense, good enough to hold the Bucks to a pitiful 36.6% in the game. "Their strength is their defense. Our strength is our ability to make shots," Karl said. "Right now, their strength is dominating ours."
Silas said he likes the Hornets' chances in the possible decisive game Thursday because "right now we're playing solid basketball."
"We're contesting their shots," Silas continued. "Every time they made a run we answered with a big shot."
If the Hornets win Thursday, the series is over. If the Bucks win, the series will come back for a seventh game at the Bradley Center on Sunday.
Magic Johnson Award
I was privileged to present the first Magic Johnson Ideal Player Award to Ray Allen before Tuesday's game. As the veteran member in Milwaukee of the Pro Basketball Writers Association, I got the honor.
The award is for the player's play on the court, his cooperation with the media and contributions to his community. Ray richly deserves it.
Players of the Game
Baron Davis, Hornets, who scored 19 points, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, and outplayed the Bucks' Sam Cassell. Ervin Johnson, Bucks, who grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds to give Milwaukee a 52-43 rebounding advantage.
Goats of the Game
There was plenty of ba-a-a-a-a-d shooting to spread the goat label around. Allen went 6-for-18, Cassell 4-for-12, Jason Caffey and Lindsey Hunter 1-for-6.
Plays of the Game
Davis drilled a 28-foot 3-pointer with 2:10 left to put the Hornets up by eight at 92-84. There was little doubt after that shot.
Eldon Campbell grabbed a rebound and was fouled with 26.9 seconds left. He made two free throws for the final 94-86 score. There was no doubt after that.
Quotes of the Game
Ray Allen: "We've lost a little bit of our focus. It's been great competing on this stage, and we've been having a lot of fun, but we've been getting away from what got us here."
Sam Cassell: "This is just so uncharacteristic of out team. Ray, myself; we're all struggling to make shots."
Jamal Mashburn: "You're never going to blow this team out. They have too many guys who can shoot the ball. They're going to come into Charlotte and play their best basketball. We need to be ready for a battle on Thursday."
Gregg Hoffmann publishes The Brew Crew Review on OMC and will resume his Milwaukee pro sports buzz column once the Bucks are done with the playoffs.
