{image1}The Bucks need the help of a partisan Bradley Center crowd if they are going to build on their win over the Pistons in Game 2 of the NBA playoffs.
Detroit obviously has the advantage in defensive quickness and overall athletic ability. The Pistons stole the Bucks blind in the series opener at Detroit on Sunday with 28 points on 25 Milwaukee turnovers.
The Bucks handled the pressure much better in Game 2 on Wednesday night and evened the series with a 92-88 win at Detroit. But, if you saw the game, you know they blew a big lead in the fourth quarter (again) and barely hung on.
Now, action comes to the BC with a 2:30 p.m. game on Saturday, and a 6 p.m. Monday game. The Bucks have been offering specials for the games, with $22 tickets going for $15.
That could indicate that fans are not all that excited by the Bucks' chances, but it also might offer a bargain way for local supporters to help the team. Fans can get an early start. A pre-game pep rally will be held in Lobby A of the BC, starting at noon on Saturday.
Coach Terry Porter showed why he finished as high as third in Wednesday's balloting for NBA Coach of the Year. He made some key adjustments after Game 1.
Guards Damon Jones, Brevin Knight and Michael Redd struggled against the Pistons' pressure in the backcourt in Game 1, but played much better Wednesday. Toni Kukoc made a big contribution coming off the bench.
The refs are letting them play in this series. In Game 1, the Pistons took advantage of that to rough up the Bucks with their aggressive defense. On Wednesday night, the Bucks were the ones who were the aggressors on defense.
With the win, the Bucks actually snapped a four-game losing streak that included three losses in their final regular season games. That cost them homecourt advantage in this first series.
But, the win on Wednesday night evened the series at 1-1 and actually gives the Bucks a 3-2 homecourt advantage for the rest of the series. To capitalize on that advantage, however, they will need the hometown fans to turn out and provide that "sixth man" from the stands on Saturday and Monday.
In playoff action in other sports, the Wave beat Kansas City, 7-3, in the one semi-final game of the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs and will now host the Baltimore Blast in the finals at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
Coach Keith Tozer's team owes the Blast one, since Baltimore beat Milwaukee for the MISL title last year.
The Admirals will play their second game in the Calder Cup playoffs against Cincinnati at the Bradley Center at 7 p.m. Friday. The Mighty Ducks won the first game, 5-4, in overtime on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee scored three goals in the final period to come back from a 3-1 deficit and take a 4-3 lead. The Mighty Ducks scored to tie it, 4-4, and send the game into OT, where they eventually won it.
Hot Tix
The Packers will draft 25th in Saturday's NFL draft. As of this writing, numerous possibilities presented themselves for coach and GM Mike Sherman. He might trade discontented cornerback Mike McKenzie to move up in the draft, or make some other moves.
At 25th, it won't be easy to get a big impact player. Defensive linemen being bandied about as possible Green Bay picks include Darnell Duckett of Florida State, Marcus Tubbs of Texas and Alabama's Antwan Odom. A couple of those guys carry extra baggage off the field.
If defensive back Chris Gamble slips to 25th, the Packers might take him, especially if they trade McKenzie.
Some have the Pack taking receivers like Michael Clayton or even Lee Evans of UW, but the receiving corps made a lot of progress last season. Another receiver would just be insurance for the future.
If Tim Couch isn't signed, could the Packers go for Brett Favre's eventual replacement? It will be interesting to see who Sherman does take in the first round and after.
If you don't have a playoff ticket and feel like actually going to a sports event rather then stay glued to the tube for the draft, the Brewers finish their series with the D-Backs with a noon game Thursday.
The Brewers have beaten Arizona in the first two games. On Wednesday night, the Brewers sent 13 batters to the plate in the seventh inning and scored eight runs. Scott Podsednik chased D-Backs' starter Randy Johnson with a base-clearing triple in the big inning. Former D-Back Junior Spivey and Keith Ginter homered in the 10-6 decision.
After Thursday's game, the Cardinals come to Miller Park on Friday night and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Friday night is Bally's Total Fitness Night at Miller Park. The first 10,000 adults will get a two-week trial pass to any Bally's location in the area.
You could use that pass to start the Wisconsin Governor's Challenge, a six-week program designed to inspire individuals to become more physically active. The program kicked off this week.
The program is a partnership among the Governor's Office, the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation, and Trek Bicycle Corporation. The Wisconsin Governor's Challenge is an easy-to-use free program.
Residents can log on to wisconsinchallenge.org to register themselves and their family, friends, or co-workers for the program. They can then use the website to record their activity on a daily or weekly basis. Those who don't use the Internet can earn the program's award by filling in a paper log of activities.
