By George Devine, Sr.

Milwaukee basketball fans who want to see good basketball these days would do well to focus their sights on the Golden Eagles of Marquette University. The local NBA team is not nearly as competitive or exciting. Coming into tonight’s game against Sacramento with a 12-47 record, the Bucks did nothing to help themselves, and lost to the visitors, 116-102.

Part of the problem is that the Bucks fail to play as a cohesive unit. Team players contribute to an aggregate pattern of rebounds and assists, which seem to be lacking for Milwaukee. As a result, individual scoring is interesting but not inspiring, and does not win the game. Though Brandon Knight was the hero of the evening with 25 points and 6 assists, he was not impressive on the boards. Neither were his teammates, including Jeff Adrien who had 15 points and played only 22 minutes due to his 4 personal fouls. Khris Middleton demonstrated the ability to achieve qualitatively but not quantitatively, with 11 points and 2 steals.

The Kings dominated in each quarter except the fourth, when Milwaukee prevailed 21-28 but it was too late. In the third, Sacramento spent the first half of the period enjoying an 11-2 run from which the home team never recovered.

Back to the form he demonstrated before the All-Star break, Rudy Gay had 22 points, as well as 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Isaiah Thomas was the high scorer, though, with 25 points; he contributed 6 assists and 4 steals. DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points, 8 boards and 5 assists.