Thread Tools

Display Modes

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-13-2005, 10:51 AM

from jsonline.com:

Quote:

A couple weeks ago the NBA and its broadcast partners presented what they called "Rivalry Week."

It was another in the league's never-ending series of self-promotions, this one being a string of televised games that matched teams with regional, divisional or historic rivalries. Houston against San Antonio, Sacramento against Dallas, that sort of thing. And of course, Boston and the Lakers, which provided the opportunity to dust off the highlight reels and give us one more glimpse of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird going at it.

The Milwaukee Bucks were not included in "Rivalry Week" because they aren't on national TV much these days and, well, they don't really have a rival.

After last week's two games against the Chicago Bulls that could change.

"Those were good games," said Bucks coach Terry Porter. "Good rivalry. The four games we had this year with those guys were good games . . . close and really kind of gone down to the wire."
Advertisement

They say you can't have a real rivalry unless both teams win, and the Bucks and Bulls certainly would qualify in that regard, as they split their four-game season series. The Bucks and Bulls, both engaged in a rebuilding process, split two games in December. Last week, the Bucks won by eight points at the Bradley Center and the Bulls won by five at the United Center.

"Milwaukee has been tough for us," said Chicago coach Scott Skiles. "We're glad we're done with them."

The two most recent games were both closely contested and physical, just the sort of things that can breed a rivalry. And there were enough side-shows to add a bit of spice to the proceedings.

Thousands of Chicago fans streamed into the Bradley Center last weekend to cheer their team and irritate the locals. Then there was Porter's gum fling that punctuated the Bucks' loss in Chicago. And there was a verbal outburst from Chicago center Eddy Curry that led to some controversy in Chicago and a bit of subtle media-bashing.

Curry expressed frustration that he didn't play in the fourth quarter of the game in Milwaukee, and that set the backdrop for the game two nights later in Chicago.

"I think Eddy is still at an age where if questions are phrased a certain way, he can be - I don't want to say taken advantage of - but he can say things, like anybody can at that age, that may or may not be true," said Skiles. "He'll think about them later and wish he hadn't said something. We've all been there, so. . ."

Part of the problem with Curry's growth stems from how, in Skiles' view, Curry and Tyson Chandler were canonized after being acquired in the 2001 draft, Chandler in a trade with the Clippers for Elton Brand and Curry as a first-round draft choice.

"There was an expectation of Eddy that I don't know was realistic to begin with," said Skiles.

Said Porter, "There can always be some truth to that. The hype has always killed more careers than anything. It's hard to live up to the hype. . . and you think they gave up a 20 and 10 guy (in Brand)."

Porter's take on the Curry situation?

"Skiles is a guy who played and he's coaching a little bit different than he would like a guy to coach him," said Porter. "Curry said he made one mistake and got taken out. I don't know if he made more than one mistake. But I don't think any player, after one mistake, likes to get yanked. But there's probably more issues to it than just that one time. He makes one turnover? There's got to be some other things involved with it."

Regardless, the Bucks and Bulls put some life into the dog days of March and may have planted the seeds for a rivalry down the road.

"It seemed like a playoff-like series, that type of atmosphere," Bucks guard Michael Redd said after the two games last week.

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-13-2005, 10:53 AM

It is good that the Bulls are back to being a good team, because this is a rivalry that has been missed the past 5-6 years. Now, the Bucks have to get better in order to make it a little more competitive.

7thwatch · 03-13-2005, 11:04 AM

Nah, no need for you guys to get better. WE love you just the way you are.

**Wynn** · 03-13-2005, 04:38 PM

I'd say that Bull/Knick, Bull/Piston, and Bull/Pacer are much bigger rivalries in my mind. I think Milwaukee has a good team, but just see them as another opponent. Maybe that will change in the coming years.

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes