TJ spectacular, but Bucks fall short

The Bucks suffered a devastating loss tonight to the Orlando Magic, 108-105, but unlike their loss to the Heat last night, the team has nothing to be ashamed of.

Battling back from a 20 point hole, the Bucks nearly pulled it out. When things looked darkest the man who stepped up was none other than the maligned, the forlorn, the abused .... T.J. Ford! He was beyond spectacular. He played the type of fast paced, hard driving game that we thought he would always play when we drafted him out of Texas.

In fact, if you didn't know any better, you would have sworn you were watching another #11, Isiah Lord Thomas. Ford was dishing, hustling, scooping, driving, doing it all, and in awe-inspiring fashion. The shots he was making! If you didn't see it, all I can say is you missed a magic show. Ford scored a career high 34 points, dished out 11 assists, and nearly brought the game into overtime with a miracle steal and three point hoist at the buzzer, but it wasn't to be. He did all he could.

Which is more than I can say for the bigs. For the second night in a row they were collectively awful. Andrew Bogut couldn't shoot, and couldn't guard his own shadow. He must have nothing in the tank because he looks atrocius. The rest of them were equally bad, but he stood out. They have to pick it up or we have zero chance of doing anything.

Now for reality. The loss sends the Bucks below the .500 mark and further erodes their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Bulls won again, downing the Sixers 99-92, and now move into the 8th spot 2 games behind the Bucks. Now its the Sixers who are on the outside looking in. They are in 9th place, 21/2 games behind the Bucks. This might be the team's only saving grace. The Sixers are playing awful basketball. But do you really want to back into the playoffs?