Portland, Ore. - The Milwaukee Bucks are having serious problems with consistency.
The Bucks haven't been consistently good, as indicated by their pedestrian 20-23 record. But, on the other hand, they win just enough so that they're not consistently bad, either. "At least if we were consistently losing, then we'd know what the problem is," forward Richard Jefferson said. "We're not even doing that."
By losing Saturday night, 101-92, to the lowly and injury-depleted Los Angeles Clippers, they let a guarantee for a winning three-game western trip slide through their grasp. After having split the first two games, they will face the Portland Trail Blazers - the only opponent on the trip with a winning record - tonight at the Rose Garden.
Coach Scott Skiles was asked what it would take for the team to develop some consistency.
"You hope each player becomes more consistent," he said. "That's what you're hoping for.
"We're on a terrible defensive tear in the last 10 or 12 games. And we had been playing very solid defense. It's gotten away from us. We appear to be out there thinking that we can outscore people now. So let's see if that works."
Skiles paused.
"I doubt it will," he said.
The Bucks have yielded at least 100 points to seven of their last nine opponents. On Friday night, Sacramento scored 18 points in the first quarter but then lit up the Bucks for 104 in the final three quarters.
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