The A.V. Club's inexplicably optimistic Bucks season preview

The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t posted a winning season since going 42-40 during the 2002-03 season. Ray Allen, the face of the franchise, was traded that year, and George Karl was on his way out as head coach. Since then, Milwaukee has gone 199-293. There have been four coaching changes, and interest in the hometown team has receded to virtually nil.

The upcoming season brings little in the way of organizational change. Star player and cable TV pitchman Richard Jefferson was traded to San Antonio for three past-their-prime players, including Bruce Bowen, who opted to retire rather than become a Buck. No free agents of note were brought in to fill any of the team’s numerous holes, while forward Charlie Villanueva signed with Detroit faster than you could say “Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.” Even with the 2009 Milwaukee Bucks likely to repeat the familiar trend of embarrassing losses, inexplicably horrendous front-office moves, and a style of basketball hinging more on profit than record, there are still 10 reasons to watch the team this season. Here's why we're keeping our hopes up heading into the regular season opener Friday night against Philadelphia.

1. Michael Redd, Olympian: The gold medal winner had about as much to do with the Americans’ Olympic glory in Beijing as he did with Milwaukee's handful of wins over the past two years. Now recovered from surgery, he's in that familiar between-season-ending-injury period where he plays basketball for a few weeks.

2. Scott Skiles, video game virtuoso: Did you know Milwaukee's head coach was one of the best players in the NBA Jam video game? Whether dropping underhand threes from 85 feet, dishing a flaming ball to Orlando teammate Nick Anderson, or violently shoving ball-handlers into an invisible wall surrounding the court, Skiles—on NBA Jam prowess alone—is the man we should want coaching our city's team. (Unless Shawn Kemp is available, that is.)

3. Brandon “Young Money” Jennings: On the court, the lottery pick will at least make the Bucks' march to last place exciting to watch. Off the court, he'll pepper interviews with elegant quotes like “Fuck the Knicks,” and more N-bombs than a Michael Richards stand-up routine.

4. Bango!: Bango has long been considered on of the most badass mascots in the NBA, just behind Squatch of the old Seattle Supersonics and just ahead of Rumble, the drum-playing bison who serves as mascot of the Oklahoma City Thunder. During last season’s All-Star Game festivities, Bango was standing atop the rim when he was bag-tagged by a half-court shot. He fell through the hoop and needed off-season knee surgery. But according to this gripping Journal Sentinel Q&A with the ailing mascot, he’ll be back and immediately ready to distract fans from the team on the court that’s probably losing.

5. Andrew Bogut: Bogut, like Redd (and Bango), returns from an injury-plagued ’08. Diehard fans regard 2005’s No. 1 overall pick as a well-rounded player capable of a plethora of double-doubles. Casual fans will note that Bogut is Australian.

6. Dan Gadzuric: With his curly locks and 4.0 points per game, the Dutch-born big man will teach you the fundamentals of basketball and—if you aren't careful—to fall in love again. (This also applies to Ersan Ilyasova, if you substitute “Dutch-born” with “Turkish-born.”)

7. Kurt Thomas: The 37-year-old center came by way of the Jefferson trade. The 14-year vet averaged 4.3 points per game and 0.7 blocks per game last season. As the oldest player on a young Bucks squad, Thomas will undoubtedly be a trusted advisor for players looking to just barely stay in the league.

8. The Energee! Dance Team: The Bucks' core of comely cheerleaders—sorry, “dancers”—provide enough eye candy to make those 26-point losses in February go down a little easier. Also, the extra E and unnecessary exclamation point help to signify energy.

9. They play actual NBA teams: For those of you who like the Bucks, but also enjoy NBA-caliber basketball, you’ll be happy to know Milwaukee plays teams considerably better than they are on a regular basis. They’ll host contemporary powerhouses like the Mavericks, Celtics, Cavaliers, Lakers, and Magic—just to name a few. You’ll be amazed how entertaining basketball is when it's played by real NBA teams.

10. Playoff bound? Maybe: The Eastern Conference is the NBA equivalent of the NFC in football, Ukraine in Risk, and dated Seinfeld references in sports columns—in other words, it’s super weak. Nearly every Western Conference team and two or three good Eastern Conference teams take almost every game against lower-echelon Eastern teams. Last season, the Bulls made the playoffs without even posting a winning record, so anyone—the Bucks included—could conceivably have a playoff season, even with a losing record. Keep you fingers crossed, Bucks fans, and you may see your team get stomped by the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.