A LOT OF BUCKS, BUT NO CHANGE; MILWAUKEE ISN'T FAMOUS FOR THESE GUYS.

Byline: GARY WASHBURN The NBA 

It's no fault of our own. It's easy to forget about Milwaukee.

The Brewers haven't been to the playoffs in 15 years, the Packers may be near the Super Bowl again but they don't even call themselves Milwaukee.

The Bucks? The mental Rolodex recalls only Don Nelson and Del Harris used to coach there once, and where Mike Dunleavy left the Lakers to disappear.

Believe it or not, the Bucks franchise has existed in the 1990s. To no fanfare, very little attention and a revolving door of coaches who leave convinced that nothing can be done to keep the Milwaukee Bucks from trodding in mediocrity.

Even with Glenn Robinson and Vin Baker, the Bucks couldn't make the playoffs. It was time for another change. Baker complained about organizational apathy - you don't say - and wanted out.

So came the escape hatch, one which could finally push the Bucks in the winning direction, to their first playoff appearance in six years and bring another All-Star to the mix. Seattle gets Baker, gives Shawn Kemp to Cleveland which in turn gives Terrell Brandon and veteran rebounder Tyrone Hill to Milwaukee.

So far everybody's happy. Seattle has the NBA's best record, Cleveland finally has the enforcer and scorer it wanted. It's worked out great.

But to no surprise, Milwaukee's opinion has been omitted.

Before Saturday's game, the Bucks (15-19) were 8-1/2 games behind Chicago in the Central Division and in serious jeopardy of getting lost in the shuffle of the Eastern Conference mediocre teams trying to make the playoffs. New Jersey, Washington, Orlando and even Boston have better records than Milwaukee.

Where's Kareem? Or Oscar?

``You look at our team and what we've put together,'' second-year guard Ray Allen said. ``You look at pre-season (7-0) and the start of the regular season (4-1) and we knew we had a good team. Now, we don't know what is going on.

``Before the season, you'd see what our team was made up of and it was, `Wow, we've got a great team.' We don't know what's going on right now. Everybody's attitude is good. We want to win. But it's like it's always slipping out of our hands.''

The problem is Milwaukee has no legitimate big man.

Ervin Johnson, a defensive-minded player who has to be nearly bribed to take a three-footer, is a rebounder who got pushed around like rag-doll by Shaquille O'Neal on his way to 38 points last week.

``No interior defense, let's start with that,'' coach Chris Ford said. ``I don't think the Lakers scored a basket outside the paint in the fourth quarter. It's been a concern. It's everybody, every position.''

Robinson, the Bucks' $68 million franchise player, is not a team leader and falls short of the impact player that could carry Milwaukee to fourth-quarter victories. Brandon, a steady point guard, has been injured and when he's healthy can't pass to a dependable scorer, besides Robinson.

There's still time to recover. The Bucks are 3-1/2 games out of a playoff spot if anybody is noticing. But unless they start winning, it's time to look forward to baseball season.

Aren't the Brewers in the National League?

Not a cinch: The Minnesota Timberwolves thought signing forward Kevin Garnett to a $126 million deal would ensure Stephon Marbury's return after next season to build what could become a dynasty.

But not so fast. Though Marbury and Garnett are buddies, Marbury has not adjusted to life in Minneapolis as well as his Generation X teammate. While Garnett bought a home in a Minneapolis suburb, Marbury lives in a downtown apartment.

His interview with Sports Illustrated last week was an indication of his unhappiness in the Midwest. It began with his two-week stint in Minneapolis practicing for the 1994 Junior World Games team.

``I hated Minnesota, and that was in the summer,'' Marbury said. ``It was culture shock. By the time we were done, I couldn't wait to go to Argentina.''

And then there's the issue of Marbury taking less than his market value (likely $15-20 million per season) to stay with Garnett and help win a title.

``People are talking about me taking less money for the good of the franchise,'' he said. ``I'm not taking less money for anybody. This is a business.''

Marbury realizes his importance to the team, as a prime scorer, defender and one of the best ball-handlers in the league. He's Allen Iverson in control.

Meanwhile, while Garnett has potential and is secured into the 2004 season, he has not emerged into the scorer and dominating player many NBA observers think he can be. He's still second fiddle to Tom Gugliotta and, at times, to Marbury.

``On our team, everyone knows that in the last minute, Stephon Marbury is going to take the last shot, like MJ (Michael Jordan),'' Marbury said. ``It's not Kevin (Garnett) doing it. That's how our team works.''

WASHBURN`S TOP 10 AND NO. 29

1. Seattle - Is beating opponents as title-contender should.

2. Lakers - Get ready to jump on the Diesel.

3. Chicago - Put Rodman on All-Star team.

4. Miami - Still need shooting guard. Mitch Richmond?

5. Utah - Despite troubles, have third-best home record in league.

6. Indiana - Still far from NBA elite.

7. Phoenix - Talented, athletic and not very healthy.

8. San Antonio - Wants to make trade before deadline.

9. Cleveland - A productive player away from competing with Bulls.

10. Atlanta - Trying to build from the rubble.

29. Denver - Worst team in NBA history.

SAY WHAT?

``He wants to be `Mr. Intensity', `Mr. I'm ready to play every night'. That's fine and dandy. But he's going to be Mr. `No ring-having.' That's the way I look at it.''

- Dennis Rodman

Bulls forward, on Miami center Alonzo Mourning

TECHNICAL FOUL

Jeff Van Gundy, New York 

The Knicks coach continues to make horrible coaching decisions in key games, practically choking away Friday night's game with the Bulls when he refused to take a timeout to set up a play with his team trailing by one point with eight seconds left. The Knicks are in trouble.

PLAYER WATCH

Joe Smith, Golden State

How this guy continues to play for the Warriors knowing he's going to be traded soon is surprising. Smith has been rumored to be traded for Brent Barry, Jerry Stackhouse and others. Smith has played better since Latrell Sprewell's exit and likely needs a new environment to prove he was worthy of the first pick in the 1995 draft.

L.A. at play

CLIPPERS

Tonight at Detroit, 4 p.m.

Monday at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday at Toronto, 4 p.m.

Thursday at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday at Washington, 4:30 p.m.

This trip could be disaster.

LAKERS

Tonight vs. Charlotte, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday vs. Denver, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Eight of next 10 at home.

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: WASHBURN`S TOP 10 AND NO. 29 (see text)