MOMENTS BEFORE THE Milwaukee Bucks were set to take the floor Saturday, the players and coaches gathered inside a tight hallway outside their locker room at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It was a familiar stage; they are the only team to reach the semifinals in both NBA Cup tournaments. And remembering how that trip ended one year ago spurred a renewed focus. This year, the tournament has served as more than just a catalyst for a team that started the season winning two of its first 10 games. It just might have saved Milwaukee's season.