Today is November 30. (Unless you are reading this on a different day.)
There was one of these around this time last year, also.
Before we talk about the standings from November 30 last season, please understand that this story is not trying to do the whole “relax” thing or the “everything is fine and going to plan” thing. The Bucks are 13th in the East. They have the worst defense in the NBA so far. The schedule is about to get harder. Times are not just perfect.
Nonetheless, it is easy to forget exactly how much can change from November 30 to four and a half months later (honestly, four and a half months later) when the playoffs kick off. Consider the following:
But then also consider the following:
People who read this story headline and not this story will be the type of people to make jokes like “Today is December 30” at my expense on December 30 if the Bucks are still struggling at that time. The point is not to minimize the slow start or convince you that the team will contend.
Just because some things tend to really change after November 30, it does not mean that the Bucks in particular are destined to turn things all the way around. Seventeen games is a meaningful sample size. But 65 games is a more meaningful sample size, and the Bucks play that many more.
This all about perspective. After all, it was on November 30 just three years ago that Larry Sanders blocked 10 shots in a game in a breakout season. Since then, everything has changed, one thousand times. From promising, to worst record in franchise history, to one of the most enthralling teams in basketball, to this.
After the team switched up the starting lineup before the Hornets game on Sunday afternoon, Michael Carter-Williams said “I wouldn’t start me either.”
The team, the players are owning up to their play, so to speak. And keep in mind here on November 30, 2015… they probably still have time to own a bit of the future, too.
(Assist to the Wayback Machine for the standings image.)
