If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times.

"Injuries aren't an excuse."

You hear that brave talk from every team in every sport. Coaches and players grit their teeth and proclaim that injuries create opportunities for other players to show their mettle.

"Stepping up" is the most common phrase. As in, "we'll see who steps up now."

I think it's hogwash. How can you possibly say that injuries aren't an excuse for a losing team?

Let's use the Bucks as an example.

I don't think it's normal for a poor guy to feel sympathy for rich guys, but that's the main emotion I have for the Bucks. I feel sorry for them.

This was going to be the first year of an expected climb back to the upper echelons of the NBA.

The stars seemed aligned.

The Bucks entered the season with a savvy general manager. They had a proven coach. They had a big-time scorer. They had a genuinely talented center. They had an almost-superstar forward. They had a point guard who knew how to run an offense. They had a couple of highly touted rookies.

The came injuries and attrition.

Michael Redd hurt his knee and was sidelined for the whole season. Say what you will about Redd, the guy can score points like almost nobody else in the league. He's a wonderful offensive player and he even seemed to be making extra effort on defense during the early days of the season.

Andrew Bogut was nest. Early on, he had a bad back, like so many of us. The prescription called for rest and light exercise. Eventually, the decision was made that Bogut wasn't going to play anymore. There are those who bash Bogut as a hobby, but the guy has become a solid NBA center. The Bucks missed him on defense and on the boards. Their season was moving along until the end of December, when Bogut's back really flared up and he was in and out of the lineup before they pulled the plug.

Sure, there were bright spots for the Bucks this year. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was a surprising standout and Ramon Sessions looks like he can play serious point guard.

Richard Jefferson made an impact and is close to all-star status, but he may well be trade bait in the off-season.

The story of the Bucks, however, is more than a story about individual players or statistics.

It's about a feeling. It's about how we feel about the Bucks.

I think there is a community-wide malaise about this team, reminiscent of how this town felt about the Brewers during their lengthy stretch of mediocrity.

If you're a fan you get to the point where you've got to shake your head and think about what else you could be doing.

The Brewers turned that attitude around when they started to win more than they lost. Or at least as many as they lost.

That will happen to the Bucks.

I expected it to happen this year but it didn't and the reason, plain and simple, is injuries.

And, that's why I'm sad.