Don Nelson was the Bucks coach in the midst of winning 50 or more game six straight seasons. Mike Glenn was a reserve guard and not a broadcaster. Assistant Garry St. Jean had yet to become either a head coach or general manager.

Sidney Moncrief and Paul Pressey were still players and hadn't even thought of becoming NBA assistant coaches.

Yes, 1986 was a long time ago.

But the Bucks' 15-year drought of division titles ended last week with Detroit's defeat of Toronto. Milwaukee was hoping to celebrate the title on its turf at the Bradley Center after a victory against Utah, but they'll take it all the same.

"My job is to prepare the players for what they've got to be prepared for," George Karl said. "And then let them enjoy the 50 wins and hopefully a division championship.

"My dad always told me, and my dad was totally non-athletic, that what he liked about athletics was that you can do things that can never be taken away from you. A division championship is something they can't take away from you."

Forward Darvin Ham said he was rooting for a Toronto victory last Wednesday, in hopes of celebrating on the homecourt.

"Definitely," Ham said. "Our fans have been great and it would be wonderful clinching in this building, where we had a lot of heartache last year when we couldn't get it done here."

The title clincher was especially sweet considering Milwaukee had capped a largely successful road trip with consecutive losses at the Los Angeles Clippers and Seattle.

Karl said he wasn't terribly disappointed with the difficult stretch that began with a home game against Miami.

"We said if we won four out of seven against Miami and the six-game trip that we would be happy," Karl said. "We got four out of seven. The last two were not good, but now we can go home, clean some stuff up and get ready for the playoffs."

Personnel File

PEDAL TO METAL: The Bucks have no shot at catching top-seeded Philadelphia to move up the conference ladder and they're locked in at the No. 2 slot, but Karl still wants his team to close out the season strong in preparation for the playoffs.

"I still think we've got to play the games to win and be professional," Bucks coach George Karl said. "We do have some bodies that do need some rest."

AILING: X-rays taken last week on Tim Thomas' separated right shoulder were negative, but the Bucks remain concerned about the Sixth Man as the playoffs near.

Noteworthy

FUN WITH KARL: During a first-half timeout of last week's 101-88 loss at Seattle, the Key Arena scoreboard displayed one of those celebrity look-alike gags featuring the "Seinfeld" television show. Beside a photo of George Costanza was a picture of George Karl, with the juxtaposed bald heads drawing the predictable response from the crowd.

Karl is the former Sonics coach who doesn't hold the warmest and fuzziest feelings for Seattle general manager Wally Walker after the GM fired him after the 1997-98 season.

TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY: Some time off could benefit Lindsey Hunter, but he has refused to sit as the Bucks made their run for the Central Division title.

Sam Cassell said he lobbied unsuccessfully to get Hunter to take a break.

"He is a competitor, man," Cassell said. "He doesn't take time off. He is better than me."

If Hunter starts to make his outside shots again, it provides another good scoring option for the Bucks, who could use one with opponents figuring to tighten the reins on the Big Three come playoff time. A few long bombs from Hunter could take some pressure off Cassell, Allen and Glenn Robinson.

Big efforts from the Bucks' role players will be needed in the playoffs, Allen said, and Hunter is one of the main candidates.

"He is another option because guys are going to tighten up on us (in the playoffs)," Allen said. "Last year we had Vinny Del Negro and most people would limit him from doing things, but Lindsey does so many different things other than just scoring on the floor."