The Milwaukee Bucks have been moving up the standings in the Eastern Conference ever since returning from the All-Star break.  They have now gone 12-2 since the All-Star weekend, and the trade they made for John Salmons around that time has been paying off.  The Bucks are 10-1 with Salmons, and with the Bucks Salmons is averaging 18.9 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.  He has been shooting 44% from the field and although he is a streaky shooter, opposing teams have to cover him as a constant threat from the three point line.  With the Bucks he has been hitting 34% of his threes.  The Bucks have definitely become a better team with Salmons, and the numbers and records prove it.  Before Salmons joined the Bucks they were at the number eight spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.  They are now at the number five spot and they are six games behind the Boston Celtics in the fourth spot.  Salmons’ former team, the Chicago Bulls, were at the fifth spot when he left and they are now out of the top eight spots, sitting in ninth place.  Injuries have more to do with the Bulls drop-off, but they are definitely missing Salmons now that they don’t have much depth.