MILWAUKEE — From the press perch behind the north basket at the Bradley Center, it is easy to see just how far the Milwaukee Bucks' fortunes have fallen this season, and that view has nothing to do with what is seen on the court.

It starts with a look straight ahead and up to the building's second deck, where seat after seat behind the south basket in the lowest-priced seats in the house are empty.

Then turn your head right and then left and notice the large gaps in the upstairs areas that run parallel to the court where the best seats for the best price also are largely unoccupied.

But what makes this season different than the past four years of mediocrity is in the lower bowl of the arena, where gaps of empty seats are present almost every game night in the area that seats 8,000.

Recent attendance figures show a 6 percent drop in attendance this season, with an announced average of 15,446 showing up for games. But as long-time observers see those holes in the stands almost every night, it is clear that the Bucks often struggle to reach five figures in attendance.

Some say that is a reflection of the brutal winter that has kept some fans at home.

Others contend that the Green Bay Packers' surprising run deflected attention from the Bucks. About the only thing not heard so far is that the high expectations for the Milwaukee Brewers this upcoming season has distracted those who otherwise would be NBA fans at this time of year.

But what the slumping gate total show — whether it is the announced figures of the team or the even lower estimates of those who are there on a regular basis — is the growing level of dissatisfaction among the paying public with the Bucks, who enter the second half of the season with a 19-34 record and little hope of reaching the playoffs, even in the muck that is the Eastern Conference.

"It's no fun to lose, you know," coach Larry Krystkowiak said Wednesday prior to the Bucks' final game before the All-Star break, a fittingly frustrating 111-107 loss to New Orleans.

"There's nobody in the organization, I can guarantee you, that's taking it harder than I am. I'm going to fight and try to figure out what we need to do to get it turned around. There's no pity party."

Fighting immaturity

That's not going to be an easy task for team that one member of the Bucks' organization described as "young and immature" after last week's brief flareup following Krystkowiak's comments that some players on the team are working according to their own agendas.

The young part of that comment hardly holds up upon examination, not when the starting lineup features just one rookie (Yi Jianlian), two veterans in their eighth season (Desmond Mason and Michael Redd); a guard in his fifth season (Mo Williams); and a third-year pro (Andrew Bogut).

But the immature portion of the comment seems more accurate with every passing game for Milwaukee, which hasn't had a winning season since going 42-40 in 2002-03.

The Bucks like to believe that their 16 losses by 10 points or fewer is indicative of just how close they are to turning their fortunes around.

For the sake of argument, if the Bucks had changed the results in half those games, they'd be 27-26 and well situated in the Eastern playoff race.

But that sort of wishful thinking doesn't explain the 18 losses by 10 or more points — or the 10 losses by 20 or more.

Jobs on the line

Based on recent history, that means Krystkowiak's job is on the line.

At least that's what it meant for Terry Stotts and Terry Porter, the two previous coaches who were fired by general manager Larry Harris while facing similar trying circumstances. Coincidentally, the Bucks' record was exactly the same at this point last season, and Stotts was fired March 14.

Harris, in the final year of his contract, is at even greater risk.

He made Redd the franchise player two years ago, but the results haven't changed. He signed Dan Gadzuric to a long-term contract worth $6 million per season, but the big man hardly gets off the bench.

Third-year free agent Bobby Simmons has been a flop this season after sitting out last year because of foot injuries. He brought back Mason, whose offensive ability makes him a liability on a team that often struggles to score.

With the NBA trade deadline approaching on Wednesday, it would be nice to think that Harris could do something to shake up the staleness that permeates the Bucks, if not for this season then for the future.

But the team's contractual situations make that a virtual impossibility in a league where trades are made on a financial basis, not just talent.

As a result, the Bucks are left with little other than a few encouraging words.

"I want to try to stay positive," Krystkowiak said. "It's important that we keep battling."