Not some little hissy fit, either, like the coach keeps trying to provoke with Toronto, or a religious experience like the ones local fans observed when they filled the stands for Michael Jordan. Something on the order of the glorious Boston Celtics feuds in which Don Nelson destroyed a 20-year relationship with Red Auerbach by calling Danny Ainge a thug would be good. Now that they've finally grown dangerous enough to be disliked, the Bucks require someone to share their rancor on a regular basis. The Pacers would be perfect. Smits will never be Laimbeer, but Reggie Miller can do a fairly smarmy imitation of Ainge, and Austin Croshere has already become locally disreputable by punishing Marquette.
Fresh talent arrives every year.
This can happen but it won't be easy. First the attitudes of the principals must be overcome. Pacifists like Ray Allen need to be converted. It will be that way with any team. If we were playing Miami right now, we'd be exchanging the same words, physicality, whatever it might be in the game and the newspapers.