8 Takeaways from Sunday's NBA Playoff Action (video)

Both Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings are likely to hit free agency this summer—Jennings as a restricted free agent and Ellis as an unrestricted free agent, if he opts out of the final year of his deal.

And Bucks fans should desperately want both of them gone.

That might seem harsh, but consider the following:

—Ellis and Jennings were remarkably healthy all season long, totaling 162 games between them.

—The backcourt duo was surrounded by capable shooters like Ersan Ilyasova, Mike Dunleavy and J.J. Redick (after the trade deadline).

—Milwaukee’s interior defense was awesome, featuring the brilliance of Larry Sanders and the solid support of Ekpe Udoh, Samuel Dalembert and even rookie John Henson.

In short, the Bucks were as good in 2012-13 as they possibly could have been with their current roster, and all they have to show for it are a 38-44 record and a date with certain death against the Heat.

Jennings and Ellis probably aren’t winning players apart, but they’re certainly not winning players together.

Undersized, shoot-first guards who don’t defend are just fine for highlights. But they put a low ceiling on almost any team’s potential.

Game 1 was an appropriate example of that proposition, as Ellis and Jennings tallied their points, but failed to involve their teammates (five assists combined) or play decent defense.

For discerning Bucks fans, the end of the Ellis-Jennings era can’t come soon enough.