This is, supposedly, a seasoned playoff team now. Now, anything less than a trip to the Eastern Conference finals will be viewed as a major disappointment. And if they didn't know it before, being tested by Orlando in the first round proved to the Bucks that this is indeed a different animal when you're supposed to be here. Suddenly, the shots that fell so effortlessly earlier are barely making it to the rim now. The elbows come from everywhere.
Every possession counts.
The defense stiffens, the referees' calls tighten and the nervousness that usually goes away on the opening tip-off lingers in the stomach forever. Every game matters, and the deeper a team descends into the playoffs, the more each game matters. Each win is magnified and each loss is more like a punch to the gut. There's a reason for that. This happens all the time.