The Milwaukee Bucks (36-32) are currently in a bit of a downward spiral as of late, having lost seven of their first 11 games since the All-Star break. They are fresh off one of their most disappointing losses of the season, a 126-117 defeat on the road at the hands of a very shorthanded Orlando Magic (21-48) team without three of their best players.

In an article written on Saturday by Eric Nehm of ESPN, Bucks veteran point guard Jason Terry urged that Milwaukee absolutely cannot afford to overlook any of their opponents on any day.

“I think it was focused. It was intense,” Terry said. “The message was clear. It's on the players in that locker room. You cannot take any team for granted. Yeah, you think a team's tanking, but two or three of those guys are playing for their NBA lives, contracts, maybe trying to make an impression on the 29 other teams.”

One big reason that the Bucks are struggling right now is due to the play of their starters and falling into early deficits that they must dig themselves out of.

“You're starting the game for a reason. It's a tremendous honor,” Terry said. “I've been a starter in this league, but it's one of those things that if you all get off to a good start, everybody will be feeling good about themselves and the other team might start second-guessing themselves. So, it's very important we get off to a good start these next couple weeks to kind of shift gears and change the mentality, so to speak.”

Terry and the Bucks returned home tonight to face the lowly Atlanta Hawks (20-49) in a game that Milwaukee absolutely needs to win in such a tight Eastern Conference playoff race. Heading into Saturday night's contest, the Bucks were the No. 7 seed in the East, two games behind the Philadelphia 76ers, and with the Miami Heat (37-33) breathing down their necks.