The return to action following the All-Star break always makes for something of a landmark moment in an NBA season, signaling the juncture in the year when the wider belief is that the pressure and intensity really starts to ramp up.
For the Milwaukee Bucks, that means a second consecutive year of them being the team with a target on their back, with rivals from around the NBA attempting to chase down their league-leading pace for wins.
Of course, another key element of holding that status at this time of year is the need to observe and sometimes guard against the last-minute scramble for talent.