After a stunning Game 1 loss to the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks reconfigured their collective mindset.
They cannot fall into the outside belief that they are the NBA title favorites, they concluded. They must play with the edge and sense of urgency of an upstart team, an identity they held even last season as the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, they determined.
That attitude has permeated through Games 2 and 3 against the Magic, both comfortable Milwaukee victories. Now the Bucks will aim to take a commanding 3-1 series lead when the two teams square off for Game 4 Monday afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.