In each of their last three seasons, it is almost as if the Milwaukee Bucks have had to create a crisis in order to respond.

In 1999-2000, it was the franchise-record seven consecutive home losses and the must-win scenario at Orlando in the 81st game of the regular season to slip into the playoffs.

Last year it was the dreadful 3-9 start that became the catalyst for a divisional title and a seventh game in the conference finals.

And now, it is the current five-game losing streak, longest in two years, that has resulted from a degeneration of the offense.

Whether the Bucks have reached the panic point and are ready to rebound will become evident tonight, when they play Toronto before a national television audience. But this much is clear:

Once again, the Bucks have pushed themselves right to the edge of trouble.