Bobby Portis swiftly exposed brutal truth about Bucks' recent win streak

It didn't take long for the positive vibes to dissipate from the Milwaukee Bucks' 8-2 stretch that culminated in a victory over Cleveland last Wednesday. Since then, they have dropped three straight by a combined 79 points, a downward trajectory that continued in Giannis Antetokounmpo's return Monday versus the Celtics. Speaking postgame, Bobby Portis didn't sugarcoat his explanation for how the tide has turned.

"Playing better teams. You know, kind of fool's gold, for real: winning eight out of 10, playing against bottom teams that's trying to lose, right? [Versus] playing against some teams that's jockeying for position."

Bucks have gone ice-cold as the competition heats up 

Now on a three-game losing streak, the Bucks have dropped to 26-34 overall, 3.5 games behind Charlotte in the Play-in race. Perhaps recent losses to Toronto, New York, and now Boston, all top-five seeds in the East, were to be expected. Ironically, the most painful dagger was a meltdown against the tanking Bulls. Between the third and fourth quarters, the Bucks surrendered a 27-0 run to sabotage what had been a 16-point lead.

Not so long ago, they beat that same Chicago squad to initiate their first three-game win streak of the season, which they immediately chased with another. Of course, Portis is right on in his critique. Milwaukee's recent victories include wins over the Bulls, Pacers, and the Pelicans twice. Unlike the other two, New Orleans isn't trying to lose. They're just bad (19-43). 

The Bucks also vanquished the Magic, Thunder, Heat, and Cavaliers, which is impressive in itself but dims in the light of injury reports.

Oklahoma City played without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams. The Cavaliers were missing Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and James Harden. The Bucks were thrashed by a Raptors roster absent its best player in Scottie Barnes. Grant the wins over Orlando and Miami, two teams solidly in the Play-in field, but it's hard to quibble with Portis' point. 

Unfamiliar role reversal has Milwaukee playing bottom-feeder in the East

If those wins were fool's gold, are the Bucks closer to the team that got blown out three games in a row? Or somewhere in between? Pooling victories rekindled playoff hopes for a parched fanbase, but clearly, Milwaukee isn't on par with true contenders. 

While we might not want to hear it, Portis suggested they're not even in the ballpark. 

"We used to be in that position, too, jockeying for position. You got certain games on your schedule that you can't lose. Guys are circling us, that we're the can't-lose team. … That's how they're looking at us, right?"

It's a stark reality check for where this group actually is so late in the season. Giannis couldn't rescue them in his return. He's still shaking off rust from an extended absence. His transition period, getting acquainted with a reshuffled roster, may take longer than ideal. If the Bucks are going to dig out of this hole, they'll have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. 

The hope is that, once Giannis regains his footing, a softer schedule will nudge them past their foes. Even so, a three-to-four-game deficit versus the Hornets and Hawks will be hard to overcome with just 22 games remaining.

Portis is doing his part by shooting better than 50 percent from the floor since February and continuing to singe the net from distance. Becoming any sort of Play-In darkhorse, however, will take a collective effort on both ends of the floor. Portis knows it, and his teammates do, too. Are they for real or not? Consider his implicit challenge accepted.