Top surprise of the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs

After averaging only 29 wins per year over the previous three seasons, expectations weren't very high for the 2009-10 Milwaukee Bucks. However, the club jumped out quickly to post an 8-3 record. Rookie guard Brandon Jennings sparked the run by averaging 25 points per game. Then, Milwaukee stumbled to a 10-22 mark over its next 32 games. At 18-25, it appeared that the Bucks were headed for another mediocre season. Instead, the club came to life. Milwaukee stepped up to post a 28-11 record to close the regular season. The acquisition of guard John Salmons from the Chicago Bulls played a major role in the turnaround. In 30 games for the Bucks, he averaged 20 points per game. As the playoffs approached, Milwaukee was building plenty of momentum. However, the optimism surrounding the club came crashing to a halt just two weeks before the playoffs were set to begin. Center Andrew Bogut (16 points, 10 rebounds per game) suffered a broken wrist in a scary fall to the court. As the team's only viable inside threat, Bogut was a vital part of Milwaukee's success. Without him, the Bucks were a huge underdog entering its first round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. This was the kind of series NBA bettors who were savvy made a bundle on. Knowing who the upsets will be is the key to NBA betting success. Head over to www.sportsbook.com and figure out who the next big surprise will be!

The sixth-seeded Bucks had to open the series in Atlanta against the third-seeded Hawks. During the regular season, Atlanta lost only seven games at home. Without Bogut, Milwaukee would be hard pressed to get a road win in the series. In Game 1, the Bucks appeared to be no match for the Hawks. Atlanta built a 22-point halftime lead. While Milwaukee rallied in the second half, the Hawks were still able to gain a double-digit victory. In Game 2, Atlanta was able to win another double-digit affair to gain a commanding 2-0 series lead. While the series was heading back to Milwaukee, the Bucks were given little hope of turning things around. Inspired by its home fans, Milwaukee recorded a 107-89 blowout win in Game 3. Still, many expected the Hawks to rebound against the under-manned Bucks in Game 4. Atlanta came to play in Game 4 but it wasn't enough. With a 111-104 win, the Bucks had evened up the series. In Game 5 at Atlanta, the Bucks stayed within striking distance in the fourth quarter. A 14-0 run during the final four minutes of the game enabled the Bucks to stun the Hawks at home in a 91-87 victory. Now, Milwaukee was just a single win away from pulling a significant upset. With Game 6 at home, the Bucks had a real shot at getting the job done. In a defensive struggle, Milwaukee held a 34-31 halftime lead. However, the Bucks were about to finally run out of gas. The Hawks outscored Milwaukee 29-11 in the third quarter to take firm control of the game. With an 83-69 victory, Atlanta was able to force a Game 7. In the final game of the series, the Hawks dominated to post a 95-74 win to reach the conference semi-finals. While the Bucks came up short in the series, the club was certainly a surprise in the first round of the postseason. With a healthy Bogut and the continued development of Jennings, Milwaukee won't be overlooked heading into the 2010-11 season.

NBA News

Click here to read latest NBA news