PLAYOFF GAMEDAY: Milwaukee at Atlanta - Game 7 - 5/02/10

Head Coach Scott Skiles: "The guys are pretty down in the locker room right now. This was a tough series. In the summer a lot of moves are made so there is a high probability that this is the last time they are together as a unit. We didn't play our best today, we had an opportunity in game six and the Hawks rarely lose a game at home. We had some opportunities today. Unfortunately we only shot 35 percent and got dominated on the glass and it's tough to win games that way."

(On Brandon Jennings) "Brandon did a nice job today and had great series overall. As all young players he's got things to work on but he now has playoff experience on his side. This experience will be important for him going forward. Unfortunately we didn't have all the pieces (Andrew Bogut) that we needed."

Brandon Jennings: "It was a tough series. We took them to seven games when everyone had it going only four or five games. I think we did the best we could without (Andrew) Bogut. I think we gave Atlanta all we could. I think I played pretty well and tried to do the best as I could as point guard to carry the team. I think we surprised a lot of people. We didn't have our best player on the court and we still took this series the distance."

"We played against a great team in the Atlanta Hawks. Jamal Crawford played big for them today coming off the bench with 22 points. They have two of the best scorers in the league in Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. Hopefully we didn't tire them out too much so they can move on to the next series against Orlando. It's going to be a great series between the Hawks and the Magic."

RELIABLE ROOK - The Bucks have relied on Brandon Jennings in the starting lineup 88 times this season and the rookie is one of two Bucks to play in all 88 total games (regular and postseason) this year along with fellow point guard Luke Ridnour. On Wednesday, Jennings equaled Paul Pressey's 88 games (79 regular, nine postseason) as a rookie in 1982-83 and today's game would tie him with Marques Johnson's 89 games (80 regular, nine postseason) for the most games played as a rookie for the Bucks since Johnson's rookie year of 1977-78. Jennings is the only Bucks player in the last 40 years to start all 82 games as a rookie (our start records only date back to 70-71). The rookie point guard leads the Bucks in scoring in his debut playoff series, leading all rookies with 19.3 points on 42.2 percent (43-102). Jennings also leads all rookies in assists (3.3), and is second in steals (1.2)

SEVENTH HEAVEN? - The Bucks are hoping seven is their lucky number as they prepare for their first Game Seven since the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, when they lost to the 76ers in the deciding game. Their last Game Seven win came a series before that, defeating the Hornets to advance. All-time, the Bucks are 2-6 in Game Seven and this will be their first Game Seven in the First Round of the playoffs since they expanded from five games to a best-of-seven series. In deciding games, the Bucks are 7-13 all-time, and 3-9 when those deciding games are on the road.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT - Game Seven is nothing new to the Bucks pair of 15-year NBA veterans. Both Kurt Thomas and Jerry Stackhouse have played in two Game Sevens and have a combined record of 4-0 in those contests, with three of the wins coming on the road. Both of Stackhouse's Game Sevens came with Dallas, beating Houston 116-76 in the First Round in 2005 and winning in San Antonio, 119-111 in overtime, to advance to the Western Conference Finals in 2006. Thomas was a part of two road Game Seven victories, one with the Knicks over the Heat in the 2000 Second Round (83-82) and another with the Spurs beating the Hornets 91-82 in the Second Round in 2008.

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE - For the first time in their 42-year history, which includes 26 postseason berths and 217 playoff games, the Bucks achieved something that they never have before in the postseason--a perfect performance from the free throw line. The Bucks made all 12 of their shots from the charity stripe, with John Salmons sinking four, Brandon Jennings hitting three, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Jerry Stackhouse connecting on a pair and Kurt Thomas converting his sole attempt. The Bucks previous postseason-high from the stripe was 96.6 percent against Atlanta on April 29, 1989.

BOUNCING BACK - John Salmons has been solid for the Bucks during the 2010 postseason, averaging 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals to go with a team-high 4.2 assists. In Game Six, Salmons scored eight points, just the fourth time that he hasn't reached double-digits as a Buck. In the games following his single-digit performances, though, Salmons has gotten back on track. He's averaged 24.0 points on 53.5 percent shooting (23-43) in that next game, hitting 35.7 percent of his three-pointers (5-14) and going 21-23 at the line (91.3 percent). Salmons' six steals in Game One remain an NBA postseason-high and he has hit 27-28 (.964) free throw attempts.

CARLOS DEL-3-NO - Don't be surprised to see a hotel reservation in Atlanta under the name "Carlos Del-3-no," as the Bucks forward has been going by the alias of late. In his last three playoff games, Delfino is averaging 16.3 points, including two 20-plus games, to go with 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. The Argentine is averaging 3.0 threes per game in those three, connecting on 12-22 (54.5 percent) from behind the arc and 18-40 overall (45.0 percent). His three steals on Friday represent a new postseason career-high.

IMPRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS - The Bucks made the largest improvement in the East this season and third-best in the NBA, winning 12 more games than they won last year (34-48 in 2008-09). From the 2007-08 season, the Bucks have improved on their 26-56 record by 20 games. Milwaukee's 46 wins are their most wins since going 52-30 in the 2000-01 season. The Bucks also won 30 games (31-21) against the Eastern Conference for the first time since posting a 33-21 mark in 2003-04 and their 22 wins (22-9) since the All-Star break are their most post-break since going 23-12 in 2000-01.

• The Bucks are 30-38 (.441) overall in the Eastern Conference First Round and 10-25 (.286) on the road in First Round games.
  
  
• Milwaukee is 34-48 (.415) all-time in May playoff games after finishing 3-3 in the playoffs in the month of April to give them a 60-61 (.496) all-time April postseason record.
  
  
• This is the Milwaukee's 26th playoff berth in franchise history, and first since the 2005-06 season, and the Bucks are 104-113 (.479) all-time in postseason play.
  
  
• Tonight the Bucks are looking for their second straight playoff win road, a feat that they haven't accomplished since the 1989 First Round when they won Game Two and Five, coincidentally, in Atlanta.
  
  
• The Bucks fell to 7-7 in Game Six opportunities with Friday's loss.
  
  
• The backcourt duo of John Salmons and Brandon Jennings has scored 224 of Milwaukee's 556 points, good for 40.3 percent of the Bucks total points in the series.
  
  
• Luc Richard Mbah a Moute grabbed a career postseason-high eight rebounds on Friday.
  
  
• The Bucks earned sellouts in all three of their home playoff games, giving them eight total this season. In all, 675,604 fans have turned out to watch the Bucks in 44 home games this year.