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Hawks host Bucks in Game 1 of East quarters

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04/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference quarterfinals matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks kicks off in Dixie late Saturday afternoon.

Improvement has been the mantra for the third-seeded Hawks under head coach Mike Woodson.

Two years after ending a lengthy playoff drought, Atlanta compiled its best record (53-29) since notching 50 victories in the 1997-98 season, and now looks like a serious contender in the East. In fact, the Hawks have won more games than the year before for five straight seasons, a feat topped only by Minnesota doing it for six years from 1992-98.

Atlanta captured the eighth seed in the East two years ago with a less-than- stellar 37-45 mark and faced the veteran-laden Boston Celtics in the opening round of the playoffs. Woodson's club took the eventual NBA champions to seven games in that series. Last season, the Hawks vaulted to the fourth spot in the East and earned a first round win over Miami before succumbing to the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers. A similar step forward this season would have Atlanta toiling in the Eastern Conference finals.

"This is where it gets exciting," Atlanta forward Marvin Williams said of the upcoming postseason. "We've worked hard all season for this moment and we have to make it count."

Woodson's team is a year older and wiser this time around and is led once again by talented shooting guard Joe Johnson. Johnson led the Hawks in points (21.3) and assists (4.9), while young stars Josh Smith and Al Horford contributed their skills to the improvement of the franchise. Meanwhile, veteran point guard Mike Bibby remains a steady floor leader that seems to bury big shots in key moments.

Hawks super-sub Jamal Crawford, the leading candidate for the NBA's sixth man award, will be toiling in a playoff game for the first time. Crawford has played in 676 regular season games over his 10-year career.

The Bucks make their return to the postseason for the first time in four seasons thanks in large part to the play of dynamic rookie guard Brandon Jennings, along with the improvement of center Andrew Bogut.

Unfortunately for Scott Skiles' club, Bogut suffered a broken right hand after falling awkwardly to the floor following a dunk against Phoenix back on April 3. Bogut underwent surgery a day later and is expected to be out up to six weeks, meaning he'll likely miss the playoffs, even if Milwaukee can muster a significant run.

That's a serious blow since Bogut has developed into one of the best pivot men in the game. The former No. 1 overall pick was the Bucks' leading rebounder at 10.2 per game, and also averaged a career-high 15.9 points in 69 contests this season. Veteran Kurt Thomas, 37, will start in place of Bogut.

Atlanta went 2-1 against Milwaukee in the regular season, including a 104-96 win in Milwaukee on Monday. The two clubs met three times in the postseason back in the 1980s, with the Bucks taking two of the sets in '83-84 and '88-89. The Hawks lone win came in the '87-88 season.

"Did you see the game we played against them last week?" Crawford told NBA.com. "That was one of the best games of the year. It was a playoff game. It was non-stop, back and forth action from both teams. That's what you see when two good teams lock up and get it on."

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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