Andrew Bogut was having a dream season.

He was leading the team in scoring and rebounding. He narrowly missed a trip to his first National Basketball Association All-Star Game.

Most importantly, though, his team was winning. The Bucks were emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference; one of the league's hottest team over the final two months of the season.

In many interviews during the season, he pointed out how many people picked the Bucks to finish last in the league. There was no glee in proving them wrong; it was more a matter of satisfaction and knowledge that this team, despite some initial growing pains, was finally making some noise again.

It all came crashing down -- no pun intended -- when he suffered a dislocated elbow, sprained wrist and broken hand two weeks ago. It was a loss that demoralized a fan base desperately seeking something to be happy about again.

"We were having such a great year," Bogut said Friday, meeting with reporters before the team traveled to Atlanta.

It dampened spirits in the locker room, but unlike with other teams, when the loss of a star player can bring an emotional end to a season, the Bucks stayed strong and won four of their final six games.

Few give the Bucks a chance to upset the Hawks without Bogut, but considering the way Milwaukee has proven people wrong all season, he sees no reason why they can't do it again.

"We've been in this position all season long," Bogut said. "Nobody expects us to do anything, but I can tell you, we're going to play hard, even with me out of the lineup."

The fact that he's still referring to the team as "we" and "us" is especially encouraging.

It wasn't that long ago that Bogut was giving imaginary high-fives to nowhere-to-be-found teammates after a free throw. Now, he's emerged as the team's leader on the court and in the locker room.

His importance to this team was evident as the Hawks dominated inside, built a 22-point lead and held on for the victory despite a late Milwaukee rally in a 102-92 Game 1 victory at Phillips Arena.

The fifth-year center was in street clothes and a cast as the Bucks opened the post-season Saturday at Atlanta.

Just being there was important for Bogut, who has emerged as the team's leader.

"It's very important for me as a leader of the team to be around," Bogut said Friday. "The last week or two I haven't been around because I was trying to manage this with casts and pain-killers and all that type of stuff."

The Bucks last two playoff appearances -- first-round exits in 2005 and 2006 -- probably had more to do with the Eastern Conference's weakness. Those were not good teams. You never got the feeling that bigger and better were on the way in the near future.

This time though, you just know. There is more than a feeling, there's a belief that the organization is just getting started.

With a healthy Bogut in the fold, it would be hard to think otherwise.