The Bucks' first playoff loss came earlier than expected.
George Karl's set goal was to win the first two home games with all his might and then figure out a way to win one out of the next three away games, ensuring the Bucks could secure match point after the first five games of the series.
But the victory in the first game caused Karl to underestimate the strength of the Spurs.
In fact, although both teams had played two regular-season games against each other, their actual strength needed to be judged through their respective playoff opponents.
Karl thought the Spurs were nothing special.
They managed to play six games against a lousy team like the Suns in the first round, and it took them six games against the Lakers, who didn't have a dynastic feel—Karl privately believed that if the Bucks faced the Lakers, they could have swept them—then in the Western finals they were lucky to meet an opponent whose absolute core was injured, making their way to the finals.