Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - 'Big Dog' biting harder than ever in playoffs

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Tuesday, May 22, 2001
'Big Dog' biting harder than ever in playoffs

Associated Press
St. FRANCIS, Wis. - The "Big Dog" finally has some bite to go with his postseason bark.
   After averaging 17.3 points over 17 career playoff games, Glenn Robinson posted consecutive 29-point performances in the Milwaukee Bucks' two elimination games against the Charlotte Hornets.
   He scored 21 points in the second half of Game 6, helping bring the Bucks back from a 15-point deficit and force a seventh game.
   "All of a sudden, I got on," Robinson said. "It just happened at the right time. You couldn't find a better time to make some shots than that third quarter in Game 6 down in Charlotte."
   Except for the fourth quarter of Sunday's Game 7 in Milwaukee, when Robinson scored 11 points as the Bucks beat the Hornets 104-95 to advance to their first conference championship in 15 seasons.
   "Somehow, we were better this series defensively than offensively, except for this man, who shot the ball great," coach George Karl said, referring to Robinson.
   The Bucks are counting on Robinson's mid-range shooting touch to help offset Philadelphia center Dikembe Mutombo in the Eastern Conference finals which start Tuesday night.
   And they're excited that Robinson doesn't have to face forward George Lynch, who's out with a broken foot. Trying to keep Robinson in check will be Jumaine Jones, an athletic but raw second-year pro.
   "I think that makes it a lot easier for Glenn," Bucks reserve Scott Williams said. "Jumaine Jones is still a young player, still trying to figure out things. But I don't know right now if Lynch could do anything with the way Glenn's playing."
   If Jones can't handle Robinson, Sixers coach Larry Brown won't hesitate to put Aaron McKie on him.
   "I'm worried about some of these young guys being able to perform in a difficult situation," Brown said.
   Bucks guard Ray Allen said the loss of Lynch is a godsend.
   "He's played really good defense on Glenn," Allen said. "He's a big body standing next to Glenn all the time. Glenn's going to warrant a double team and that's going to make the game easier for us if we pass the ball."
   Robinson is expecting to see a trapping defense no matter what.
   "They probably will double-team me and try to get the ball out of my hands from the start," he said. "They don't want me to get any confidence or get any rhythm or roll. But I'm ready for it. We've got good shooters on the weak side."
   That's been the Bucks' modus operandi all year. At least one of their "Big Three" jump shooters - Allen, Robinson and Sam Cassell - always seem to be on.
   They all were on the last two games, when they combined for 159 points.
   "We're a perimeter oriented team," Williams said. "And now our shooters are shooting the ball well and with confidence and being aggressive again. That's just perfect timing for them to be coming out of their shooting slumps. I look for the 'Big Three' to have a big series."
   Allen said the Bucks' three-pronged attack, when working, makes them impervious to big, shot-blocking centers and pesky double-teams.
   "Larry Brown has to come up with a game plan to stop three of us, instead of just Vince Carter," Allen said, referring to the Toronto star.
   It's a pick-your-poison proposition, Robinson said.
   Do the math, he said. Stopping three shooters is harder than stopping one, as the Bucks will have to do in MVP Allen Iverson.
   "If Ray beats you one night, you're going to do everything you can to stop him and then Sam is going to kill you," Robinson said. "And then you go out and try to stop Sam and then Ray will kill you again, or I will.
   "That's the great thing about this team. We don't have that pressure of having to score 40 points to win."

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