How much, you might ask, is that doggie in Cheeseland?
That’s what NBA teams might be asking this spring. The Milwaukee Bucks, arguably the league’s most disappointing team, are expected to break up the Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson/Vin Baker duo.
Both are averaging more than 21 points a game, but when coach Chris Ford was asked last week if Robinson and Baker are a positive factor for the Bucks, his response was, “Not necessarily.”
“You always want balanced scoring,” Ford said. “You’d like all five starters to be in double figures and we don’t have that.”
What they have is perhaps the most prolific duo in the NBA–the Bucks are the only team with two players averaging more than 21 points–but they’re struggling to stay out of last place in the Central Division.
Rookie Ray Allen is the only other Buck scoring in double figures and he acknowledged that there’s pressure to get the ball to Baker and Robinson and get out of the way, even though neither is a dominant player.
“We have a lot of talent, but our talent fumbles over each other sometimes,” Allen said. “Sometimes I want to take a shot, and I know I have to give the ball to a teammate. If we started playing together and operating on the same page, that’s when our record would improve.”
The general feeling around the league is that the Bucks will make an effort after this season to trade Robinson, the much-ballyhooed No. 1 pick in 1994 whose 10-year contract helped usher in the rookie salary cap. Which means Robinson’s market value isn’t that high.
But Baker, sixth in the league with 10.4 rebounds a game and coming off his second straight All-Star appearance, can opt out of his contract after the 1998-99 season, and friends say the former University of Hartford star is eager to return to the East Coast to play.
Baker’s frustration with the Bucks boiled over into a fight with teammate Acie Earl in the lobby of the Portland Marriott recently as the team was leaving for a game. Baker has had volatile outbursts in the past, last season with then-coach Mike Dunleavy and this season with Ford. Hotel employees and guests watched stunned as assistant coach Mike Woodson ran off the bus to separate Baker and Earl, muttering, “And you wonder why we can’t win.”
Baker, a minister’s son, later explained the fight as a spillover from some trash talking at a shootaround earlier that day. But the juvenile behavior horrified the Bucks, a conservative organization reflective of their community.
And it’s no coincidence the Bucks are about to make their most serious pitch to sign former Chicago prep star Rashard Griffith, who played the last two seasons in Europe.
“We have a lot of interest in Rashard,” Dunleavy, now the team’s general manager, said of the former Wisconsin star who was the Bucks’ second-round draft pick in 1995. “We’d like to get him.”
Signing Griffith would make Baker somewhat expendable, especially if he intends to depart as a free agent. The Bucks could perhaps acquire two quality players for Baker.
“Something is going to have to change for us to play better next year,” point guard Sherman Douglas said.
Hot buttons: Detroit’s Doug Collins was a leading candidate for coach of the year most of the season. But now, in a story as familiar as Collins’ coaching success, come the rumors–vigorously denied–that his demanding ways have irritated the team and Collins may be pushed out.
“I’m fine with Doug,” star forward Grant Hill said. “Doug has really helped me develop as a player and a person. I’ve blossomed a lot in the last two years and he’s a big reason for that. Doug is like Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski). He demands a lot and pushes people.
“I have no problem with it.”
The hope is Hill is being honest. Prodded by Collins, Hill is regarded as the best young player in the game and leads the league in triple doubles.
It was after two seasons in Chicago that tension between Collins and the Bulls began to grow. But it’s hard to imagine anyone who could have brought the Pistons further this season than Collins.
Clip job: Sure, it’s in the Western Conference, where you don’t have to play .500 and you can start 0-13 and get there. But it’s still the playoffs, and although the Pacers, Bucks and Spurs won’t be there, the Clippers look like they will be.
“I’m full of optimism,” said Loy Vaught, the Clippers’ leading scorer (14.9 a game) and senior player who is finally savoring a little success. “At times it’s been tough with guys who haven’t exactly wanted to be here. This year we have a bunch of guys who are happy to be here and will give their all. We’ve had some stability lately with coaching and that’s a plus. Everybody feels things are looking up.”
Of course, if the Clippers hang on to the last playoff spot, their first-round opponent will be the Utah Jazz, whom they haven’t beaten in Utah this decade. And then there’s the “Larry” question. Owner Don Sterling is a big fan of Pacers coach Larry Brown, who lives in Los Angeles and is expected to leave the Pacers after this season. Management has been unhappy with coach Bill Fitch’s limited use and harsh attitude toward Brent Barry. But Fitch, whose contract expires after next season, has a team of utility players working hard.
“He has these catch phrases,” Vaught said. “He’ll say, `Stay out of the popcorn machine,’ and that means don’t take a guy’s pump fakes. Or he’ll say, `Don’t be a docile fossil,’ and that means be more aggressive. He’s been very good for our team, probably the biggest reason for our turnaround.”
Karl’s campaign: It’s looking more like Karl Malone for MVP. Charles Barkley weighed in last week supporting him. “Michael (Jordan) has kept the Bulls up there,” Barkley said. “Dennis (Rodman) has been a nut all season. But Karl has had the best individual year.” About a third of the MVP voters responding to a poll by the Salt Lake City Tribune gave Malone a surprisingly big lead over Jordan, with Detroit’s Grant Hill third, Miami’s Tim Hardaway fourth and Seattle’s Gary Payton fifth. . . . Even though the Bulls should get at least 70 wins again, it looks like they will not get any of the major individual awards, not with Toni Kukoc (sixth man) hurt and Phil Jackson not even considered among the top five for coach of the year. . . . Charlotte’s Glen Rice has been the league’s leading scorer since January, averaging almost 31 a game.
Hard-luck story: LaPhonso Ellis, who has a history of knee injuries, is out until at least the middle of next season with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Not great news for a free agent, but the Nuggets reportedly will exercise a one-year option at $3.7 million as a gesture of thanks to Ellis, who switched to small forward this season to accommodate Antonio McDyess and was averaging almost 22 points.
Ellis remains positive: “I’m on the road to recovery . . . again. The injury stinks. I’ve been through them all. But why feel sorry for yourself? Whenever I’m headed someplace new, I turn my eyes to God and ask, `What’s up, Big Guy?’ “
