RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Glenn Robinson talked about everything but the
team meeting he missed. Jason Caffey said he had the wrong time.
Sam Cassell swore he didn't even know about it.
|  | | Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal uses the Bucks' Jerome Kersey as a landing pad after a slam dunk. |
All three starters were held out of the starting lineup Sunday,
but still contributed to the Milwaukee Bucks' 92-80 victory over
the Indiana Pacers.
"They didn't make a meeting. We talked about the game plan.
They didn't start," Bucks coach George Karl said tersely, one day
after lambasting his team for its dismal play in a loss at Atlanta.
On the flight home, Karl called a team meeting for high noon
Sunday.
"I know Sam was asleep when it was announced and I guess the
rest didn't hear it," Ray Allen said.
That excuse meant nothing to Karl.
"Last time I checked, it was the job of the employee to find
out when he was supposed to be at work," Karl said.
Caffey apologized for his absence.
"I heard 12 o'clock and to me, I interpreted that as be here
between 12 and 12:30, which is usually an hour to an hour and
a half before game time," Caffey said. "But unfortunately we had
a meeting at 12 o'clock sharp and I missed it. Totally my fault. I
take the blame for it. That's that."
Robinson wasn't so straightforward.
Why did he miss the meeting?
"Jermain O'Neal's a real nice player," Robinson responded.
Sure, but what about the meeting?
"Indiana's a great team and beat us last year in the
playoffs," Robinson replied.
Cassell swore he knew nothing about any meeting.
"You've got to talk to George Karl about that," Cassell said.
"I was surprised he didn't start me. It's his team, though. The
rules are the rules."
Cassell, Robinson and Caffey were replaced by Lindsey Hunter,
Tim Thomas and Jerome Kersey, respectively. But they all were in
the game by late in the first quarter.
Robinson finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, Cassell had
seven assists and Caffey got 12 points and nine rebounds in 24
minutes.
Karl was in no mood to discuss the tardy trio's contributions,
however.
"That's for you to write," fumed Karl, who had ripped into his
players after a 101-94 loss at Atlanta on Saturday, calling them
millionaire crybabies.
"They were coming off a tough loss the other night," Pacers
coach Isiah Thomas said. "They were challenged and I thought their
team came out and responded to having a couple of starters on the
bench."
The Pacers got 26 points from Jalen Rose and 21 from O'Neal,
including 17 in the first half as Indiana took a 44-43 lead. But
Indiana missed 18 of 20 3-point shots and Reggie Miller was just
2-for-11 overall.
The Bucks took no solace in beating the team that's knocked them
from the playoffs two straight seasons. They were still smarting
from their loss to the Hawks.
"We never should have taken that step back," Caffey said.
"That game might come back to haunt us."
Rose scored seven straight points to pull the Pacers to 61-57,
and he banked in a long basket with eight seconds left in the third
quarter, but Robinson responded by hitting a 3-pointer that gave
Milwaukee a 69-61 lead.
Robinson began the fourth quarter with a dunk that gave the
Bucks a double-digit lead they wouldn't relinquish despite shooting
just 38 percent.
"Sometimes the shooting isn't there," Robinson said, "so you
have to rebound well and play good defense."
And next time listen up when Karl calls a team meeting.
Game notes
Kersey was whistled for a technical after slamming the ball
out of bounds on what he argued was a bad possession call. ...
Hunter celebrated his 30th birthday Sunday. ... The Bucks have had
nine different starting lineups, two more than they used all of
last season.
|
|
NBA Scoreboard
Indiana Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 96
LA Clippers 87
Milwaukee 92
Indiana 80
San Antonio 97
Vancouver 79
Detroit 93
Washington 87
Phoenix 84
Portland 79
Seattle 118
Golden State 102
LA Lakers 99
Dallas 97
|
