Sixers' Kukoc missing in action
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers couldn't beat Indiana without Toni Kukoc. They can't beat the Pacers with him either.

Toni Kukoc
Kukoc

Kukoc, acquired from the Chicago Bulls in a three-way deal in February, was thought to be the missing ingredient in the Sixers' offense. Philadelphia, desperately seeking another scorer to complement Allen Iverson, dealt the promising Larry Hughes to get Kukoc.

In three games against Indiana, Kukoc has 20 points as the Pacers have taken a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.

The 6-foot-10 swingman scored four points in Game 3 Wednesday night as the Pacers beat Philadelphia 97-89. He took just six shots in 26 minutes.

"It's not working right know and I don't know what the reason is," Kukoc said.

Indiana swept the Sixers in the conference semifinals last season, but Kukoc's acquisition had many believing Philadelphia would at least challenge the Pacers.

But Kukoc has failed to establish himself offensively in the series and has been a liability on defense.

Kukoc scored both his baskets in the first half Wednesday night. He played 11 minutes in the second half, but was not on the floor for the final six minutes.

"I keep telling him just make the plays, just play basketball," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "I really don't know what the problem is. I don't feel he is out there trying to do things he's capable of doing. He's standing out by the 3-point line too much. I don't know what to say about it."

At times, Kukoc couldn't even get his teammates to pass him the ball. On three occasions, a wide open Kukoc stood near the wing, waving frantically -- and hopelessly -- for the ball.

"That's the way we're playing right now," said Kukoc, who admitted he was disappointed he didn't get the ball. "Maybe if I was here a whole season, we'd be used to each other more and they'd look to me more often."

Kukoc, who averaged 14 points with the Sixers in two games against Indiana in the regular season, scored eight points in each of the first two games, most of which came after the outcome had been decided.

He said Indiana's defense hasn't factored in his struggles.

"I can't say they are playing unbelievable defense that I can't do stuff," he said. "Things just aren't going my way."

The Sixers are 24-14 since Kukoc arrived but he has started only eight games behind George Lynch, a stronger defensive presence.
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