SAN ANTONIO VS. LOS ANGELES PHILADELPHIA VS. MILWAUKEE

Wednesday, May 30 Robinson's shot won't fall Associated Press PHILADELPHIA -- Glenn Robinson got the shots he wanted. They just wouldn't fall -- at least not early. Glenn Robinson, who missed nine of his first 10 shots, can only watch as Dikembe Mutombo scores. The "Big Dog" missed nine of his first 10 shots, scored just 15 points and the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 93-85, in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night. "I wasn't pressing; I just missed shots," Robinson said. "That's what's scary about you guys. I miss shots and you revert to saying, 'Dog is in a slump' instead of looking at the other things I do on the court." Robinson, who posted consecutive 29-point performances in Milwaukee's two elimination games against the Charlotte Hornets, had a favorable matchup against Jumaine Jones. But he failed to take advantage of the mismatch. Jones, starting for just the fourth time in his two-year career because George Lynch is out with a broken foot, had eight points and five rebounds. Aaron McKie also defended Robinson at times, including most of the second half. As Robinson missed shot after shot in the first half, the Bucks fell behind by 16 points. Several times, he had good looks from 12-to-15 feet and missed short jumpers as Jones desperately lunged to get his hand in the way. "It's tough for any young kid to be put in that situation," Sixers coach Larry Brown said of Jones. "You can't stop that guy. He was 1-for-10 in the first half, but he jumped over us in the second." Robinson was 6-of-12 in the second half to finish 7-of-22. But he missed a short jumper that would have cut Philadelphia's lead to two points with 90 seconds left. After Allen Iverson nailed a 3-pointer to give the Sixers a 90-83 lead, Milwaukee didn't get closer than five points. The Bucks were counting on Robinson's mid-range shooting touch to help offset Dikembe Mutombo's interior presence. But Robinson struggled early and Mutombo dominated inside, scoring 15 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. "He just missed shots early," Bucks guard Sam Cassell said of Robinson. "But he showed his ability to come back. I'm amazed that he missed some of those shots because he doesn't miss too much." While Milwaukee was making a run in the third, Robinson sat on the bench. He scored on his first shot in the fourth, but missed an open 3-pointer that would have cut the deficit to six points early in the quarter. He hit consecutive jumpers midway through the fourth to get the Bucks within seven. But he then made a costly turnover and had the late miss. "I wasn't rushing," Robinson said. "I missed shots. Sometimes it happens like that." After averaging 17.3 points over 17 career playoff games, Robinson stepped it up the last two games against Charlotte. 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. Robinson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter Sunday as Milwaukee beat the Hornets 104-95 to advance to its first conference championship in 15 seasons. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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