SAN ANTONIO VS. LOS ANGELES PHILADELPHIA VS. MILWAUKEE

Wednesday, May 30 Bucks had their chance By Jeffrey Denberg Special to ESPN.com The Bucks stop here. Not a bad run for a franchise that did not win a playoff series in 12 years. But the Bucks had a ticket to the Finals clutched in their fists and they let the 76ers off the hook Sunday. At this stage of the playoffs, they make you pay when you let them escape. Glenn Robinson, right, lost control in Game 4 and the Bucks may have lost control of the series. In effect, Philadelphia has homecourt advantage in a best-of-three series. That should be enough. After all, the Sixers are relatively healthy these days. Well, OK, Dikembe Mutombo has a broken finger and Aaron McKie has a sore shoulder and Eric Snow can hardly put pressure on his right ankle and Allen Iverson has a hitch in his gitalong from a tailbone bruise, an injury described as similar to being struck on a bone with a hammer. Tyrone Hill is heartsick because his father is incapacitated by a stroke. George Lynch is done with a fracture. Seriously ... And the Bucks were home, leading 2-1 and with a chance to put a stake in Philly's heart. Couldn't do it. Good night, George. The Bucks lost their cool and they lost their chance. Scott Williams screaming during a third quarter timeout because Sam Cassell wouldn't pass the ball and had two pull-up jumpers blocked. Big Dog Robinson barking about a no-call in crunch time and getting heaved with 58.5 seconds left in the game. We know what that means. Dog scored 20 with 10 boards Sunday, but he has not been to the foul line. He will be pressing the rest of the way. Dog doesn't play well when he's pressing. So, here's Iverson, spitting blood after Ray Allen pops him in the jaw in a scramble with two minutes left. No call. Iverson was stunned and flat on his back. He had tried to steal the ball from Allen, flicking it. He tried again, flicking it again. The second time, Allen's left elbow caught him in the mouth. "The worst thing about it was, there was no call (by the referees)," Mutombo said. "The good thing about it was, the commissioner (David Stern) was here and Stu Jackson (the league's vice president of operations) was here and he will get a chance to examine all of the calls." When he struggled to his feet, Iverson muttered, worked a loosened tooth. Went back to work. Made free throws. Buried the knife deep in the Bucks, skinned them. So, he takes his meals through a straw for a few days. So, what's one more hurting place on that pin cushion of a body. Iverson shot 10-for-32 to get his 28 points and McKie said, who's counting? "He's so electrifying in how he does it, we don't even count his shots." At the other end, the Seussian Sam I Am only puts up 10, gets a couple swatted in his face and his teammate wants to rip his head off and pour salt. Robinson has taken better than 19 shots a game in the series. Noting that he has put the ball up 77 times shots in the series and he hasn't gone to the line, the Dog barked loudly. Averaging 17 points, he wants to know why he can't get a free throw. Gee, Doggie, maybe if you drove the ball ... “ I'm going to get fined $1,000 for the two technical fouls, but I think the officials should get fined $400 to $500 for every mistake that they make. I guarantee you the game would be called perfect then. ” — Glenn Robinson "I'm going to get fined $1,000 for the two technical fouls, but I think the officials should get fined $400 to $500 for every mistake that they make," said Robinson. "I guarantee you the game would be called perfect then." Oh, the Game 5 refs are gonna love reading that. And what about Ray Allen? Besides clipping Iverson he only landed five shots in the game. He is 11 for 32 in the last two games. Wrapped up by McKie, Allen bellowed like a bull when the two were called for a double foul Sunday. Typical Sixer, McKie kept his mouth shut and his temper under control. Maybe it's because George Karl is so volatile. Maybe it's because the Bucks have never been this far as a group. Maybe it's because they simply aren't good enough to put the hammer down when they have a chance, but they have signed their own exit visa. Looking for a goat? How about Lindsey Hunter, the bust of these playoffs, playing the worst ball of his pro career at the worst time. Throughout the season a driving force off the bench, Hunter has flopped in the postseason. On the season, Hunter averaged 10.1 points in 24.4 minutes, shooting .381. In 15 postseason games, Hunter is averaging 3.5 points. His minutes are down to 16.5 and he is shooting a putrid 20 for 98. That includes a 5-for-10 show against Charlotte. With teammates like this, the Bucks don't need enemies. "I can't slam my guys," Karl said, showing admirable restraint. This will win him friends in training camp. Trying to set his own agenda for the final games of the series, Karl said, "We're getting into a football kind of game." He wants the refs to be on the watch in case his fellows are knocked around by those mean 76ers. Wonder which ones George is afraid of? The one with the bum ankle? The one with the broken finger? Or maybe it's the one who hurts in every corner of his body, the same one who so often delivers the lethal blows? Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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