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.
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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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