Baker helps cut off Nets at the pass

The Journal Sentinel staff

Milwaukee Bucks fans have become quite familiar with Vin Baker, the scorer.

They know all about Vin Baker, the rebounder, too.

Friday night at the Bradley Center, however, they were once again reminded about Vin Baker, the passer.

There were many memorable individual performances by the Bucks in their 107-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets, including Glenn Robinson's 10- for-15 shooting and 25 points; Eric Mobley's season-high 14 points and 10 rebounds; and double-figure scoring nights by Baker, Todd Day, Eric Murdock and Marty Conlon.

But none stood out more than the way Baker, Milwaukee's 6- foot-10 1/2-inch all-star forward, shredded the Nets' defense with some pinpoint passing out of the low post.

Baker dished nine assists, many leading to three-point baskets, as he came within an eyelash of posting another double- double performance.

"I needed one more guy to get open," Baker said.

The Bucks had planned on going inside against the woeful Nets, who have lost six straight games and 10 of their last 11 and have probably fallen out of playoff contention. But when New Jersey double-teamed low, Baker found the open man with regularity and his teammates buried shots.

In the third quarter alone, Baker rang up four assists and the Bucks rang up 5 three-point shots in outscoring New Jersey, 31-20, and blowing the game open.

"We tried to get our post-up game going," Bucks coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We thought Vin would have a good advantage against them. When they double-teamed, somebody has to be open. It was like us playing the Knicks the other night. Glenn made his threes, Lee (Mayberry) and Todd made their threes. We put a lot of pressure on them that way.

"Vin has the skill to do that. It's a matter of him giving in to it and letting it happen. It's like (Charles) Barkley. He baits you. You've got to get that mentality. Then when they quit doubling, he got a couple scores of his own."

The victory left Milwaukee with a 29-45 record and kept it two games behind Boston in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks sizzled all night and ended up shooting 52%. The Bucks were 9 of 18 from three- point range. Robinson, who needed only 15 shots to get his 25 points, drilled 3 three-pointers, all in the deciding third period. Day, Mayberry and Murdock sank two each from three- point territory.

New Jersey, playing with Derrick Coleman, its injured leading scorer, got a big game out of forward Armon Gilliam, who finished with 26 points and nine rebounds. He didn't get much help, however.

Guard Kenny Anderson handed off 13 assists but made only 5 of 17 shots and sat out the fourth quarter with what was called back spasms.

The playoffs are now probably a pipe dream for the Nets, who are four games behind Boston.

"We could win the next eight straight," said Nets backup forward Rick Mahorn, somehow managing to maintain a straight face.

The Bucks took a tenuous 52-45 lead into the second half. But two emphatic dunks by Mobley and 2 three-pointers by Robinson chalk up two assists for Baker pushed the lead to 62-51. Baker fed Mayberry for a three and a 65-51 lead. Day drilled a three and it was 68-53 and the Nets were reeling.

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