Milwaukee’s Big Dog Unleashed

Around the NBA

Milwaukee’s Glenn Robinson is playing the best ball of his young career.

The Big Dog ranks 12th in the league in scoring with an average of 21.9 points. He has five games of 30 or more points and a career-high 44-point effort against Washington.

“Obviously, this is my best start,” said Robinson, who is also averaging 6.5 rebounds. “But I’m not satisfied.

“We haven’t done anything yet. Now’s the time when teams start seeing you for a second time and adjust and that will tell what kind of year you’re having, whether you can keep it going.”

Robinson lagged behind Grant Hill and Jason Kidd his rookie season. He didn’t play poorly last season, but the team did and he found himself lost in the shadow of teammate Vin Baker.

“You look at my numbers in my rookie season and second year and I still feel I’m in the top five in small forwards throughout the whole NBA,” Robinson said. “There aren’t too many players who can say that.

“Look at Scottie Pippen. How many years before he became the player he is now? Four or five years. I don’t like to do a lot of comparing, but statistically, I’m right there.”

The Bucks have no complaints.

“Glenn’s been in a real good groove,” Milwaukee coach Chris Ford said. “He’s playing a complete game. And his defense, which was much talked about early in his career, has picked up.”

Players tired of Mailman’s tactics

Opponents have long complained about the physical nature of Utah’s Karl Malone and his teammates. Now, they are starting to fight back.

New York’s Charles Oakley was called for a flagrant foul of Malone after the whistle in a victory over the Jazz. Two nights later, after Utah slipped by Miami in overtime, Heat forward P.J. Brown complained.

“I have more respect for Dennis Rodman than I have for Karl Malone,” Brown said.

Talk about hitting below the belt …

Actually, that is what happened a few days later. Malone buckled late in the first half after he took a low blow from Minnesota’s Terry Porter.

“That kind of thing is getting to be the norm,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “Everywhere we go, we hear how dirty the Utah Jazz are. But if I ever see one of our players do that, I’m going to kick his butt.”

Malone called Porter’s tactics bush-league.

“Everybody always says the Jazz are dirty,” Malone said. “But hey, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of our guys hit somebody there.”

Indiana’s Smits makes progress

Indiana’s Rik Smits worked out with the team Monday and Tuesday. It was the first time he had been able to go on consecutive days since he underwent foot surgery on Sept. 8.

Smits suffered muscle damage from the surgery and required 12 stitches in each foot. The Pacers are still reluctant to put a timetable on his return to the lineup. “There’s a scar-tissue wall that’s in there,” Smits said. “It feels like you have a marble in your shoe… . “