Bucks Swat Away Hornets

Ervin Johnson has gone from MIA to MVP in George Karl’s eyes.

The coach and center didn’t get along when they were in Seattle, where Karl questioned Johnson’s fortitude, suggesting the raw big man might not be cut out for the rigors of the NBA.

In Milwaukee, they have found bliss together, and never more so than on Sunday, when the Bucks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1986 and Karl called Johnson his most valuable player.

Glenn Robinson scored 29 points and Ray Allen had 28, matching their career playoff highs, and Sam Cassell had 17 as the Bucks defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 104-95, in Game 7.

“Glenn and Ray were very . . .” Karl said, pausing to give credit where he thought it was really due. “Ervin Johnson probably is in my mind the MVP of the series.

“He was so good at the dirty work and in the interior, in the paint. He and Scotty [Williams] and Jason Caffey, all my big guys did a great job. Even though the ‘Big Three’ are expecting most of the reward, I really think Ervin was fantastic.”

Johnson had 11 rebounds and four blocks as Milwaukee tied a franchise playoff record with 13 blocked shots, including at least one by all five starters.

After moving into the starting lineup in Game 5, Johnson pulled down 41 rebounds and blocked 12 shots. He also helped frustrate Elden Campbell and Jamal Mashburn.

“I know Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen and Sam Cassell are great shooters, but Scott Williams and Ervin Johnson were probably MVPs,” Mashburn concurred. “They sacrificed so much to get those guys open. They’re like two P.J. Browns out there. I got sick and tired of seeing Ervin Johnson.”

While Johnson was patrolling the paint the way Karl had pleaded for him to do in their younger days, Robinson and Allen took turns stifling Mashburn, who missed 18 of 25 shots and finished with 21 points.

Cassell tied a playoff career high with 13 assists as the Bucks overcame Baron Davis’ career-high 29 points.

The Bucks made 33 of 35 free throws--including all 20 in the fourth quarter.

The Hornets led, 47-44, at halftime and were ahead, 58-51, with 8:11 left in the third quarter after Davis stripped Johnson for his 18th steal of the series and sprinted downcourt for a layup.

But the Hornets didn’t score again for 5:15, until Davis made the second of two foul shots with 2:56 left in the quarter. By then, the Bucks had stormed ahead, 61-58, with a 10-0 run capped by Williams’ four free throws.

Robinson’s running three-point basket at the third-quarter buzzer gave the Bucks a 73-64 lead.