George Karl made a plea to Glenn Robinson a few weeks back.

The words were simple: Karl told Robinson he needed him to be the player Karl knew he could be.

And that need became much more acute for Karl and the Bucks once Ray Allen went out for the last five games with tendinitis in his left knee.

Robinson has answered the call.

In the five games Allen has missed, Robinson has delivered performances in which the low end was solid, the high end brilliant.

"I talked to him about a month ago. I was angry with him," Karl said. "I said, ' "Dog," this stuff we can work it out. But the way we work it out, you've got to become the horse that you're capable of being. I need a horse to ride.'

"And I think that's what 'Dog' has done the last week or so. He's a horse. And it's fun coaching when you've got horses out there."