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Good, but not enough

Lakers proving to be just too strong for game Pacers

Posted: Friday June 16, 2000 02:45 PM

By John Donovan, CNNSI.com

	• Storylines • Hot Hands, Cold Feet • Bandwagon • Swishes & Bricks

This is a special edition of the NBA Week at a Glance. It will appear every day until the NBA Finals conclude.

INDIANAPOLIS -- This is the problem for the Indiana Pacers. They're scoring points. They're playing, when you get right down to it, really, really well.

It's not good enough. Not in these NBA Finals. Not against the Los Angeles Lakers. Not yet, anyway.

And that's what the Pacers are thinking as they warm up for what, in the end, will probably be a loss to the Lakers. It will happen either Friday night in Game 5. Or Monday in Game 6. Or -- and this is way, way out there -- Wednesday in a highly unlikely Game 7. The Pacers look like sure losers in the best-of-seven series, which they trail 3 games to 1.

What can they do?

SI's Marty Burns The Lakers can wrap up their first NBA title since 1988 Friday night in Game 5, but it won't be easy. The Pacers are a proud veteran club, and they don't want to see L.A. celebrating on their home court. Here are a few keys for them to keep the series alive: 1. Quick start: The first quarter often tells the tale for the Pacers, who don't play well from behind. With a 3-1 series lead, the Lakers might well be vulnerable for a letdown, especially early in the game. Indiana must take advantage, get a lead and set a tone. 2. Get Physical: It's probably not done consciously, but human nature usually causes NBA refs to give a few more breaks to a team down 3-1 on its home floor. The Pacers should bang and bump -- especially on Shaq -- and take their chances that the zebras won't call as many as they normally might. 3. Go Dutch: Rik Smits played well in Game 4, and the Pacers need him to pick up where he left off. Rather than run so much of the offense through Reggie Miller, Indiana should go to Smits more in hopes that Shaq gets tired or draws fouls.

"This is the best basketball we've played in the playoffs," said Indiana forward Austin Croshere. "You put us in any other series, the series would be over, or we'd be up 3-1. But against the Lakers ..."

Against the Lakers, the Pacers have been close but have only the one win to show for it. After a blowout by L.A. in the series opener, the Pacers let the Lakers off the hook in Game 2 when Lakers star Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle in the first quarter, missed the rest of the game and L.A. still won 111-104.

Facing a Lakers team without Bryant in Game 3, the Pacers won their only game so far, 100-91, when the series switched to Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse.

But Bryant came back for Game 4, and the Lakers outlasted the Pacers in a thrilling overtime game, 120-118.

A play here or there, a defensive stop at the right moment or a key basket -- this series could be completely different.

"It's the small stuff," Croshere said. "But we have nobody to blame but ourselves."

An example: In Game 3, with Indy holding onto a slim four-point fourth-quarter lead, Croshere battled for a loose ball underneath the Indiana basket, scrambled and stuck it back in. It was an important play in a close game.

In Game 4, with 36.2 seconds left in overtime and the Lakers holding onto a three-point lead, Croshere again picked up a loose ball and went for the shot. But Bryant was there to block it this time.

And now, deflated and frustrated, the Pacers have to try to do something that no other team has done -- come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.

"Our backs are kind of in the wall at this point," Croshere said with a slight smile.

"What you have to look at is some of the mistakes, some of the plays we could have made, some of the big plays that they made," said Indiana point guard Mark Jackson, "and realize that if you make some adjustments and you can get [Friday] night, [you can] give yourself a chance to go to L.A."

On to the NBA Finals Day at a Glance, which on the day of Game 5 wonders this: Is this the start of something special for the Lakers?

The answer: We don't want to use the "D" word, but as long as Kobe and Shaq are there ... yeah, this could be the start of something special.

The 'D' Word
OK. We'll use it. "Dynasty." If the Lakers can keep their two superstars happy -- and coach Phil Jackson onboard -- there will be rings aplenty in L.A. over the next several seasons.
Heart or Sole?
The biggest question in Game 5 is if the Pacers will show the heart to send the series back to L.A., or if they'll let the Lakers walk all over them and grab the title on Indy's home floor.
The Big MVP
If Shaquille O'Neal gets two points and two rebounds Friday night and the Lakers still win, The Glance still gives him the Finals MVP award. His mere presence has thrown the Pacers out of kilter.
What Now, Indy?
If this is the end for Indy, it will be the end for coach Larry Bird -- and, indeed, maybe the end for the Pacers as we know them.
HOT: Kobe Bryant Getting more positive pub than Tiger Woods. And after that ace of a performance in Game 4, he deserves every bit of it.
HOT: Reggie Miller Quieted talk of his late-game disappearances with a 6-for-8 (4-for-6 from 3-point range) performance in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 4.
COLD: Travis Best Took on O'Neal and lost, dinging his shoulder in the process. He may play Friday night, but he won't be too effective if he does. Couldn't raise his arm Thursday.
HOT: Robert Horry The Lakers forward atoned for a bad pass in regulation that could have given the Pacers the win with four points in OT and the defense on Miller's last-gasp 3-pointer that fell short.
The Lakers . They've been on TV so much they've developed kind of a cult status -- kind of "Survivors" in baggy shorts -- but NBC's devotion seems well-placed now.
Kobe . If you weren't on the wagon before, jump on now. It promises to be a long, fun ride.
The East . The Pacers have represented their conference well. Indy's certainly not the muscle-headed bangers you'd expect from that side of the NBA.
The West . Still, the Lakers have shown the West is still the best. As for muscle-headed bangers, the Lakers can hold their own...
Game 5
Swish : It may be the Lakers' crowning moment. Brick : No way can it be better than Game 4.
Conseco Fieldhouse
Swish : How all the new basketball arenas should be built. Brick : A lot of good it did the Pacers.
TV Ratings
Swish : Game 4 classic pulled best numbers in two years. Brick : Not exactly a great time frame for comparison.
The End ...
Swish : ... is near. Brick : ... is far.

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