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Finals Notebook Sixers silence Lakers' sweep talk with Game 1 win
Updated: Thursday June 07, 2001 4:16 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Philadelphia's 107-101 overtime victory in Game 1 Wednesday night put a halt to further questions about the Lakers sweeping the NBA Finals. The loss ended Los Angeles' 19-game winning streak and its 11-0 run in the playoffs. It was the Lakers' first loss in more than two months, since a 79-78 decision to the New York Knicks at Staples Center on April 1. "I'm kind of relieved it's over in some ways, but it puts some pressure on us to get a win on our home court," coach Phil Jackson said. "The streak was great, and now it's time to get back to the business of playing ball in this series." Kobe Bryant found one bright spot in the Lakers' loss. "One positive that can come out of it is we can stop hearing about all the sweep talk, and start hearing some different questions," he said. "We just want to win the championship." Shaquille O'Neal is ready to start a new mark beginning Friday in Game 2. "It's time to create another streak and get back to business," he said. "Now it's a series."
Going for 40For just the second time in NBA Finals history, opposing players scored 40 or more points in the same game. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson had 48 points and Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal had 44. The 76ers improved to 13-5 this season when Iverson scores at least 40. Chicago's Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley of Phoenix each scored 42 points in Game 2 of the finals on June 11, 1993. O'Neal added 20 rebounds, putting him over the 40-20 mark for the third time this postseason. He had 42 points and 21 rebounds in Game 1 against Sacramento, then had 43 points and 20 rebounds in Game 2 against the Kings.
Gambling on a sweepAllen Iverson, his eyes hidden by dark glasses and his platinum necklace and earrings glittering under the spotlights, mocked those who had predicted a Lakers' sweep. "You got so many basketball experts, the only guys that know are on the floor," he said. And for those who bet on the Lakers to oust the 76ers in four games? "There are some broke people out there," he said. "I'm glad nobody bet their life on it because they'd be dead now." The 76ers were stretched to seven games by Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference finals, then had to go overtime to win Game 1 Wednesday. Asked if he was tired, Iverson replied, "I've been waiting for this opportunity all my life. I'm not thinking about fatigue right now. Fatigue is Army clothes." Iverson turns 26 on Thursday. "It's a great birthday present, too," he said of the victory.
Emotional roller coasterPhiladelphia team president Pat Croce was as surprised as anybody that the 76ers won."Oh, it's fabulous, the feeling, because we had the game, we lost the game and the overtime they came out and you think, 'Oh no,' but our team digs deeper," he said. Croce said there's one way to top the feeling he experienced Wednesday. "Win two. That tops Game 1," he said.
Starry nightThe celeb quotient ran high at Staples Center, despite Game 1 falling midweek with tipoff coming at the height of rush hour in Los Angeles. Who had the best seats? Probably former Los Angeles Kings star Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet, who sat to the left of the Philadelphia bench, close enough to eavesdrop. Jack Nicholson, Dyan Cannon and Magic Johnson were in their usual seats. Also sitting courtside were Denzel Washington and his wife, Pauletta; "Saturday Night Live" alumni Mike Myers and Will Ferrell (with two-tone blond hair), Penny Marshall, super agent Michael Ovitz, and Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Bob Daly and his songwriter-wife Carole Bayer Sager. Just off the court were talkmeister Larry King and his wife, Shawn, and injured Dodgers outfielder Gary Sheffield. Most celebs enter Staples Center through a tunnel, where limos deposit the rich and famous. When Playboy founder Hugh Hefner stepped out of his ride, a stream of five statuesque women piled out behind him in a scene reminiscent of those packed-in-the-Volkswagen skits.
Stern gets sternNBA commissioner David Stern conceded Wednesday that the league has not done enough to quiet all the talk of playoff conspiracy theories. "Maybe I'm the one that's guilty of letting it go too long," Stern said at his annual NBA Finals news conference. The league fined the Milwaukee Bucks, coach George Karl and guard Ray Allen for their comments during the Eastern Conference finals alleging that the NBA office would rather see a Philadelphia-Los Angeles finals than a Bucks-Lakers series. In past years, the league tended to be dismissive of players or coaches who made similar conspiratorial comments. "Everybody in the league knows that that's what happens during the tense times of the playoffs. People lose their objectivity and in the throes of the heat of battle they say things," Stern said. "Frankly, given the amount of coverage that we get and the amount that people begin to take those issues seriously, I think we have to step up and be more vigilant," he said. "What these fines were grounded on was the notion that you can't just impugn the integrity of the league by alleging that the league is engaging in criminal activity. It just doesn't go down that well, and it won't be tolerated." On another matter, Stern said he expected the Vancouver Grizzlies' move to Memphis to be approved by the league's relocation committee if the Shelby County (Tenn.) Commission approves the issuance of $12 million in construction bonds next week.
Longest layoffsIdle since May 27, the Lakers have made no secret of their boredom. Their fans have had nothing to cheer about during that time, either. But the nine days between games isn't the longest layoff preceding the NBA Finals. The 1981-82 Lakers had to sit around for 11 days before the finals began, then beat Philadelphia in six games. Perhaps because the Lakers have made more finals appearances than any other team (26 as Minneapolis and Los Angeles), they've also had the most layoffs. The 1988-89 Lakers had eight days off before getting swept by Detroit in four games. The 1986-87 team rested for seven days and then beat Boston for the title, while the 1967-68 squad also had seven days off before losing to the Celtics in the finals.
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