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Wild, wild West Conspiracy theories abound in Lakers-Kings seriesPosted: Friday May 24, 2002 12:07 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- First there was a mysterious illness, leading to wild rumors of a food-poisoning plot. Next came angry accusations of cheating, followed by harsh criticism of the refereeing. It was just another normal playoff week for the Los Angeles Lakers -- and the Sacramento Kings enjoyed the entertainment as much as everybody else. The Kings did their best to keep a low profile as they prepared for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Friday night. The series is tied 1-1. Sacramento knows that although the two-time champions would never admit it, they play mind games nearly as well as they play basketball. In fact, their charisma and swagger is as much a part of their success as the triangle offense. "That's their style," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We see them several times a year, every year, so we know all about it. It happens on the court, and it happens off the court, too. "It might be designed to throw the other team off its game, I don't know. They're something else, that's for sure." Conspiracy theories abounded in the days leading up to two weekend games at Staples Center. The Lakers are attempting to move closer to their third straight title despite a host of real and imagined obstacles. If their strange, successful recent history is any indication, that's just the way the confident Lakers like it. On a team led by media-savvy Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers always make good copy to bide time until the next championship parade. Before the series, the Lakers declared themselves underdogs to the top-seeded Kings while launching several pre-emptive strikes against Sacramento center Vlade Divac and his penchant for flopping on defense. Those complaints only increased in volume after their loss in Game 2. "I think it's trickled down for that team, the mind-game thing," Sacramento's Scot Pollard said. "They all think they're Zen masters now, and they try to psych the other guys out. It's just their style." The series is tied after a tumultuous weekend in Sacramento, where Bryant scored 30 points in Los Angeles' victory in Game 1, then played through apparent food poisoning to score 22 in Game 2. Bryant felt much better when he returned to practice Thursday, and he's expected to start when Sacramento goes for its fifth straight road victory of the postseason. All-Star Peja Stojakovic, the Kings' second-leading scorer, won't be back from his ankle injury, however. The Lakers haven't lost consecutive playoff games since the 2000 conference finals, when Portland rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to force the Lakers into a come-from-behind victory in Game 7. That sparked them to their first title. "I think it shows a lot of character on our part that we bounce back after a loss," Bryant said. "A lot of credit goes to our coaching staff, because they make the right adjustments." After running wind sprints at practice, Bryant and his teammates shot down some Los Angeles fans' fanciful notions of a food-poisoning conspiracy at the Lakers' hotel in Sacramento, where Bryant ate the room service cheeseburger that may have caused his illness. "We're not going to accuse them of poisoning anyone," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "We're not going to poison anyone. We're going to beat them fair and square." After practice Thursday, O'Neal, the self-described "last true center left," continued his nonstop criticism of Divac. O'Neal was called for three offensive fouls in Game 2, and Jackson blamed the officials' calls partially on the intense atmosphere at Arco Arena. "At least I'll be one of the guys who have rings by heart and desire, pure," O'Neal said. "It would be a shame if [Divac] were to be the first center to get one [by flopping]." According to the Kings, O'Neal's comments are nothing compared to the unprintable words he says to them on the court. Pollard, Divac and Bobby Jackson all were told off by Shaq during the first two games.
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