Bringing their best

With backs against the wall, Lakers respond like champions

Phil Jackson made adjustments.

Devean George made a surprise appearance.

Jack Nicholson got into it with a referee.

And, oh yeah, Shaq and Kobe did their usual thing.

The Lakers were back in form Friday in Game 3. Leading from start to finish, they rolled to victory over the Spurs. With its hopes for a fourth consecutive NBA title on the line, L.A. responded like champions.

28.8 Antoine Walker's field-goal percentage in Boston's three losses to the Nets. "I didn't want my little girl to be scared of me." -- Sacramento guard Bobby Jackson, on why he isn't following a doctor's recommendation to wear a facemask to protect his broken cheekbone in Game 3. Are the Kings deep enough to beat Dallas without Webber?

Buoyed by George’s surprise return to the starting lineup, the Lakers hit the Spurs early. George hit his first two jumpers, the Staples Center crowd got into it, and San Antonio was never able to catch up.

Before long, it was a typical crazy Lakers night.

Shaq took a rebound and went coast to coast for a slam dunk.

Mark Madsen bogarted the ball from Malik Rose by ripping it right out of his hand.

Kobe Bryant gave Emanuel Ginobili a rude introduction to NBA playoff basketball with an elbow to the gut.

Even Nicholson got into the act, jumping up from his courtside seat to badger referee Mark Wunderlich for calling a third foul on Shaq in the second quarter.

Meanwhile the Spurs, no doubt aware of the news out of Sacramento that Chris Webber was done for the playoffs, started out as if they were looking ahead to the next round.

The Lakers beat the Spurs to loose balls. They controlled the backboards. They rotated out on San Antonio’s shooters.

As for Jackson, he showed once again why he’s one of the best coaches in the game. After watching the Lakers’ role players struggle in the first two games, he tweaked the offense for Game 3 by using Shaq more in the high post. There, Shaq could look for teammates cutting to the basket or in the corners.

The move paid dividends immediately, as Shaq recorded assists on L.A.’s first three baskets to get them off to a 6-0 start. Robert Horry, who desperately needed a basket any old way, went backdoor for a layup. Kobe got to the rim several times.

When Rose checked in, Shaq then went back down low and shot over him. It’s an adjustment Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will have to counter in Game 4.

The biggest adjustment for San Antonio, however, might be in its attitude. While the Spurs fought back in Game 3 to keep it close, they never seemed to regain the intensity they showed in the first two games.

San Antonio needs to come out in Game 4 and prove once and for all it has the mental toughness to win a big game on the road.

Friday night was L.A.’s night. No surprise. But if the Lakers win Sunday’s Game 4 as well, then the pressure is back on the Spurs.

	Getty Images Stud: Kenyon Martin, F, Nets Martin's efficient Game 3 effort included 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting and zero turnovers. But perhaps most important, he hounded Boston's Antoine Walker into another miserable shooting night as the Nets all but clinched the series.		AP Dud: Bruce Bowen, F, Spurs Some nights you eat the bear, some nights the bear eats you. Following a career night in Game 2, Bowen responded with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting and saw Kobe Bryant go off for 39 points on his watch.

The Celtics actually outrebounded the Nets 44-38 in Game 3, but they gave it back with 16 turnovers. Boston’s lack of a true point guard has hurt them all series -- not just on offense, but also in slowing down Jason Kidd. With Webber out, the Kings will turn to Keon Clark, Hedo Turkoglu and Scot Pollard to hold down the power forward spot. Vlade Divac must step up as well, especially running the pick and roll with Mike Bibby. Look for Allen Iverson to have a big game Saturday night in Game 3. He’ll have the home crowd behind him, his Sixers desperately need the win, and he’s surely still ticked off about missing those two foul shots at the end of Game 2.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

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