Kobe's Jordan impression wore off
Associated Press
|  | | Kobe Bryant couldn't find the touch that led the Lakers to a Game 4 win. |
INDIANAPOLIS -- Better wait before anointing Kobe Bryant the
next Michael Jordan.
And better put those parade plans down Figueroa Street in Los
Angeles on hold, at least for now.
For the sixth time in nine playoff elimination games this
season, the Los Angeles Lakers came up short, losing to the Indiana
Pacers 120-87 Friday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, trimming
their lead to 3-2.
"We heard about the parade that they had planned." said
Indiana's Jalen Rose, who scored 32 points. "That won't be
tomorrow."
Actually, the word was the parade would be held Monday had the
Lakers won Game 5. Instead, Game 6 will be played that night at
Staples Center.
Bryant, the hero of Game 4 with eight of his 28 points in
overtime, committed his fifth foul with 1:44 left in third period,
and was forced to sit down.
Bryant, whose sprained left ankle didn't appear to be bothering
him, wound up with only eight points, shooting 4-for-20 without
attempting a free throw.
For some reason, Lakers coach Phil Jackson didn't remove Bryant
until three minutes remained in the game.
"Kobe was game for it, but he just didn't find his shots or
rhythm out there to play with," Jackson said. "They did a nice
job on him and, you know, I'm sure he's going to admit that."
Bryant said he simply didn't have a good game.
"You know, you just bounce back," he said. "You just put it
behind you and we'll go home. That's what we played all season for,
to have homecourt advantage.
"We wanted to be champions tonight. It didn't happen. So we're
a little disappointed, but it's no biggie when you think about it.
I'm disappointed in the game I played, but you just put it behind
you, move on and get ready for Monday."
The Lakers, who lost two games to Sacramento, another to Phoenix
and two more to Portland once they got within one game of winning
those series, seemed a step slow on this night, especially on
defense.
Of course, the Pacers made them look bad by knocking down open
look after open look, especially in the first half when they took a
64-45 lead. The Lakers weren't closer than 13 points in the second
half.
Shaquille O'Neal, who has carved up the Pacers all series, had
35 points and 11 rebounds, but he got little help from his
teammates.
"They just hit a lot of shots," O'Neal said. "We didn't play
hard at all. I knew they were going to play inspired basketball for
Larry Bird's last home game."
Indiana went ahead for good in the opening four minutes, and had
their 19-point lead at halftime despite O'Neal's 19 points and
seven rebounds.
In the first quarter, the Pacers shot 15-of-20 and were 6-of-6
from 3-point range in taking a 39-28 lead.
In the middle of the period during a timeout, the old disco tune
"Staying Alive" entertained the Conseco Fieldhouse faithful, who
went nuts.
Yes, the Pacers were definitely staying alive.
Before the game, Jackson admitted that with a 3-1 lead, it was
difficult to keep his team from being overconfident, especially
considering the Lakers haven't lost three straight games since the
1999 playoffs.
"You can talk about it, it's just difficult to do," he said.
Apparently, he was right.
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