Wednesday, June 6 Horry insists Lakers are 'dogs' By Wayne Drehs and Joe Lago ESPN.com LOS ANGELES -- Despite his team's 19-game winning streak and overwhelming public opinion, Robert Horry believes the Lakers, not the Sixers, are the underdog in the Finals. He isn't kidding. Horry "We're David and they're Goliath," Horry said Tuesday after the Lakers' practice at the Staples Center. "They won everything. They've got the MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year, the Sixth Man of the Year, the Coach of the Year. That's a team that should win an NBA championship." Then why are the Lakers 12-point favorites for Game 1? "If you went and found out the guy that puts that out there and sat him in these two seats next to me, he'd be too wide to fit," Horry said. "Guys coming up with that are guys that have never played the sport in their lives." When told of Horry's eye-opening comments, Sixers guard Allen Iverson could only chuckle. "Oh, boy. I don't think so," Iverson said. "Everybody already had us counted out. We're supposed to just come to this series, get swept and go home for the summer, I guess. We just have to come in, play basketball and spread the war. We've been at war every series. So, we know what it's about." Sixers forward Tyrone Hill dismissed the Lakers' claims as nothing more than fodder for reporters' notebooks and microphones. "That's just something to start some talk," Hill said. "That's just a seed they're planting in the media." Iverson in Laker gold? Much like a scout team quarterback mimics the upcoming opponent, Lakers reserve Tyronn Lue has done his best Allen Iverson impression this week, slashing, dashing and cutting to the basket in hopes of preparing his teammates for the Sixers' star guard. The fun took an extra step Tuesday when Lue sported a white armband (actually a stretched-out wristband) similar to the one Iverson wears on his injured right arm. The cornrows and bubble-gum tattoos Lue had promised on Monday, though, were left behind. Lue "I thought that he might think I was trying to make fun of him, so I really didn't do it," Lue said. "I didn't want people to take it the wrong way." Still, Lue had little trouble imitating Iverson for a host of television cameras. In practice, he gained an appreciation for the physical beating Iverson has taken in the playoffs. It's a little foreshadowing of what Iverson should expect Wednesday night. "I've never been knocked around like that," said Lue, who was knocked to the floor nine times imitating Iverson the past two days. "Shaq bent my back, said he was doing a Scott Williams on me. Every time I came in the lane I was knocked down. They sent two and three people at me and were very physical." Bell looks to ring twice Raja Bell is ready to make an encore performance. The rookie from Florida International doesn't necessarily intend to top his 10-point effort off the bench in Sunday's 108-91 win over Milwaukee. Playing time would suit him just fine. "I'm going to be ready if they need me," Bell said. "I don't see my role changing much." Bell poured in all 10 of his points to key a 21-6 second-quarter run on Sunday. On Wednesday, the 6-foot-5 guard could be called on to join the Sixers' chase of Lakers swingman Kobe Bryant. "Kobe's a real talent. He's a great player with a lot of tools," Bell said. "If they ask me to go out and guard him, I'll go out there to guard him." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

ALSO SEE Shaq back to old super self Healing Lynch hopes to return by Game 4 of Finals