Game 6 adjustments for Lakers, Pacers
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
 Editor's note: Dr. Jack Ramsay breaks down the NBA Finals for ESPN.com, discussing what adjustments he would make if he were coaching the Lakers and the Pacers heading into Game 6, which could again be the clinching night for the Lakers.
Los Angeles just has to be more defensive minded, or this series will go to a Game 7. The Lakers got killed on one on one breakdowns in Game 5. They need to focus on Shaquille O'Neal early in the game and work harder on defending Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose and Austin Croshere. The Lakers, who were referred to as the best defensive team in the regular season, have to get back to that. In the playoffs they are allowing 91 points a game at home, but 104 on the road. That is just too much.
|  | | The Lakers will need Glen Rice to get going against Jalen Rose and the Pacers. |
There is something about this building, the Staples Center, that doesn't seem to inspire good shooting, especially from opponents. It's cavernous, the baskets kind of hang by themselves, and the shooting just has not been very good here. It's a big advantage for L.A. In four games here the Pacers have shot only 40 percent from the field.
The Lakers have to and will defend better, and they must do a better job on the matchups. If the Pacers' offensive game is anything like it was in Game 5, then we could be going to Game 7. Of course, the Lakers play much better in Staples and they shot only 40 percent themselves in the last game, which won't happen again. Also, Kobe Bryant isn't going to make only 4 of 20 shots again. Shaq is still rolling, as he hit 17 of 27 in the last game, but Kobe, Derek Fisher and Brian Shaw combined to go 4 for 30, which will not occur again. All this is in L.A.'s favor.
The Lakers will be more focused, they will go after it. They don't seem to feel pressure, maybe they don't feel enough pressure. They talk about having two games here to win it, which is just not the right attitude. They need to win this game.
Indiana needs to score, and they need another 40 percent effort from the Lakers, if they are to win. They need scoring not just from Reggie Miller, but Jalen Rose, Rik Smits and Austin Croshere off the bench. They had a super Game 5 from both ends. Can they do it again?
Rose has not been very consistent in back to back games, and Smits must continue to be strong. In the last two games he has shot 16 of 21, but he was at 35 percent before that. The Pacers must go right away to Smits and Rose must be aggressive.
If they can keep Shaq to reasonable numbers it is important. Even though he had 35 points in the last game, he had only six free throws. And his rebounds were only 11. That's about as good as Indiana can get on him.
The Pacers have got everything to gain and nothing to lose. They need their offensive game to be better than it was before in L.A., and I'd be surprised if they can do that. They just don't shoot well here. I think they will make a run, but they must hang even with the Lakers in the first period to have any shot.
I think ultimately the Lakers will win tonight. In terms of history with them, though, they are not there yet, not even close. They lack focus, don't put teams away. They do have two terrific players in Shaq and Kobe, but after that they are average, and will be among the average NBA champs. There's no dynasty here yet, not even close.
Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter, NBA Today and ESPN Radio. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
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