Tuesday, June 12 Lakers came up big, while Sixers fell short By Dr. Jack Ramsay Special to ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA -- The Los Angeles Lakers made the big plays they needed to make down the stretch. The Philadelphia 76ers missed the shots they needed to make. It was simple as that in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Did Dikembe flop? Shaquille O'Neal accused Dikembe Mutombo of flopping in Game 3 to get referees to call fouls on The Diesel. ESPN's Dr. Jack Ramsay gives his take on the controversy. Shaq's move to the basket is always leaning in with his elbow or shoulder. If you yield to that, then there's no foul. If you can find a way to hold your ground as he comes into you, then you have a legitimate chance at getting an offensive foul. I thought Mutombo got a couple of calls that were legitimate fouls. But on the other side, Shaq gets fouled a lot where no call is made. I think if you're going to call him for the charge, then you've got to call fouls for him when he gets hit on the shot. The Sixers had many opportunities in losing 96-91 to the Lakers at the First Union Center. Aaron McKie had a dead-open look at a 3-pointer from the left corner with Philadelphia trailing 84-82 and didn't hit it. Allen Iverson drove to the basket after Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 2:21 to play and the Lakers clinging to an 86-84 lead. He missed it. The next trip down the floor, Iverson lost the ball out of bounds on another penetration. If you're going to win big games, you've got to make the big plays. Sixers coach Larry Brown wants to get his players good shooting opportunities, and he got them. But you've got to make those shots. When you're coming from behind all the time like the Sixers, at some point you've got to get over the hump and take the lead. That's when it becomes a different game. I think the Sixers did everything right strategically. Their pressure was good, but the Lakers did a great job of handling the ball. They only had 13 turnovers and gave just eight points off them. That's the best they've done so far in these Finals. But for the Sixers, they had their chances. The game was similar to Game 2. The Lakers established good control by halftime, had a double-digit lead to open the game up and led by as many as 13. The Sixers then came at them with their pressure defense. The Lakers didn't turn the ball over this time. They struggled to make shots with Kobe hitting only three of 14 in the second half, but the ones he made were huge. His jumper before Robert Horry's clutch 3-pointer late was a bucket the Lakers needed to have, too. It's a tough loss for the Sixers, but it would've been a more damaging defeat to the Lakers. The Sixers still have two games at home, but they've got to get over the hump. They came from behind to win Game 1, then they get in two games where they come from behind and get to the edge but they don't get over the hump. They've got to get over it, and they've got to do it Wednesday. Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay is a game analyst for ESPN Radio and a regular contributor to ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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