Friday, June 15 Lakers prepared for high fives in Game 5 By Wayne Drehs ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA -- Throughout these NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers have bragged about their experience, their maturity and the savvy way in which they handle adversity. But just how much these Lakers have grown up won't really be known until Friday, when they are given the chance to close out the feisty Philadelphia 76ers on Philly's home court. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers had to wait to celebrate last year after losing 120-87 to Indiana in Game 5. The situation is eerily similar to last year, when L.A. was up three games to one on the Indiana Pacers and came out to lay the biggest, rottenest egg imaginable, falling 120-87 and forcing everyone to repack their bags for the West Coast. The Lakers get a strange shot at redemption. And don't think they don't know it. "Last year, we came into that arena and it was almost like we were celebrating before the game had even began," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "That was a case of inexperience, of not knowing how to put a team away. You can believe we've learned from that." The Lakers are 3-0 this year in potential elimination games, including road victories at Portland and Sacramento. They're a team that has not only leaned on Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in these playoffs, but has gotten critical contributions from numerous role players when defenses have focused on the two stars. Friday's biggest challenge will be matching the intensity of the backs-against-the-wall Sixers while not getting out of rhythm. "Without question, the game is going to be played at a speed no other game has been played at in this series," said Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons. "They're going to throw caution to the wind. But we don't have to. If this were a track meet and we were a 100-meter team, we would go out there, run our 9.9 and then force them to run a 9.8 or a 9.7. And if they can't, it's over with." Still, it's no easy task to close out a series on an opponent's home floor. Last year, Bryant missed 16 of 20 shots and had more fouls (five) than assists (three), while counterpart Jalen Rose scored 32 to lead the Indiana Game 5 blowout. Though all the game did was postpone the inevitable, it was still telling. "It's always harder to close out a series, any series," Bryant said. "Last year, I think we couldn't wait to be champions. We were looking forward to being champions before the game even started. I think we kind of got ahead of ourselves." Fox said that there were no indications of exaggerated confidence heading into last year's Game 5. However, the signs were clearly evident after the game. “ It's always harder to close out a series, any series. Last year, I think we couldn't wait to be champions. We were looking forward to being champions before the game even started. I think we kind of got ahead of ourselves. ” — Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard "Nobody sensed it, that's why we got run over," he said. "We were like, 'Oh ... that's right ... we've got to win to celebrate." The 2000 Lakers weren't alone, though. In Game 5 of the 1987 Finals, Los Angeles was looking to close out the Celtics on the Boston Garden parquet when James Worthy clanked 13 of 19, Byron Scott missed 7 of 10, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar bricked 13 of his 21 and the Lakers lost 123-108. More recently, the 1996 Chicago Bulls jumped to a 3-0 lead against the Seattle SuperSonics, but lost two games in Seattle before returning to Chicago to win Game 6 and the series. A few years earlier, the 1993 Bulls built a 3-1 lead over Phoenix, only to lose Game 5 at home. They prevailed at Phoenix in Game 6. Philadelphia guard Eric Snow was on the Sonics team that twice postponed Chicago's champagne celebration. "You have to fight with everything you have," Snow said of surviving in an elimination game. "You can't leave anything on the floor because that's it. And anybody who doesn't want to give that sort of an effort can stay in the locker room." Still, the Lakers are confident that, if they play their game, they will come out on top -- regardless of the predicament they find themselves in. It's been their trademark throughout these playoffs. Lakers coach Phil Jackson attributes it to a better understanding of pressure situations. "They understand how to maintain their poise under noise or in the intense, hostile territory that you get into in this level," Jackson said. "And it's just a maturation, I think, of a group. It's been quite noticeable this year, especially on the road." And for these maturing Lakers, nothing short of winning the Finals will suffice. "It was nice to get a Western Conference championship trophy, but that was so premature for us -- it was almost like they were prolonging us from getting to the showers," Fox said. "We all wanted to take a shower after that game, but we had to stand there and get this trophy. "Nobody really wanted to accept it. This next one is the one we want." Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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