EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- At least the questions about zoning Shaq can stop now. As can any concern about how much longer this series will last.

The Nets created a three-man Shaq-pack around the Lakers' center for most of the night and it neither stopped him nor his teammates, who took a 3-0 stranglehold on the best-of-seven series with a 106-103 victory.

When the Nets crowded Shaquille O'Neal, that allowed the Lakers either to bury wide-open 3-pointers (8-for-16) or dribble-drive one-on-one to the middle, drawing enough attention to slip the ball to Shaq for backdoor dunks.

Don't be distracted by the score. This one was no closer than either Games 1 or 2, even if the Nets led by as many as seven in the fourth quarter.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson was so worried about the outcome that he replaced Shaq with Samaki Walker -- he of the minus-11 plus/minus contribution in Games 1 and 2 -- with the Nets leading 94-88 and six minutes left.

Lo and behold, the Lakers defied Samaki's presence and sliced the Nets' lead in half before bringing Shaq back out to mop up.

"We gave it all we could," said forward Kenyon Martin. "We played our hearts out. They didn't crack under pressure."

Message to K-Mart: On the first part, you better hope not. On the second, you and Jason Kidd and maybe Richard Jefferson, but I wouldn't go beyond that.

As for the last statement, the Lakers haven't been under pressure in this series yet. Pressure is winning a Game 7 in overtime in Arco Arena. Pressure is coming back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit. The Lakers have clowned with the Nets. Devean George attempting a finger roll 12 feet from the basket? Kobe nodding his head in time with the crowd's "Let's go Nets" chant? Phil talking to Derek Fisher during a free throw while, for the first time in known memory, chomping on a big wad of gum? Kobe, matched up with K-Mart, watching the shot clock wind down before drilling a long fadeaway jumper directly in front of the New Jersey bench? Kobe, clanking two free throws down the stretch and then joking that he did it because commissioner David Stern asked him to make it interesting for NBC's broadcasting swan song?

What next, Rick Fox throwing a bucket of confetti at one of the referees? Robert Horry attempting a hook shot from midcourt?

Then again, the players still showed more pride than the arena operations staff. The Nets' last stab at taking a game and earning a measure of respect actually might have ended with the Continental Airlines Arena public-address stunts.

Nothing could have said "We've never done this before" than the exhortations of "You can't get tired in the Finals!" and "Make a difference early!" by the game announcer. Followed by footage of The Boss, the thinning-hair Bruce Springsteen, in concert. Followed by clips of Al Pacino, Clint Eastwood, The Sopranos and Nick Nolte (in "Blue Chips") giving dramatic speeches about something.

It was almost enough to make the guy in the upper bowl with the Gilligan's hat and the Bermuda shorts frantically blowing a whistle look like a cagey veteran.

It's not the Nets' fault that they're so thoroughly outmatched in both talent and experience. This has been a tremendous year for them, a season of growth and learning. Some lessons are just more painful than others. For all concerned.

Ric Bucher covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ric.bucher@espnmag.com.