[0] NO HELP, NO PROBLEM; LAKERS RIP SPURS FORWARDS HORRY, KNIGHT : LAKERS 106 SAN ANTONIO 94.Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer Outside the Forum, a weathered ``Help Wanted'' sign hung still, like a desperate beacon for help. Inside, the Laker Corp.'s human- resources department awaited word from their top candidate for the newly vacated position of power forward. Trouble was, the applicant, a Mr. Worm, was still evaluating career opportunities with other corporations. And while he dithered and delayed, the Lakers and their depleted de·plete tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out. [Latin d corps of big men took on one of their toughest rival firms, the Twin Towers of San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. . Turns out the Lakers don't need that help so badly after all. Even without their top power forwards - Robert Horry Robert Horry (born August 25, 1970 in Harford County, Maryland) is an American National Basketball Association basketball player. Currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Horry is is known for his ability to make clutch shots in big games. and Travis Knight Travis Knight (born September 13 1974 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (29th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. and prospective employee Dennis Rodman - the Lakers held their ground against towers David Robinson David Robinson or Dave Robinson is a name shared by the following individuals:
And Rodman? The Worm was in the building, but his contribution was limited to waltzing down the aisle near courtside court·side n. The area immediately bordering the official court of play, as in tennis or basketball. late in the fourth quarter. It got the crowd riled rile tr.v. riled, ril·ing, riles 1. To stir to anger. See Synonyms at annoy. 2. To stir up (liquid); roil. [Variant of roil.] Adj. 1. and brought on a brief ``Rod-man'' chant, but that was it. ``That's vintage Dennis,'' said point guard Derek Fisher. ``I think he enjoys the attention and feeds off it.'' While Rodman was playing for the cameras, the Lakers whose job he would take did a fine job in his absence. Corie Blount, Sean Rooks and Elden Campbell took turns bumping with Duncan, who scored 26 points, but just four in the fourth quarter and missed 10 of 20 shots. Robinson, guarded mostly by O'Neal, mustered only 11. ``I don't really think we need help,'' Blount said, referring to Rodman, ``but you know he definitely brings something to this game, just by his presence. . . . If he joins this team, it would definitely be a plus.'' Without him, the Lakers relied on their old standbys. O'Neal scored a game-high 28, nine in the fourth quarter, and Kobe Bryant added 21. They also got a season-high 18 points from Derek Harper, who started the second half and helped spark the Lakers to a 30-20 third quarter that turned the tide for good. ``Derek Harper was huge,'' Spurs coach Greg Popovich said. ``Defensively he was huge. . . . I thought that he did a great job and that kept them in the game.'' The Lakers shot a season-high 55.3 percent to beat the Spurs for a sixth consecutive time and record their first three-game winning streak of the season. More significantly, they got their first win over a contender since Feb. 8 - the last time they beat the Spurs. After routs of doormats Dallas and Charlotte, the Lakers needed a to beat a legitimate power to reassert their authority. ``It's very encouraging,'' said Fisher, who again struggled early but scored seven points in the fourth quarter. ``Coming into tonight, we knew it was going to be tough. But we've been able to step up in these type of situations.'' Facing Robinson and Duncan, it was enough of a concern that the Lakers were without Horry, lost indefinitely to an irregular heartbeat. But by tipoff, they also found themselves without his replacement, Knight, whose sprained left ankle was too much to bear. ``I want to give a lot of credit to the three power forwards that were left behind,'' coach Del Harris said. ``Going against what may be as good a power forward there is in this league in Duncan . . . Blount, Campbell and Rooks Rooks can refer to: People:
Not even for a guy named Worm. Notes: As expected, the Lakers placed rookies Tyronn Lue (back spasms) and Sam Jacobson (broken finger) on the injured list to reduce the roster from 14 to 12 on the NBA's cutdown cutdown /cut·down/ (kut´doun) creation of a small incised opening, especially over a vein (venous c.), to facilitate venipuncture and permit passage of a needle or cannula for withdrawal of blood or administration of fluids. day. Under NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= rules they must sit out at least five games. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box Photo: (1--Color) Shaquille O'Neal, middle, had his hands full battling Antonio's David Robinson (50) and Tim Duncan (23). (2) Shaquille O'Neal shoots over San Antonio's Tim Duncan during the Lakers' 106-94 victory. Tom Mendoza/Daily News Box: GAME RECAP |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion