`WE ALL HAVE FIGHT INSIDE US' LAKERS CONFIDENT WITH SEASON, DYNASTY ON THE LINE.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer EL SEGUNDO El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and - The difference between a dynasty extended and a dynasty in peril shows up not as a seismic rumble, but as a minor ripple in the course of one parabolic par·a·bol·ic also par·a·bol·i·cal adj. 1. Of or similar to a parable. 2. Of or having the form of a parabola or paraboloid. arc: Robert Horry's trajectory was true, his shot on course - save for one critical inch - and so the ball's edge caught rim instead of net, and physics played a cruel visual trick. Horry's shot was in, then it was out. And within tenths of a second, the Lakers went from an apparent 3-2 series lead to a 3-2 deficit, and facing elimination from the Western Conference semifinals. They could ponder the inches and angles and seconds of Tuesday night's 96-94 loss in 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. until they wore out their protractors. But the Lakers instead spent Wednesday in head-clearing mode, hopeful they can extend the dynasty by at least one more game, by winning Game 6 tonight at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. and a handful of others shuffled into the team's practice site for treatment and conditioning work. But the majority stayed home, resting sore limbs and roughed-up psyches in preparation for their most critical game of the season. ``Win at all costs. That's it,'' Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. had said on his way out of San Antonio. Coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. huddled with his assistants in a film session, even as he dealt with the jarring death of Dave DeBusschere David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons out of the University of Detroit in 1962 and won two championships with the New York Knicks. , his close friend and former New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Knicks teammate. Jackson appeared briefly for the cameras, but requested a break from the daily grind Daily Grind could refer to:
Then he retreated to the film room to further evaluate Shaquille O'Neal's listless (programming) listless - In functional programming, a property of a function which allows it to be combined with other functions in a way that eliminates intermediate data structures, especially lists. play, Bryant's frequent misfires, Devean George's dead legs and Horry's dead shot. The Lakers wiped out all but one point of a 25-point deficit in the second half, so the Spurs have much to worry about as well - just with more room for error, and a possible Game 7 at home. Minutes after Horry's shot popped out, the Spurs were breathing hard and looking spooked by their near-collapse. The Lakers, disappointed, but encouraged by the near-comeback, acted as if all was well. ``Are you kidding? I'm over this game already,'' Bryant said. ``We're a tough team to put out,'' he added. ``It has something to do with luck, a lot to do with our grit and our fight, but for whatever reason, we're a tough team to put out.'' They were Tuesday, and they have been over the past three championship runs. They are 4-0 when facing playoff elimination, including victories in Games 6 and 7 of last year's conference finals against the Sacramento Kings. ``We've been here before, a couple times,'' Fisher said. ``We've been able to do well.'' Never in the past, however, have the Lakers had to grind so hard, through so many obstacles, with so little support. They are without Rick Fox, recovering from foot surgery in New York. His backup, George, is slowed by a badly sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. . Their onetime playoff hero, Horry, is 0 for 15 from 3-point range in the series. The bench acquitted itself in Tuesday's late charge - with key baskets from Brian Shaw, Jannero Pargo and Slava Medvedenko - but it remains their worst group in years. Even Jackson's steady hand has been shaken, by last weekend's unexpected trip to the hospital, which forced him to miss Game 4. The Lakers are getting by almost entirely on the greatness of Bryant and O'Neal, the determination of Fisher and the guile (if not the clutch shooting) of Horry. ``It's tough,'' Bryant said. ``We've played a lot of basketball games and going on this fourth title run. Legs can get a little weary, our opposition gets better. In San Antonio's case, they got better, more experienced and younger. So it makes it challenging to put together four great quarters.'' Already, the Lakers have played 11 games, and should they win this series, will have played 13 just to reach the Western Conference finals. Two years ago, they needed only 16 games to win the championship. They are resigned to the harder path. ``I don't think there should be anything easy about what we're setting out to accomplish,'' Fisher said. ``It shouldn't be easy at all, and it won't be.'' So tonight they will try once more to contain Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, hope for a few more bungled bun·gle v. bun·gled, bun·gling, bun·gles v.intr. To work or act ineptly or inefficiently. v.tr. To handle badly; botch. See Synonyms at botch. n. plays by Stephen Jackson, and ask Jack Nicholson for one more Oscar-worthy sideline performance. All that's at stake is a dynasty. ``We win championships for a reason.'' Bryant said. ``We all have a fight inside of us. And I have a fight inside me. You're not just going to roll over me and my teammates. I'm not going to let that happen.'' LAKERS vs. SAN ANTONIO GAME 6 5 p.m. today, Staples Center; Ch. 7 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Because of an unfortunate bounce in and out of the rim, Robert Horry and the Lakers could see the end of a dynasty tonight. William Luther/Associated Press Box: FACING ELIMINATION |
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