Don't dare count out the Lakers

Not so fast.

The three words danced off the end of Laker fingertips, once shaky, now certain.

Not so fast.

The three words swallowed the Staples Center, once somnolent, now screaming.

Like weary partygoers who awaken at last call, the Lakers and their fans lifted their heads Sunday night and together offered one last howling toast to the improbable.

Not so fast.

Those forlorn NBA Finals are not yet final. Those champion Boston Celtics are not yet champions.

The Lakers have never been better in these finals, their fans have never been louder in these playoffs, and resuscitation has never been more fun in a 103-98 Laker victory over the Celtics that might just turn this series serious.

"This is not over yet," intoned public address announcer Lawrence Tanter afterward as the crowd roared and the confetti fell.

"Not in our house" read the giant scoreboard as the sweaty players gathered at midcourt and applauded the equally sweaty fans who had finally showed up.

The Celtics still lead the series three games to two, and the show now moves to Boston for Game 6, and 7 if necessary, and the Lakers haven't won there this season in three tries.

But if they can recover like this from Thursday's 24-point collapse, who knows?

And if they can be strong enough to blow a 19-point lead on Sunday and still win, who would dare guess?

It was a night when valuable Kobe Bryant scolded his teammates, and energized Lamar Odom scolded himself, and somebody in the stands finally booed Boston.

It was a night when Pau Gasol actually played up to his first name -- Pow! Nineteen points and 13 rebounds.

It was a night when Jordan Farmar actually lived up to his last name -- he plowed through the Celtic defense for 11 points, mostly on layups.

It was night, the first night, when Lakers Coach Phil Jackson actually talked like his team actually outplayed the mighty Celtics.

"They played harder than the Celtics consistently for the game, and I think that was a big key," Jackson said.

Before the game, Jackson laughed and said his team had just the right attributes to pull it off.

"We're young enough and dumb enough to be able to do this," he said.