Lakers look on the bright side after loss
The Lakers entered their locker room Sunday night dejected, many of them disheartened over the Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, a loss that pushed Los Angeles to the edge of the playoff cliff.
For those who stood at the ledge, Kobe Bryant was there in the locker room to pull them back, offering positive words.
When he was done, Derek Fisher, the team’s other captain, spoke up, Fisher too being positive. There also were encouraging words from Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who also made the positive theme the message.
Yes, the Lakers are one loss away from losing their NBA championship to the hated Celtics, trailing, 3-2, in the best-of-seven series. But the Lakers are also one win away in Game 6 on Tuesday night at Staples Center from pushing the series to a Game 7, also at home.
“We’re a positive bunch going home,” Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said, smiling outside the team’s locker room, “even though we’re down 3-2.”
Hamblen, who is in charge of putting the game plan together for this series, knows the task ahead will be difficult for the Lakers even though the next two games are at home.
The Lakers are 9-1 at home during the playoffs, the lone loss coming in Game 2 of the Finals to Boston.
The Celtics were better on the road than at home during the regular season. They were tied for the second-best road record in the NBA at 26-15.
They won at Staples Center during the regular season.
The Celtics arrived in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, and practiced later at the Clippers’ training facility.
“As you know, Boston wants to come in and close it out,” Hamblen said. “Game 6 will be a heck of a game.”
Hamblen has outlined several things the Lakers must do to be successful:
Improve defense
The Lakers allowed the Celtics to shoot 56.3% from the field, 76.9% in the second quarter and 63.2% in the third, when Boston built a 13-point lead. When the Lakers clamped down on defense in the fourth, the Celtics shot just 35%.
“We absolutely have to play better defense,” Hamblen said.
Win the trench game.
“The trench game rules,” Hamblen said.
The Lakers have lost the rebound game in all three losses. This time it was just by one, 35-34, but that is a common theme.
The Celtics had 46 points in the paint, the Lakers 32.
Go inside to Pau Gasol.
Gasol wasn’t effective in Game 5, scoring just 12 points. He had only two points in the first half, missing three of his four shots. The Lakers want to go to him early to see whether he can make Kevin Garnett work a little harder on defense.
“Pau has to do a better job of holding position,” Hamblen said.
As for the Celtics, Hamblen looks for them to try to get Paul Pierce (27 points in Game 5), Garnett (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Ray Allen (12 points) going.
But Hamblen also said the Celtics want to get Rajon Rondo out on the fastbreak.
“We’re down 3-2 and the next two games are at our place,” Hamblen said. “We’re going to try and play the way we play and be a little bit better at it.”
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