Harper Took It Upon Himself to Succeed

The Lakers all picked up their game when they found out Kobe Bryant wasn’t able to come back.

I thought Ron Harper took the ball to the basket as good as anybody. One of the things Kobe brings is a game that attacks the defense, attacks the basket, forces defenders to take risks and somebody has to rotate to guard Kobe and leave somebody else open. Those are the kinds of things you really can’t replace but I thought Harper picked up those things.

Indiana’s game plan was to get Reggie Miller off quickly and the Pacers did. He scored early and got the team going and from there the Pacers stayed in the first half really well. In the fourth quarter, though, a couple of times when Miller would normally take the shot, he didn’t. I don’t know why. He came off screens well, he had the ball, but it seemed like he was looking more for the drive, the face shot, and then he’d pass instead.

Shaquille O’Neal, I think, is real close on his free throws. His motion is much, much better. His problem, and I think he’ll correct this, is he sometimes doesn’t get under the ball. But he’s close to being an average foul shooter. He needs to bend his knees more, make it all one motion and get some arc. You have to have an arc.

But also, Shaq made some great passes. Guys coming to the basket, Shaq hit them. That one pass, in the fourth quarter, Shaq hit [Robert] Horry so quick, that was a beautiful play. That was one of great plays in game. Shaq got rid of that ball so quickly.

The Lakers got two or three baskets on that play and could have had more but guys dropped the ball. Shaq has become an excellent passer.

One of the key calls, and it could have been disastrous, was that flagrant foul on Shaq. I don’t quite understand that, that you can’t make a play on a guy driving to the basket. The rules say this is a game of incidental contact, not no contact, and those kinds of calls can make a big difference. That was a four-point play and Shaq got his fifth foul. I just don’t understand it.

--As told to DIANE PUCIN