Bryant Takes His Game to Another Level

What a game.

What made it so interesting was the foul situation. There were so many players in foul trouble early. Shaquille O’Neal had to play with handcuffs on over half the game. He picked up his third foul in the second quarter but Phil [Jackson] left him in there and was wise doing it. Shaq had to stay out of any kind of contact and he did a good job. That last call on Shaq was really questionable. You have two people going up for a rebound. It sure didn’t look like a foul from the camera angle.

I think Kobe Bryant played a remarkable game.

In the first half Kobe made some great passes. One led to a real important three-point shot that Glen Rice made to get the Lakers back in the game early. The score was 9-2. It could have been 11-2 but instead Rice makes that shot and gets fouled for a four-point play and it’s 9-6. It was a terrific pass by Kobe from underneath the basket all the way out to the three-point line.

Then Kobe made another remarkable pass. Kobe was surrounded by three players and he made a little underhand pass to Shaq, who was coming into the paint. Kobe turned what looked like a turnover into a basket.

It was a remarkable thing because Kobe hasn’t been able to work out in nearly a week. He hasn’t had the benefit of any real contact. Yet the game gets into overtime, Shaq fouls out and Kobe takes his game to another level, another two levels. Kobe wouldn’t allow the Lakers to be defeated. And that final tip he made was the most remarkable of all.

I was also surprised [Travis] Best ended up with the ball for the Pacers at the end of regulation. It looked like Best had hurt his shoulder earlier, he was rubbing it.

I was surprised, also, that Best didn’t drive by Shaq. He took the shot over Shaq. Normally he can make that shot but it didn’t look like he got anything on it. I could see his shoulder was bothering him.

The Lakers made some mistakes, silly fouls at the end of regulation after having a lead. But ultimately the Lakers’ defense held.

--As told to DIANE PUCIN