Another View

What other papers are saying about the NBA finals:

BILL BENNER, Indianapolis Star

The celebration in Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday night did not include the presentation of a trophy, but a presentation of character.

It did not include the taste of champagne, but a taste of tenacity and toughness.

It did not include the awarding of the most valuable player, but a thundering salute to all those most valuable Pacers, who never were better, never more determined, never more on top of their game--and all over a supposedly superior opponent--than on this electric Friday night.

If they do not win this NBA championship, which is still very much in doubt, the Pacers at least will be able to remember how they walked off their own floor for the last time of their best season ever.

They headed down the tunnel as the better team, by as wide a margin as the final score of 120-87 would indicate. And if anyone just wandering into the proceedings would have been asked, they surely would have identified the Los Angeles Lakers as the junior varsity.

“We played as well as we could play,” said Pacer Coach Larry Bird who, in his farewell to the fieldhouse sidelines, saw his team deliver the quintessential effort of a three-year quest to win the NBA championship.

So they have life and, indeed, the pulse, faint after the heartbreak of a crushing Game 4 overtime defeat, beats stronger. Although still down 3-2 in these NBA Finals going back to Los Angeles for Monday night’s Game 6, the one-sidedness of the outcome could shake the Lakers, who were prepared to dance on the Indiana hardwood and party on their flight back to Southern California.

“I don’t like to think a team that has championship quality in it loses by 33 points,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “We have something to prove to ourselves when we go back home.”

Jackson may be surprised by the difference, but maybe not by the defeat. The Lakers have shown they put away a series like an 8-year-old puts away his toys. Now they have another team coming back on them, testing their resolve.

All the Pacers took turns shredding Los Angeles’ defense Friday, which was as laid back as that SoCal lifestyle. Rik Smits scored 12 points in only 14 minutes. Mark Jackson was the pugnacious leader who just kept coming at the Lakers, despite Kobe Bryant’s Hack-A-Jack defense. Sam Perkins sacrificed his 39-year-old body to draw fouls. Perkins and Dale Davis summoned all their strength and guile to battle Shaquille O’Neal, who reverted to his Bricquille O’Neal form at the free-throw line but was the only Laker to show up, otherwise.

Sure, the Lakers are still in control of the series, with two home games to play and only one needed to win it all.

“We’re sitting in the driver’s seat,” their coach offered.

But Friday night, the Pacers leaned over and grabbed hold of the wheel and, even it was only for these 48 minutes, oh, what a joy ride it turned out to be.

California, here they come again.