Bryant Sits Out as Pacers Close Gap

Think of the possibilities! You know Kobe Bryant did.

The locker-room door opens. A tall young man hobbles out onto the floor, the Conseco Fieldhouse roar drops to a stunned and worried hush, his teammates beam, Phil Jackson grins, the NBA finals are brought to a standstill.

And Bryant, sprained ankle healed, lopes out onto the court to save the day and bring the Lakers one step from a championship.

But Game 3 came and went, the Lakers rose and fell, rose again and finally fell, 100-91, to the emotional Pacers before a sellout crowd of 18,345 at Conseco.

The trumpets never blared. The spotlight stayed away. Conseco absolutely did not hush.

Bryant never emerged.

Not even in street clothes on the bench, not as hero, witness or villain.

So, one superstar short of their usual quota, the Lakers got 33 points and 13 rebounds from Shaquille O’Neal and several other strong supporting performances, but they never seemed to run at full speed.

The defeat narrowed the Lakers’ series lead to 2-1, with Games 4 and 5 also at Conseco, before the series could return, if necessary, to Staples Center for the last two games.

Brian Shaw started in Bryant’s place and understandably struggled in the role, missing seven of his 10 shots and turning the ball over twice.

Forward Glen Rice, whom the Lakers hoped would assume the scoring load, if not the mantle, of a superstar, fizzled, making only three baskets and having enough trouble defending Jalen Rose that Jackson held Rice out for most of the fourth quarter.

Reggie Miller answered the call for Indiana, scoring 33 points, with Rose adding 21, and the Pacers put together a solid defensive effort against O’Neal and the Laker offense.

IN QUOTES

“We came in here knowing we didn’t have Kobe, but we didn’t play smart. Every time we got back into the game, we shot ourselves in the foot.”

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

Laker center

THE SERIES

Lakers lead, 2-1