They Can’t Eliminate Middle Man

Instead of win or go home, it’s win or watch the Lakers celebrate for the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at First Union Center.

It’s not the type of scene they want to experience, but Allen Iverson said Game 5 is going to be an uphill battle because of Laker center Shaquille O’Neal.

“We are taking a lot of outside shots and that’s mainly because Shaq is just standing in the middle,” Iverson said after the 76ers’ workout Thursday. “When you have a guy that big standing in the middle, clogging up everything, that keeps making people shoot outside while [the Lakers] keep getting high-percentage shots because of Shaquille. He’s disruptive on both ends of the floor.”

Iverson is not counting out a 76er comeback, but he didn’t seem too confident.

“We have to feel like we’re going [to rally from a 3-1 deficit], but we know that’s, like, mission impossible,” Iverson said.”

Some of the 76ers remain more hopeful than Iverson.

“We don’t want anyone winning a championship and popping champagne on our floor,” guard Eric Snow said. “But our focus is not just keeping them from winning here, it’s about winning a championship. We still have an opportunity. We’re down but not out.”

Added center Dikembe Mutombo: “If you look at the league’s history, when you give the edge to somebody else, they become real comfortable. That’s what is happening with the Lakers now. All we can do is keep our heads up and come out ready for war.”

Philadelphia Coach Larry Brown is one defeat away from losing his first appearance in the NBA Finals, but he isn’t looking at his position as a negative.

“If you had told me that every year of my 18 seasons in the NBA coaching, I would be in the Finals but down 3-1, I would take that,” Brown said. “I want my players to understand that it’s a remarkable achievement for us.

“We didn’t play well in Game 4 and [the Lakers] had an awful lot to do with that. But we keep talking about heart and character and stuff like that--it’s past that. We just have to find a way to win.

“We’ve blown two opportunities to win, but now we can’t worry about whether this is a close-out game or not. We just have to find some kind of way to get it done.”

Maybe the key for the 76ers will be how they start tonight’s game. In losing the last three to the Lakers, Philadelphia fell behind early and had trouble mounting comebacks.

“The first quarter will determine who wants to stay in this series and who wants to go home,” Mutombo said. “The first five minutes of the first quarter will determine everything. We have to show that we are not the quitters or else I won’t be seeing you [reporters] on Saturday.”