Lakers a win away from NBA title

By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

PHILADELPHIA — This was the Los Angeles Lakers, in all their splendor, all their might, all their power. Now everyone knows what all the fuss is about.

After a week of hard labor, the Lakers' "A" game arrived at the NBA Finals last night, in time to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 100-86, and take command of the series, 3-1.

From Shaquille O'Neal's 34 points to Kobe Bryant's near-triple double, from the 10 3-pointers that cut the heart from the Sixers to the defense that often suffocated them, the Lakers delivered the full brunt of the force they have become.

"One more win," said O'Neal. "I don't (care) how we do it, just so we get it done."

"It's pretty tough to beat that team when all things are working," said Philadelphia coach Larry Brown.

The Lakers handled everything, including a Philadelphia rally that cut a 22-point lead to seven in the fourth period, an uprising Los Angeles calmly destroyed with 10 straight points.

It left the repeat championship seemingly a matter of when and not if, and Philadelphia a shattered opponent.

"It wasn't easy," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, "and it's not over."

But the Lakers have three chances to clinch, either Game 5 here tomorrow night, or back in Los Angeles should they need longer.

And it is not just the Lakers battering the Sixers. But history, too. No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals.

"We want to finish it off," said Lakers forward Rick Fox. "We want to take no chances and play no unnecessary games."

"The reason they have seven-game series is somebody has to win four," Brown said. "I'm not going to give up and I don't expect my team to give up."