Lakers-Suns series reaches dramatic finale

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A gripping first-round playoff
series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will end
in a remarkable comeback or giant upset in Saturday’s Game
Seven in Phoenix.

That is the scenario facing Lakers coach Phil Jackson after
the Suns avoided elimination for the second consecutive game in
Los Angeles on Thursday, winning 126-118 in overtime, to tie
the series at 3-3.

“There is a lot at stake,” Jackson told reporters after
Steve Nash inspired the Suns with 32 points and 13 assists in
Game Six at the Staples Center.

“For them it would be a terrific comeback. For us, it would
be a monumental upset.

“But I think there’s sometimes more pressure on the home
team in Game Seven,” added Jackson, who has guided teams to a
record-equaling nine NBA Championships.

“Sometimes you can feel more relaxed on the road. We feel
okay about this game. We’ve won over there before.”

The inexperienced Lakers are bidding to become only the
fifth team seeded seventh to dispatch the second seeds since
the NBA’s 16-team playoff format started in 1984.

For their part, the Suns are attempting to become only the
eighth team in league history to rally from 3-1 down and clinch
a best-of-seven series.

ROLLER-COASTER RIDE

Momentum appears to be with the Suns, but this series has
been such a roller-coaster ride of emotion and late twists that
fans on both sides are ready for just about anything.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was in brilliant form on Thursday,
his tally of 50 points the fourth highest in his team’s playoff
history and 21 more than he had scored in any of the previous
games in the series.

However, his stellar display could not prevent the Lakers
from losing their first game in nine with home court advantage
at the Staples Center.

The Suns, who initially succumbed to Jackson’s ‘Inside Man’
strategy after they won the opening game in Phoenix, out-ran,
out-shot and out-thought their opponents in Game Six.

“When your backs are against the wall, you can react two
ways,” Nash said. “Obviously, we have reacted positively.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game at home, but we feel
like we’re better at home. Our team feels good with the
opportunity to play for the series.”

The Suns will be boosted by the return of Raja Bell, who
sat out Thursday’s encounter after being suspended for throwing
Bryant to the floor in Game Five.

Bell, who has been guarding Bryant throughout the Western
Conference series, provides the smaller and faster Suns with
much-needed strength.

DIFFERENT PROBLEMS

Brazilian Leandro Barbosa, who posed different problems for
the Lakers with his speed and contributed 22 points as Bell’s
replacement, will return to the bench on Saturday.

Although momentum and home court advantage suggest a Suns
victory at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, the Lakers can
take strength from statistics.

The Los Angeles team is yet to lose a series in franchise
history when leading 3-1 while Jackson has never failed to
reach the second round in 14 previous attempts as coach, nine
times with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Lakers.

Then again, the Suns have triumphed in 16 of their last 19
games at home, and have an overall win-loss ratio of 75-17 in
Game Sevens.

“The pressure is on both teams,” said Suns coach Mike
D’Antoni. “We feel good about ourselves but they will be ready
and we’ll be ready. It should be a great game.”

Bryant, who averaged 42.5 points against the Suns in the
regular season, added: “We’re going into a hostile environment.
We look forward to it. Let’s get it on.”

The winners of Game Seven will meet the Los Angeles
Clippers in the second round.