Thursday, June 06, 2002
Lakers 99, Nets 94
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — For the Los Angeles Lakers, old hands at the NBA Finals, the electrifying tension just wasn't there. This might as well have been another home game in January. But with Shaquille O'Neal under the basket, all was right with the two-time defending champions, who beat the New Jersey Nets 99-94 in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
In a town built on entertainment, there was little drama to be found Wednesday night, even when the Nets rallied from a 23-point deficit to make things close.
“It seems like a regular-season game — just going through the motions,” Lakers guard Brian Shaw said.
O'Neal, terrific in leading the Lakers to tight victories over the Sacramento Kings in Games 6 and 7 of the conference finals, finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.
New Jersey gets its next crack at O'Neal in Game 2 on Friday night at Staples Center.
“What adjustments can we make?” asked New Jersey's Lucious Harris, seemingly at a loss at how to stop O'Neal.
“You're talking about the most dominant player on this planet,” added Nets star Jason Kidd.
In the last period, O'Neal had 14 points and nine rebounds and was 8-of-16 from the line. He hit 12-of-21 free throws for the game.
The Nets twice got as close as three points in the fourth quarter. Such a finish didn't seem likely when the Lakers rolled to a 15-point lead in the first eight minutes and extended it to 42-19 with seven minutes left in the half.
The fast start surprised their coach.
“I thought we were real vulnerable, knowing the kind of energy we expended in that last series,” Phil Jackson said. “I got them revved up for the first quarter, but we kind of let up on the gas.”
The Nets outscored the Lakers 75-57 to finish the game, but it wasn't enough.
Kobe Bryant, who scored a quiet 22 points, saw the game the same way as Jackson.
“We came out, started the game with the intensity and the type of focus that we had in the last series,” Bryant said. “It carried over to start the game. Then, we kind of let it die down.”
The popular belief was the Nets, so potent at the beginning of their games against Boston in the Eastern Conference finals, would do it again. This time, the opposite took place.
“I give my guys a lot of credit because we could have folded the tent and went back to the arena and waited for Game 2,” Kidd said. “We got our feet wet, so hopefully we can work on the start of the game.”
Like his teammates, Kidd got off to a slow start with four points, one rebound and two assists in the first quarter. He finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the 14th triple-double in NBA Finals history and the first since Charles Barkley of Phoenix in 1993.
“When we had to pick it up, we did,” O'Neal said. “We just have to maintain our composure and keep it going, keep fighting. We know what it takes to win.
“This game was sort of a feeling-out game. We're a little disappointed in ourselves, but the first game is out of the way and I'm sure the second one will be better.”
New Jersey closed within four points when rookie Jason Collins made two free throws with 2:26 remaining, and the Nets got the ball back on Derek Fisher's turnover. But Kidd missed a 3-pointer and Keith Van Horn stepped out of bounds as he was shooting a 3.
Two free throws by O'Neal and a basket by Rick Fox off a feed from Bryant made it 95-87 with 1:11 to play.
Transition defense has been a weakness at times for the Lakers. But, for the most part, they managed to keep the Nets from running.
“We really want to push the tempo, get it up and down the floor,” said Nets coach Byron Scott, who played for the Lakers for 11 seasons and won three championship rings. “We didn't do a real good job of that early in the game, but I thought we got better.”
The Nets were outrebounded 31-19 in the first half and made only 7-of-16 free throws in the first three quarters. They shot 8-of-10 from the line in the final period.
“I think the guys were probably a little nervous,” Scott said. “The last time we were nervous was the first game of the playoffs against Indiana.”
Fox added 14 points and Fisher had 13 for the Lakers, who trailed only once — at 2-0. Van Horn scored 12 points and Todd MacCulloch had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Nets.
O'Neal abused MacCulloch early, scoring 16 points as the Lakers took their 23-point lead. O'Neal made only four field goals in the second half.
“As the game went on, I started making better decisions,” MacCulloch said.
Notes: Van Horn was the only player to foul out, picking up three of his six fouls in the fourth quarter. ... Fox finished with five fouls; no other Laker had more than two. ... O'Neal didn't pick up a personal foul until 7:25 remained. ... Magic Johnson, whose upcoming induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame was announced Wednesday, received a standing ovation during a first-quarter timeout. ... O'Neal scored 43 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals two years ago against Indiana and 43 last year against Philadelphia. He won MVP honors both times.
NEW JERSEY (94) — Martin 7-22 6-9 21, Van Horn 5-14 0-0 12, MacCulloch 5-9 0-2 10, Kittles 3-7 2-2 9, Kidd 11-26 0-1 23, Jefferson 2-4 0-2 4, Harris 1-5 3-4 5, Williams 2-5 0-0 4, Johnson 0-1 1-2 1, Collins 1-1 3-4 5. Totals 37-94 15-26 94.
L.A. LAKERS (99) — Fox 5-8 4-6 14, Horry 2-6 1-2 5, O'Neal 12-22 12-21 36, Bryant 6-16 10-11 22, Fisher 4-7 4-4 13, Walker 1-2 0-0 2, George 1-5 1-1 3, Hunter 1-3 0-0 2, Medvedenko 1-1 0-0 2, Shaw 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 33-72 32-45 99.
New Jersey ....... 14Ü22 27 31—94
L.A. Lakers ....... 29Ü19 24 27—99
3-Point Goals—New Jersey 5-16 (Van Horn 2-6, Kittles 1-2, Kidd 1-3, Martin 1-3, Harris 0-2), L.A. Lakers 1-10 (Fisher 1-2, Fox 0-1, George 0-1, Shaw 0-1, Hunter 0-1, Horry 0-2, Bryant 0-2). Fouled out—Van Horn. Rebounds—New Jersey 60 (Kidd 10), L.A. Lakers 60 (O'Neal 16). Assists—New Jersey 19 (Kidd 10), L.A. Lakers 21 (Bryant 6). Total fouls—New Jersey 29, L.A. Lakers 20. Technicals—Martin, Shaw. A—18,997
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Lakers 99, Nets 94