Why does Kobe Bryant need to bring it next game according to the Celtics-Lakers Preview?”
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Down 3-2 in the NBA finals against an old foe that keeps finding new ways to beat them, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to need a big Hollywood ending to escape this jam with another championship. That’s exactly where they’ll make their last stand against the Boston Celtics. Game 6 is back home Tuesday night at Staples Center, where the Lakers are 9-1 in the postseason, with everybody from Kobe Bryant(notes) to the Lakers’ bedraggled bench playing with much more passion and confidence. “If you look at it, they’ve come home and carried the 3-2 lead back,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “It’s basically home court, home court. Now we’re going back to home court to win it. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, isn’t it?” Sure, on paper. But two straight losses in Boston led to a dire series deficit for the Lakers, who hadn’t even trailed in any playoff series this season. The Celtics have won three of the last four games, and they’re responsible for Los Angeles’ only home
The only thing on the Lakers’ side at this point is still having the best player on the floor in Kobe Bryant, but the five-time champion and one-time League Most Valuable Player can’t do it all himself. With his team reeling in Game 5, he tried, scoring 23 consecutive third quarter points to get L.A. within striking position, but continued to receive little help from teammates down the stretch of the contest. Bryant finished with a game-high 38 points in a losing effort. Now, it’s the Lakers turn to prove they’re more than just Bryant tonight (June 15) in Game 6 at home. It may be the only way they extend the series to a seventh and deciding game two nights later (June 17). L.A. has received very little from some key cogs including power forward Lamar Odom, 7-foot-1 center Andrew Bynum, defensive specialist Ron Artest and the point guard position as a whole with Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar.
