DENVER -- The Lakers are expectingthe Denver Nuggets to pack their largest punch so far, an appropriatetime for Kobe Bryant to peer into the pressure of trying to be king ofthe ring.
The Lakers have cornered the Nuggetsby taking a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series that shifts today toDenver, where the Nuggets and their fans breathlessly await.
The Lakers will also breathe rapidlyat first -- altitude, of course -- but then they'll go after a victorythat would provide a chance to seriously study who's doing what to whomin that Houston-Utah series, seeing as how an NBA team has never won aseries after trailing 3-0.
It would also mean another step forBryant in his escalating quest to win a fourth championship. The10-time All-Star continued to express his feelings in big-pictureterms, following up some positive thoughts earlier this week with therevelation that he was "hungrier" for a championship now than he was asa fresh-faced 21-year-old in 2000.
"The first one I was so young, plus Iwas sharing that pressure with somebody else," Bryant said, referringto Shaquille O'Neal. "Me and Diesel both had the pressure on us to kindof get it done, he more so than I. Now the pressure's squarely on myshoulders to try and bring another championship here. It's somethingthat I accept. I think I'm a little hungrier now than I was the firsttime."
Can he handle the hunger?
"It comes with the territory. Youcan't be Superman and not deal with the pressure of dropping somebodywhen you go to rescue them," Bryant said.
Continuing the metaphor, the Nuggetsmust be the first-round villains, presumably more comfortable at homethan they were at Staples Center. The Nuggets were 33-8 at Pepsi Centerthis season, fourth-best home record in the Western Conference.
The Lakers managed to survive AllenIverson's 51-point splurge in a 111-107 victory here in December, butthe stakes are abundantly higher now.
The Lakers are expecting the Nuggetsto speed up the game by adding more layups, lob dunks and three-pointshots to an already frenetic offense.
They're also preparing for more contact, or "duress," as Coach Phil Jackson politely called it.
Denver has accrued six technicalfouls in two games, expanding upon the league-leading 54 it collectedduring the regular season.
"I think they're an emotional bunch,"said Bryant, who has had words with Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith so farthis series. "What we have to understand is that could work against us,particularly in Game 3, because once they get the crowd behind them andthey gain momentum, their emotion all of a sudden now becomes theirbiggest strength. What we have to try to do is keep it quiet as much aswe possibly can."
Martin wasn't very quiet Friday whenasked what he thought of Bryant, who used the trash-talking as amotivational thrust on the way to a 49-point, 10-assist Game 2performance that was arguably the most well-rounded of his playoffcareer.
"People talk trash, it happens," said Martin, who sprinkled a few unprintable words into the mix.
"If we start up again in Game 3, thenwe'll revisit it, but I want to win a basketball game. I'm not worriedabout whether" Bryant was upset. "They did what they had to do at home,so it's our time to win at home, bottom line."
The Lakers are also on notice after five teams with 2-0 series leads lost Game 3.
Still, they believe they can win away from Staples Center.
"We've had some big games on the road-- Utah, Dallas, Denver, some other places that are tough to play,"Bryant said. "I think it helps because we understand how to get itdone."
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Jackson was coy when asked if he was also hungrier to win a championship now than earlier in his career.
"I haven't had breakfast since 8:30. I'm very hungry right now. It's past my lunch time. So, yes, I am hungry," he said.
When Jackson returned to the Lakersalmost three years ago, he said it would be a story of "reconciliation,redemption, of reuniting."
So he was asked again if he wasn't hungry to break the nine-championship tie he holds with Boston Celtics legend Red Auerbach.
"I'll see you guys later," Jackson said as he smiled, turned and walked away from reporters.作者: kingjames 時間: 2008-4-27 05:32 PM
