Last nite ended on a very positive note as Kobe Bryant did the best imitation of Michael Jordan I have ever seen. Singlehandedly beating the Portland Trailbalzers.
April 15, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Shaquille O'Neal says the turmoil has been set aside. The Los Angeles Lakers are in playoff mode.
They showed it Wednesday night in the regular-season finale when Kobe Bryant's 3-pointer at the end of double overtime gave the Lakers a 105-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, and, more importantly, the Pacific Division title.
Los Angeles finished as the second seed in the Western Conference and will face Houston in the opening round of the playoffs.
"We're ready. We know what we have to do," O'Neal said. "We know what we are striving for. And we know we want to be the team to win 16 games."
Bryant ducked out of the locker room without speaking to reporters. He had been dogged in recent days by suggestions of poor shot selection -- and then that he deliberately didn't take shots in a key loss to Sacramento.
The Lakers began the night tied with the Kings atop the Pacific Division. When the Kings lost 97-91 to Golden State, the Lakers had their opening.
Damon Stoudamire's jumper with 31.6 seconds left in the second overtime tied it at 102, and he raced downcourt for a layup with 2.2 seconds left to give Portland the lead.
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Unbelievable performance. wil.
April 15, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Shaquille O'Neal says the turmoil has been set aside. The Los Angeles Lakers are in playoff mode.
They showed it Wednesday night in the regular-season finale when Kobe Bryant's 3-pointer at the end of double overtime gave the Lakers a 105-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, and, more importantly, the Pacific Division title.
Los Angeles finished as the second seed in the Western Conference and will face Houston in the opening round of the playoffs.
"We're ready. We know what we have to do," O'Neal said. "We know what we are striving for. And we know we want to be the team to win 16 games."
Bryant ducked out of the locker room without speaking to reporters. He had been dogged in recent days by suggestions of poor shot selection -- and then that he deliberately didn't take shots in a key loss to Sacramento.
The Lakers began the night tied with the Kings atop the Pacific Division. When the Kings lost 97-91 to Golden State, the Lakers had their opening.
Damon Stoudamire's jumper with 31.6 seconds left in the second overtime tied it at 102, and he raced downcourt for a layup with 2.2 seconds left to give Portland the lead.
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Unbelievable performance. wil.
