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Pistons look to shake off last-second Lakers shock
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-10 10:01
The Detroit Pistons returned home vowing to shake off Kobe Bryant's
last-second, game-tying 3-pointer and Los Angeles Lakers' Game 2 overtime win
that evened the NBA Finals.
"The hangover was last night," Pistons coach Larry Brown said Wednesday.
"That's over. We went to L.A. and gave ourselves a chance to win two games
against a great team. That's the way we're going to look at it."
Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal combined for all of the Lakers' points in
overtime and Los Angeles won 99-91.
The series shifts to The Palace of Auburn Hills for games Thursday, Sunday
and Tuesday.
Los Angeles Lakers'
Kobe Bryant celebrates as the game ends with the Lakers defeating the
Detroit Pistons 99-91 in overtime during Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Los
Angeles, June 8, 2004. Bryant was the high scorer with 33 points, and
scored the game-tying shot in regulation.
[Reuters/file] |
The 3-pointer Bryant launched
over high school rival Richard Hamilton left some wondering if the All-Star
should have gotten a chance to get the shot off.
After the game, Brown had to defend his decision to not foul Bryant -- or
O'Neal, who unexpectedly took the inbounds pass -- before Bryant tied the game
with just over two seconds left.
The Pistons defended their Hall of Fame coach on Wednesday and placed the
blame on themselves.
"Coach is always going to take a bulk of the criticism, but Coach ain't
hitting no shots and Coach ain't making no turnovers," center Ben Wallace said.
The Pistons led 89-83 before O'Neal scored on a putback and free throw with
35.9 seconds to go, followed by Bryant's 3-pointer.
"We should have grabbed a couple of more rebounds before that play (Bryant's
3) happened," forward Rasheed Wallace said. "We should have made a couple of
shots before that play happened."
The Pistons might have had their spirits broken by Bryant and the Lakers in
Game 2, but otherwise they appear to be in much better shape than Los Angeles.
The Lakers are nursing injuries to Karl Malone and Derek Fisher.
Fisher is hobbling with a sore right knee and has trouble driving the lane or
guarding the most athletic opponents. Malone sprained the medial collateral
ligament in his right knee early in Game 2 but played 39 minutes.
He would not commit Wednesday to playing in Game 3, but Lakers coach Phil
Jackson said he expected to have him in the lineup -- perhaps wearing a knee
brace.
Detroit Pistons Ben
Wallace slam dunks past Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal during Game 2
of the 2004 NBA Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angels, June 8, 2004.
[Reuters/file] |
Despite the devastating
loss, the underdog Pistons have proved to be a much tougher opponent for the
Lakers than most expected.
"We can play with anybody in the league and we're here," Rasheed Wallace
said. "Granted they're a good team, but we ain't scared of nobody. I don't know
why all you cats think we're scared of the Lakers or that the Lakers are this
dominant force. We ain't scared of those cats, man."
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