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Plan B Pacers try to regroup after Game 1 disaster
Posted: Friday June 09, 2000 10:58 AM
As part of CNNSI.com's continuing coverage of the 2000 NBA Finals, Vince Cellini talked with NBA analyst Kevin Loughery after the Lakers' 104-87 Game 1 victory. Vince Cellini : The Pacers will make adjustments to Shaq. Is the onus on another player to step up Friday night? Kevin Loughery : There's no doubt someone will have to step up for the Lakers. That's been the big problem for L.A.: making quick adjustments. It has to be Kobe Bryant, the guard who handles the basketball most for the Lakers. He has to see the adjustments that Indiana makes defensively, and it's going to be double- and triple-teaming Shaq. It's going to be tough getting the ball into Shaq. And if he sees that quickly, some of the other Lakers players will be wide open, and Kobe has to deliver them the basketball in their scoring area. Cellini : How will Indiana get Reggie Miller going in Game 2? Loughery : The best thing the Indiana Pacers can do is set a bunch of baseline screens and picks for Reggie Miller and make it tough for L.A.'s Ron Harper to come around the baseline picks. Therefore, Miller will get many easy shots. Also, on the first several possessions, they'll go to Miller. In the last game, they went to Rick Smits to get him off to a good start. This time, they'll go to Reggie. Cellini : One of the problems for the Lakers in the playoffs has been the Game 2 letdown. Against Phoenix, they won by just one point. In Game 2 against Portland at the Staples Center, they get drubbed by 29 points. Why the drop-off in Game 2's? Loughery : When you have such an easy Game 1, it's tough to come as focused in Game 2 as you were in the first game when the victory came so easily. But I think Phil Jackson has plenty of ammunition this time, particularly that loss to Portland in L.A. Phil Jackson will let his team know that you have to come out with the same focus you had in Game 1. Cellini : The Pacers will have to dig a little bit, but what can they take out of Game 1 and use positively in Game 2? Loughery : They'll have to dig real deep after Game 1, because after looking at the films, they'll see how poorly they played. Also, the two top scorers, Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller has nightmares. But they were only down 71-69 with 1:42 left in the third period. That's a very good sign. They have extreme confidence; Larry Bird believes they can beat the Lakers. They'll play a good game in Game 2. Kevin Loughery is a former NBA player and head coach. He appears each Sunday on CNN/Sports Illustrated's "This Week in the NBA."
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