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Lakers' Locker Room For L.A., oh what a relief a win in Game 1 is
Posted: Thursday June 08, 2000 02:05 AM
By John Donovan, CNNSI.com LOS ANGELES -- Maybe it wasn't relief that went sighing out of the Los Angeles Lakers after their handy Game 1 win Wednesday in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was simply ... hot air. Whatever, the Lakers ought to be relieved that Game 1 went so easily for them, considering all the problems it presented. "Every time you can protect the home-court [advantage] ... it's not a sigh of relief. It's more like you say, 'There's a job well done,'" said the Lakers' Rick Fox, one of the few L.A. players who didn't make like the home crowd and bolt for the exits as soon as possible. "But now we have to win Game 2." The opener of the best-of-seven Finals had the makings of something ominous for the Lakers. There was the threat of a letdown after their draining Western Conference finals series against Portland. There was a question of fatigue, considering they put away the Blazers only Sunday. There was the pressure of holding home-court advantage, something they frittered away in Game 2 of the Portland series by losing at the Staples Center. Any of those, or all of those, could have been disastrous to the team's hopes of the first NBA title in L.A. since 1988. Instead of disaster, though, the Lakers got off to a fast start, held off the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter and coasted to an easy 104-87 win. "I think it meant a lot for us, as a team," guard Derek Fisher said of the win. "Especially considering how good they are on the road and realizing how tough it is to win in Conseco Fieldhouse." The Finals switch to Indianapolis' new arena for Games 3, 4 and 5 next week. The Pacers had the NBA's best home record this season, at 30-5, so the Lakers are well aware of the importance of winning here. "All the pressure is on us. They're not expected to win here," said guard Brian Shaw. "So it was important." It was huge, as the relief on the Lakers' faces -- well, maybe it was satisfaction -- showed after the game. Still, in the NBA Finals, it's a short step between getting the job done and getting the job done on you. You get satisfied, you get squashed. "Now we have to win Game 2," Fox said. "Their team is too good. You lose this next one and you go to their place, where they've been so good all year, and give them three chances to win the NBA championship -- you got problems." And that's something these Lakers can definitely do without.
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