Payton: "We ain't coming back to Houston"

Lakers set sights on ending series
Payton: `We ain't coming back to Houston'
By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Barring unforeseen delays with his legal problems, the Los Angeles Lakers don't expect Kobe Bryant to have to make a dramatic, late entrance Wednesday night into Game 5 of their first-round playoff series with the Rockets.
Pre-trial hearings in Bryant's sexual assault case began Monday in Eagle, Colo. and are expected to conclude early Wednesday afternoon.
"We talked about it (Sunday night) on the plane home," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He said he expected Monday and Tuesday to both be full days in court but that the way he understood it, Wednesday's session is only supposed to be about half a day. That should give him plenty of time to make the trip here for our game."
With Bryant missing from practice, the Lakers will be unable to implement any significant changes to their game plan.
"I imagine we'll hold a lot of things for the day of the game," Jackson said. "Kobe will have to make the adjustments. I don't worry much about him. He has the ability to make them.
"It hurts the team chemistry. But he's got to spend his time doing what he needs to do."
The Lakers maintain that a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series doesn't have them dismissing the Rockets just yet. But if you **** your head to just the right angle, you can already hear mariachi music in the air.
"San Antonio has their Alamo to enjoy with whatever else it is they do down there," Jackson said. "If and when it comes to that, we'll be ready to go and try to meet the challenge.
"They are solid right now and playing great. San Antonio finished the season as strong as anybody else. Now they are playing the strongest basketball of anybody in the NBA."
Gary Payton figures the Spurs are also looking forward to a little payback on the Lakers after LA won the season series.
"We beat them three out of four in the regular season, so they want us," the point guard said. "They'll be ready. Right now, they're playing at a high level. But I think we're capable of rising to a higher level ourselves.
"The thing is, we've got to take care of business on Wednesday night (against the Rockets)," Payton said. "The game is at our place, so we should be able to do it. You don't want to have to go back to Houston, because you never know what could happen in that situation. If they get hot, have one of those kinds of games shooting, then you've got to come back here for Game 7, and that's a situation you'd like to avoid.
"I'm sure the Rockets would like to get us into that kind of situation and take their chances. What they don't know is we ain't coming back to Houston."
On Monday, the Lakers went through a light workout including weightlifting, conditioning, physical therapy and shooting. They did no running.
Those Lakers who are bruised and aching continue to mend, and Jackson expects to have everyone available for Game 5.
If the Lakers want to look ahead with a reason to be concerned, it should be over Shaquille O'Neal's absymal performance -- even for him -- in the playoffs at the foul line. He's made just 13 of 42 free throws (31 percent) in the postseason.
"Right now, it's in the garbage," Jackson said. "I told him we won't survive for very long in these playoffs if he doesn't improve. It's like a turnover if he goes to the line and misses two shots and we give up the ball.
"He's struggling to make adjustments. He's putting in the time. He's making the effort. He's just got to take it to the floor. It's not that difficult a shot. But he's putting himself in a position where there's starting to be a lot of attention drawn to it."
How does a soon-to-be 41-year-old power forward recover from playing 47 minutes and scoring 30 points in a playoff game?
"I came in today and did some lifting and to meet with the guys," said Karl Malone. "Now I'll go home, spend time with the family, eat some crab legs and maybe have a cigar."


According to the Lakers there will not be another game for Houston in this series. I am certain there will be a game 6. GO ROCKETS!!!