NOTEBOOK | NBA Finals
Phantom guarantee: Nothing stands in the way of reporters on the trail of a guaranteed victory -- not even when the player in question can't remember guaranteeing anything. At the bottom of a column in a Los Angeles newspaper following the Lakers' 88-80 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night, Bryant was quoted as saying: "I'm telling you right now, we'll win Tuesday." The newspaper never claimed Bryant guaranteed a victory, as Rasheed Wallace boldly did before the Pistons' win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. But that didn't stop reporters on Monday from peppering Bryant, his teammates and the Pistons with questions about a guarantee. "I don't understand your question. I promised?" Bryant asked in bewilderment. "I'll go with that, man. It's fine with me." The rest of the players also didn't get it, though the Lakers couldn't exactly reply negatively to loaded questions asking whether they had to win Game 5. "That makes two of us," Rick Fox said when told Bryant predicted a win. "All we need is about six more people to come with us."
Hamlets: The Pistons' practice was invaded Monday by the sons of reserve forward Darvin Ham. Donovan, Dominic and Darvin Jr. took the court to shoot around with the Pistons, posting up rookie Darko Milicic and driving the lane against coach Larry Brown. The Pistons often have a family vibe. Rasheed Wallace's children turned up at a practice in Los Angeles last week, and other family members sometimes attend workouts.
Firing away: Though Fox is under contract to the Lakers for next season, he knows his seven seasons in Los Angeles could be finished this week. That's why he joined Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher and Devean George in a bathroom meeting with coach Phil Jackson on Saturday, asking for more playing time for the five Lakers remaining from their three most recent championship teams. "The whole discussion was never about a change to the starting lineup," Fox said. "It was about execution. If certain things aren't getting done, it's important to get guys out there who know the system and can execute." Fox, who had six assists in Game 4, campaigned for more playing time despite an undisclosed injury that prevents him from easily lifting his right arm above his head -- understandably affecting his shooting touch. But Fox still plays canny defense, and he knows the triangle offense better than the Lakers' newcomers.
Associated Press