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Lakers' Bryant Insists Series 'Far From Over'

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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant stands on court against the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2008. The Celtics pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in National Basketball Association history, rallying from a 24-point hole to beat the 97-91 in the NBA Finals.

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By TOM WITHERS

The Associated Press

Published: June 15, 2008

Updated: 06/15/2008 12:13 am

LOS ANGELES - With the same purpose as one of his in-your-face jumpers, Kobe Bryant leaned into the microphone.

He promised more NBA Finals games to come.

"The series ain't over," he said. "It's far from over."

Faced with long odds, Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the practice floor Saturday for the first time since Game 4, when the Boston Celtics stormed back from a 24-point deficit to win and take a 3-1 lead in this rivalry.

The Lakers have run out of time and tomorrows. It's either win Game 5 today or pack away the sneakers for summer.

No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals, and even if the Lakers can stave off elimination and win at Staples Center, they'll have to play Games 6 and 7 in Boston, where the Celtics are 12-1 this postseason. Since the league switched to the much-debated 2-3-2 format in 1985, no team has won the last two games on the road.

Their climb is a steep one, and for the Lakers to have a chance, Bryant, the league's MVP and the game's most transcendent player, most criticized personality and most unstoppable force, must be the one to lead them.

If he is feeling any pressure, Bryant isn't showing it.

Bryant insists the Lakers have moved on since their Game 4 collapse.

"We've got to take care of business on Sunday," Bryant said. "So what are we going to do? How am I going to get my teammates in the right frame of mind, make sure they're energetic, and that's what it's been all about."

Boston is one win from its 17th NBA title, and its first in 22 years, but the Celtics are wary of Bryant.

"We're up 3-1 and we know we have a lot of basketball to play because Kobe is on that team," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He's the scariest player in the NBA in a lot of ways, so you're fearful of him all the time. A respectful fear."

Bryant didn't score from the field in the first half of Game 4, which the Lakers led by 18 at halftime and by 20 with 6 minutes left in the third. In the second half, Paul Pierce asked to guard Bryant.

Pierce's size seemed to bother Bryant, and with none of the other Lakers able to carry the scoring load, Bryant tried to take over down the stretch but couldn't.

Ray Allen will likely start on Bryant in Game 5, but Rivers said "one guy will not guard" him.

"It's just too hard," Rivers said. "It's too much work, and it takes all the energy out of that one guy."

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