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By David Aldridge Special to ESPN.com
Fisher has been obscene from the perimeter in the postseason, mainly because the pressure Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal put on defenses has given him wide-open looks. The Sixers will have no choice but to give him a lot of those same looks, though Iverson will likely get a lot of defensive spins against him. McKie only plays the point until Larry Brown can get Eric Snow in the game; then McKie goes to small forward. Bryant has wrecked opposing offenses by attacking their point guard during the playoffs; don't be surprised if he harasses McKie as well. The Lakers know that after Iverson, McKie is Philly's most important offensive player. He's earned their respect. And they'll do whatever they can to shut him down. EDGE: Sixers
Shooting Guard:
Kobe Bryant vs. Allen Iverson
Small Forward:
Power Forward:
Horace Grant vs. Tyrone Hill
George Karl got up and huffed off the stage before answering the question, but the answer was obvious: Mutombo, the man Hill said wouldn't be much of a factor in the Eastern Conference finals, was the difference in that series, averaging 16.6 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. He was able to clang across the lane before launching ugly but effective sky hooks and drop steps. That will not happen against Los Angeles, which has the ultra-quick O'Neal and very effective help defenders who'll drop in the lane and wreak havoc any time Mutombo puts the ball on the floor. O'Neal won't need any help guarding Mutombo in all likelihood. At the other end, Mutombo is a force as always. Defensively, he's a better help defender coming from off the ball than an on-ball position defender. O'Neal manhandled David Robinson, who's quicker than the Mount, and it's hard to see how he won't have similar success against Philly. He's just too fast, especially coming across the lane, and he's too strong, even for the 7-2, 260-pound Mutombo. Would Philly sacrifice Hill (or maybe Todd MacCullough) against O'Neal, leaving Mutombo to come and help? It may not make much difference, but it's something to try. Philly's best hope-and it's not an idle one-is for officiating to be a factor. If the refs call a game or two tight, as they did the last time Mutombo, then in Atlanta, played the Lakers, the Sixers could have a chance. EDGE: Lakers Bench: Raja Bell, Matt Geiger Todd MacCulloch, Kevin Ollie, Eric Snow vs. Devean George, Ron Harper, Robert Horry, Tyronn Lue, Mark Madsen, Brian Shaw Philly is greatly injured here by the loss of George Lynch, who usually started, which meant McKie could come off the bench and provide scoring against reserves. Now, points are hard to come by, though Bell-who the Laker coaches literally didn't know was on the Sixers' roster-scored 10 points in Game Seven, and Snow came through with two huge buckets in Game Five. MacCullough played well when matched with Mutombo in a Twin Towers look against the Bucks. He's got great hands and a deft touch around the basket. Along with the oft-injured Geiger, he gives the Sixers 12 fouls in reserve to use against Shaw. Horry has shown he can guard just about everyone. His versatility at both ends of the floor makes him one of the most important playoff performers in the league, and he rarely disappoints in the postseason. The Lakers don't expect much scoring out of their reserves; they want tempo. They took apart the Spurs' bench in the Western Finals, though. EDGE: Even Coach: Larry Brown vs. Phil Jackson Two of the all-time greats, they don't have much of a history with one another. Brown passed Jackson over for an assistant coach's job in New Jersey in the early 80s; one guesses that Jackson doesn't mind now. Both are outstanding at series preparation and even better at adjustments from game to game. Both will use the media to make points to their team, to the league and anybody else. Both have shown an ability to modify their game plans to accommodate star players. Both have a deep love for the game that shows in their demands to play the team game and play the right way. Their teams reflect each man's personality. A coaching clinic. EDGE: Even Intangibles The Sixers fight. And fight. And fight. Their ability to find a way to win games when they're in the midst of controversies and injuries has made them the best team in the league for most of the season. They have won without each of their top players at times this season. They relish being Iverson's "supporting cast." They believe in themselves and they can win on the road. They will truly believe at 9 p.m EDT Wednesday that they can beat the Lakers. Unfortunately, belief is not enough. The Lakers are chasing history and even though they won't admit it, the chance to go unbeaten throughout the playoffs is an incredible carrot. They would love to distinguish themselves further from the Showtime Lakers and this is one way to do it. Even if they don't sweep Philadelphia, they should dominate the series. The Sixers just don't have anybody to guard Bryant, and it's hard to see Mutombo being the defensive factor against Shaq that he was against the east's centers. The Lakers are the NBA's version of the Borg in the new Star Trek franchise. Resistance is futile. The Pick Lakers in five.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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  ALSO SEE ALDRIDGE ARCHIVE Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Sixers-Lakers Lawrence: Kobe has grown May: Sixers not in awe Kobe Bryant: Year-by-year Hughes: Lakers come to play when it matters Howard-Cooper: Mr. (Relaxed) Clutch |
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