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Show THE DAILY HERALD, (www.HarkTheHerald.com), Provo, Utah, Sunday, May 19, 2002 Page B6 NBA LAKERS Continued from Bl e The champions never trailed, practically yawning at the crowd with a fast start and a coolly efficient finish to their 24th victory in 26 playoff games. Shaq and Kobe are their two-tim- signature stars, but the poise and maturity that both stars lacked earlier in their careers particularly on the road has become the Lakers' hallmark. "We've been looking forward to getting back to this point," Bryant said. "We like the challenge of playing Sacramento and not having home-couadvantage. It's going to force us to get back to the level we were at last season." Bryant, who scored 84 points in the final two games of the Lakers' playoff rt sweep of Sacramento last season, had 10 points in the fourth as Los Angeles hung on to win the opener in the series widely expected to decide the league title. Robert Horry had 18 points for the Lakers, who won for the sixth time in their last seven trips to Arco Arena despite the best efforts of their fans and a late rally by the Kings. Sacramento cut it to 3 with two minutes left on a reverse layup by Bobby Jackson, who had 21 points. But O'Neal outmuscled two Kings and tipped a rebound to Horry for a dunk, and Bryant hit two free throws to bring calm to Arco. "They just hit a hot run, and we never got back in it," Chris Webber said. "We didn't play Kings ball, and we still had a chance to win. It's a lesson." Los Angeles hasn't lost a road playoff game since eyes lock on lottery Mew won the draft lottery was 1985, when every team that missed the playoffs had an The Associated Press SECAUCUS, , N.J. When four pingpong balls are chosen one at a time to determine the winner of the NBA draft lottery, four new sets of eyes will be watching. Although the NBA says the policy change has noth. f ing to do with debunking V conspiracy theories, it has decided to let The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine and USA watch the proceedToday k. DjzMisevian he Associated Press ings in person. Coming through: The Lakers' The lottery results will Kobe Bryant, left, knocks be announced at halftime of JerSacramento's Doug Christie Sunday's Boston-Neto the floor. sey playoff game, with the Chicago Bulls and Golden Game 5 of the 2000 NBA State Warriors having the one game before most chances Finals 225 each the Lakers won the first of out of 1,000 of winning their two straight titles. the rights to the first overall pick. Chinese center Yao Ming and Duke undergraduates Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy have been projected by many as having the best chances of landing Byron Scott said the first among the top three picks. line of defense is not letting "I think there is potentialhim get the ball. a number of players that ly If Pierce does gain poscould go No. 1 this year, said session, the goal is to have New York Knicks president him catch it about 24 feet from the basket, which Scott Layden, whose team finished with the seventh-worwould force him to dribble. record and has only a The Nets will be in serious chance of land4.4 percent trouble if Pierce can get the feet from the ing the first selection. ball The last time the Knicks hoop, which would give him the option of going right up for a jumper or putting the ball on the floor and driving. "Everybody had a sweet spot, he just has more than a lot of people," Scott said. "He has it from the top, the wing, the post. It doesn't really matter with him." Scott said that Martin has developed a personality to deal with someone who is going to get his points, and make no mistake, Pierce will probably get at least 20 every game in this series. 98-9- equal chance of landing the top pick. New York won the right to choose Georgetown center Patrick Ewing, and conspiracy theorists have long suggested that the envelope containing the Knicks' logo had been placed in a freezer prior to the drawing, or doctored in some other way. The NBA has dodged more than its share of conspiracy theories over the years, sometimes to the amusement and other times to the chagrin of commissioner David Stern. A representative of the accounting firm Ernst & Young, along with the four media members, various league officials and a representative of each of the 13 lottery teams, will witness the actual drawing, which takes place about an hour before the results are announced. Pingpong balls numbered are placed in a hopper, and four are drawn in succession. There are 1,001 possible ways those numbers could come up, and each combination is assigned to a different team. (There are 1,000 assigned combinathe 1,001st is tions; assigned to no one. If it is drawn, or if the team that won the first pick is also r : I . w Slowing Pierce is key for Nets The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, The day before New Jersey met the Boston Celtics in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals, Kenyon Martin was already in defensive mode. Martin did his best to deny Paul Pierce on Saturday, refusing to give the Celtics' leading scorer a hint about how he would be played in today's game. "He is a good player," Martin said of Pierce, who averaged 37 in four games points against New Jersey this season, including a performance that featured 46 after halftime of an overtime victory. "I know what he wants to do and where he wants to catch the ball." When asked about Pierce's sweet spot, N.J. all-rou- 48-poi- nt flpisii Martin scowled. He gave the same look when asked for a little defensive insight. "You all asked me that yesterday and didn't I answer, so I'm not answering today," Martin said, breaking into a smile as he finished the sentence. This is a matchup that Martin relishes. While most people recognize him as the Nets' flagrant st 15-to-- e foul-pron- bad boy, Martin has the ability to shut down anyone. In Pierce's case, that might mean limiting him to 20. "This is an opportunity," Martin said. "If I go out and do it, people will recognize what I have done all season. If I can slow him down, our chances of winning are pretty 03 good." While Martin would not discuss the Nets' defensive plans for Pierce, coach mm w ran i For all of Utah Valley J fPH ( www.meemteam.com f CHEERLEAD BOYSGIRLS TUMBLING & PRQVO JUNE 24-2- 8 3-- 7 17-2- 1 JULY OREM JUNE 24-2- 8 JULY PAYSON JULY 15-1- 9 10-1-4 JUNE JULY 17-2- 1 8-1-2 AMERICAN FORK JUNE 3--7 JULY PAYSON JUNE 24-2- 8 JULY 2941 OREM JUNE 10-1- 4 15-1- A Sri I 1 -- J PLEASE r FOR GREAT PRICES ON THOUSANDS OF TIRE ft WHEEL PACKAGES) mujRnmwniiB TAKE CON T n O L If WTTHOUT 24-2-8 2941 GROVE JUNE 10-1- 2 JJ iV? 4tBOiJ I. SAT. 8:304 Immmm 8:304 nw SEE MOTTOl MCt (onlinenfal CONTROL' PIRELLI P30O0 CONTINENTAL CONTITRACSUV .mcLMWBiKmiiufiMimiiwamxsia mz I... AS LOW AS m 1 taught PROFESSION ALLY SKILLED STAFF uUtJ MMHNKHB 1 t4LH Ik , UlMuJ )s UIRICl'l LAMIIT KONG 2EGE 1 '4)16'MB42 HkJ FKKUHBlfEIMIIUaK IWHMHWIS1HI WIUteiWKSIBI .rt.. IHDIPIHDIIIT Sama O Day 1 Am Lmtt mmm- - PA.C. 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Although the four medja members will watch the drawing and learn who has won, they will not be allowed to leave the room where the drawing is held until the winner is announced, league spokesman Tim Frank said. mEBa mUBDV nfMECKifaKumMmntm tJ on. MICHELIN SYMMETRY HuniwifmiiuntiBiianiNKSia co the Heat at No. 10, and, so criAr:3 rxzvi RACIAL I 80i-a9ioG- non-playo- ff ITT" A? THE US a cooling service call? Phone us or use RheemTeam to request a service call... day or night. Call or click for the best in Customer Care. Either way, you can count on us to be on time, in uniform, do the job right at a fair price, and clean up when we're finished. st (all prices include) -- a Heating Service. Need to schedule Cooling 1-- chosen for the second pick, extra drawings will be held). The Bulls and Warriors have 225 different combinations, the Memphis Grizzlies (who had the league's third-worrecord) will be 157 combinations, assigned and so on. The team with the best record, the Milwaukee Bucks, will haye only five winriSg pingpong ball combinations, or a 0.5 percent chancepf winning the No. 1 pick. t Drawings determine Jhe top three picks, and fee remainder of the draft order is determined by inverse order of finish during "tile season. So when the first envelope is opened, the Bucks will know whether they will pick 13th or have lucked into the top three. Same thing for the Clippers at No. 12, the Wizards at No. 11, Itire co. iNcr1 J7M8io FREB KEii:iiLnir(3xsK5at. HmW Aulstanca 2 Mlnut mMcilon mm sm mm mm .oBcainoi mmi ...mm yuinctSM Ksuara7cxs. LIZOLOi 013251(1211! 224-822- 0 3 |