Suns Force Lakers Into Pivotal Game 5

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

PHOENIX -- The Lakers often have been in jeopardy of getting burned the past two postseasons. And now they seem a bit lax about wearing their SPF 50 against the Suns.



Last spring, the Lakers won pivotal Game 5s at home in the playoffs to break 2-2 ties against Houston and Denver en route to winning the championship. Last month, they did the same, escaping after a first-round series against Oklahoma City was deadlocked.



Now, it's happening again.



After a 115-106 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, this series is suddenly tied 2-2 after it had been 2-0. And it's driving the Zen Master zany.



Title runs, you see, once were a bit of a breeze for Phil Jackson in Los Angeles. When his Lakers won crowns in 2000, 2001 and 2002, they either led 3-1 or had swept eight of nine seven-game series. Only once was a seven-game series tied 2-2, that being the epic 2002 West final against Sacramento.



Suddenly, Jackson now sees a series tied 2-2 for the fourth time in two seasons, with the Lakers facing a pivotal Game 5 at home. Might the odds at some point catch up with them?



"Obviously, disappointed,'' the Lakers coach said of how he felt after the Game 4 setback at US Airways Center. "We thought we could come here and get a game. And, unfortunately, you know we weren't up to the task.''

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/26/suns-force-lakers-into-pivotal-game-5/