EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The whole idea of the home-court advantage, particularly as it relates to a Game 7, is to create an atmosphere conducive to winning, a sense of comfort that provides a team with enough emotional support to overcome any previous pitfalls and move on to victory.
In other words, an edge.
On Saturday, the day before the final game in their NBA Western Conference semifinal series against the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers not only reveled in the knowledge that the contest would be played at the Staples Center — they also basked in the glow of the whole SoCal lifestyle thing.
On one sideline, there was coach Phil Jackson, talking about his meditation and the work he does to sustain his Zen center. Not too far away, veteran guard Derek Fisher was explaining he didn’t need to convey the urgency of today’s tilt — the winner moving on to face the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals — to his younger teammates because that would seriously mess up the mellow vibe.
It was a wonder the practice wasn’t conducted at Venice Beach, the better to go on a team rollerblading excursion afterward.
“You just can’t go into it looking at the game like it’s this entirely different situation. That would make you too anxious, too uptight,” Fisher said. “You have to manage your emotions because if you don’t, you won’t leave yourself where you can play your natural, free-flowing game.”
There are those who would argue it’s the Lakers’ collective sense of cool that has put them in this position. The Rockets, along with everyone else in the NBA with the possible exception of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, were supposed to be so much chum in the Pacific for Kobe Bryant and Company. Even after the Rockets took Game 1 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles grabbed the home court back by splitting the first two contests in Houston.
Then, after a 40-point win here in Game 5, the thinking was that the Lakers would put the injury-riddled Rockets out of their misery.
But the team that was already minus Tracy McGrady going into the postseason, and lost Dikembe Mutombo and Yao Ming after the playoffs began, dominated from the opening tip Thursday at the Toyota Center and held on for a 95-80 win that had everybody goin’ to Cali for Game 7.
It almost seems like the Lakers’ approach is to remain totally cool and watch as the Rockets work themselves up into such a frenzy that they’ll just spontaneously combust once the game begins. But while pyrotechnics admittedly may never be too far away when it comes to the oft-emotional Ron Artest, Houston is insistent that its passion won’t lead to extinction, but rather, is the reason for its continued survival.
“I’ve stopped trying to figure this team out; I just think when we’re down and out, this team comes together,” forward Shane Battier said. “I don’t care if we don’t have the most talented team, there’s not a team with more heart in this entire league. We’ve shown it again and again.”
Given the fact there’s a Game 7, it’s doubtful even the Lakers could argue with that. But one thing this team has — besides palm trees along Rodeo Drive — that Houston doesn’t is some serious championship hardware. So while the series has been a long, strange trip, with more than a few annoyances thrown their way, it’s entirely possible that by this afternoon, the Lakers’ road will end up where everyone thought it would be all along — hosting the opening two games of the Western Conference finals.
“After the losses we’ve had nobody’s slept very well. But there’s nothing anyone can do about that. We’re here now,” Fisher said. “We’re still on our mission, still in line to accomplish our goal.
“There’s no script to follow in the NBA, especially in the playoffs. But come (today) it’s up to us to control the ending of the story.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
