Lakers say they're far from finished

BOSTON -- The Lakers returned to Boston to find fewer headaches than on their last trip here.

The city wasn't teeming with microbiology conventions and college graduations, so there was no trouble finding hotel rooms, allowing the Lakers to clutter their minds with one solitary thought -- force a Game 7.

Coach Phil Jackson was at least one-third correct by saying the Lakers were young enough and dumb enough to win the NBA Finals after trailing 3-1, but an all-important two-thirds of that equation still remains unknown after a Game 5 victory.

Boston is 12-1 at home in the playoffs and one victory away from its first championship in 22 years. Game 6 is tonight at TD Banknorth Garden. Game 7, if necessary, would be in Boston on Thursday.

The Celtics were the ones facing travel issues when their charter jet was grounded several hours longer than expected at Los Angeles International Airport because of mechanical failures. Both teams were scheduled to leave Monday morning, but the Lakers handily beat the Celtics back to Boston.

The Lakers remained resolute for other reasons, lifted by the fact they were able to beat the Celtics despite losing a 19-point second-quarter lead and almost all of a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

"We have a great belief in this locker room that we can get it done and be the world champs," guard Jordan Farmar said. "That's been our goal all year long and we are holding on to it."

It would be significant if the Lakers did such a thing, no team ever proving strong enough to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals, but they'll need to figure out a few things beyond the obvious trend of losing large leads.

Kobe Bryant is averaging a pedestrian 21 points over the last two games and shooting a sub-pedestrian 35% over the same span. The Celtics are cutting off his drives to the basket, and his outside shots seem to be rimming out.

"I had a bad game," Bryant said with a smile after an eight-for-21 effort in Game 5.

Then he said he would not push the envelope in Game 6.

"A lot of people say, 'Kobe, you have to go out for 40 or 50,' but that's not how we play," Bryant said. "That's not what's going to win us championships. . . . You're not going to shoot too well against this team because they're going to throw everybody at you, but the important thing is for me to push the buttons at the right time. That's really become my role now more so than in the past."