Sports: Lakers already thinking about a dynasty

PHILADELPHIA -- Kobe Bryant was dreaming of a dynasty. Shaquille O'Neal was pondering his legacy. Ron Harper and Horace Grant were making comparisons to the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s.

The Los Angeles Lakers were getting a little ahead of themselves Thursday on the eve of Game 5, but with good reason.

There was a sense pervading the First Union Center that the NBA Finals are all but over. Even the Philadelphia 76ers seemed ready to succumb to the inevitable.

"What I'm starting to feel like now," Allen Iverson said, "is that the way to beat those guys is to really blow them out to have a chance. And the way things are going, that's just not going to happen."

The Lakers hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and have a chance tonight to finish with a post-season record of 15-1, which would be the best in NBA history.

They also would become the first team to go through the playoffs undefeated on the road.

Although the task at hand is winning one more game, the Lakers allowed themselves to look at the bigger picture.

Bryant said he goes to bed at night wondering whether this Lakers team could become a dynasty. Coach Phil Jackson discussed O'Neal's desire to leave a legacy as one of the game's best big men, and Harper and Grant, who each won three championships with Michael Jordan during the past decade, gave their unique takes on how history will judge this team.

"I think in terms of running through the Western Conference like we did and winning two on Philly's court, it puts us among the best teams ever," Grant said. "But in order for us to rank up there with those best Bulls teams, we have to win more than two championships."

The Sixers have to win the final three games of the series, a feat no team has accomplished in the Finals.

They are beaten up, mentally and physically, practically running on fumes.

"I have enough in my gas tank to keep going, but I don't know when it's going to run out," Iverson said.

"Hopefully we'll win this game and I'll find out in L.A."

The Lakers held a 3-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers in last season's Finals but fell behind by 20 points at halftime and lost Game 5 by 33 points.

The Pacers, however, had more offensive weapons and were healthier than the 76ers, who have received little from anyone other than Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo.

Further decreasing their chances, the 76ers are facing a team that is 3-0 in elimination games this season. A year ago, Los Angeles was 4-6 in elimination games.

"We put ourselves in this situation last year and got blown out in Game 5, but we've matured so much this season that it's very difficult for us to imagine coming in for a Game 5 and having a letdown like we had last year," Bryant said.

O'Neal is almost certain to be named the Finals MVP for the second straight season. He is averaging 34.0 points and 16.5 rebounds, and has been a dominant force when he hasn't been in foul trouble.

Sixers coach Larry Brown has chosen to double team O'Neal when he gets the ball deep in the low post, and role players Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Harper and Brian Shaw have consistently knocked down open shots.

The 76ers have been able to control the pace for much of the series, but the Lakers have held Iverson around 30 shots over the past three games when the 76ers have needed him to squeeze off 10 more -- as he did in Game 1.

"I don't know what we can do strategically other than tell Aaron McKie, Tyrone Hill and Eric Snow to get double figures and Deke (Mutombo) and Allen to do what they've been doing," Brown said.

"I'm going to tell them, "Let's figure it out,' and we'll go from there."

TRYING TO AVOID TROUBLE: Thousands of purple and yellow Lakers flags waved from car windows, and fans lined up to buy tickets to watch Game 5 on the Staples Center's giant screens. Yet Los Angeles is anything but a picture of giddy glee.

Violence last year has police urging responsibility and City Hall officials crossing their fingers.

Extra police have kept watch outside the arena during home games, and they will be on alert tonight.

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