"It's definitely a warning sign," coach Phil Jackson said of the Lakers' fourth-quarter collapse.
Only seven teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a series, none since the Houston Rockets did it in 1994 and again in 1995. Houston won the championship both years and rechristened itself "Clutch City" for a series of big-time shots that fueled its runs.
The Lakers' three-peat was similarly built on buzzer beaters and signature moments. The Lakers got their first when Kobe Bryant lobbed to a dunking Shaquille O'Neal in a fourth-quarter comeback against Portland in Game 7 of the 2000 conference finals. Many more followed.
Bryant felt it when Fisher's shot swished Thursday, and the Lakers celebrated in a manner usually reserved for later rounds.
"It felt," Bryant said, "like it was meant to be. It felt like it was meant to be. Last year, maybe it wasn't. Robert's shot goes down in the basket and rattles out. This year, Derek drills it."
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