[DeFa] Western Conf. Final 2004 - L.A.Lakers @ S.A.Spurs (GAME 5, Fisher 0.4 second ) -
01-10-2007, 05:56 AM
Western Conference Finals 2004 - GAME 5
Los Angeles Lakers @ San Antonio Spurs
-Through a series of false starts and timeouts, the Spurs were blanketing superstars O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Gary Payton was forced to inbound to Fisher, the only Laker on the floor not ticketed for the Hall of Fame.
"Fish was the beneficiary of everybody focusing on Kobe," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
The eight-year veteran came to the pass and in one motion turned and fired a jumper just before the buzzer over Manu Ginobili that splashed through, stunning the Spurs and the sellout crowd of 18,797 into silence.
"For all the kids out there possibly watching this game, you dream about that growing up, being in that position and being able to make the shot," Fisher said.
"Unfortunate, incredible," Duncan said. "There's not much you can say about it."
Although San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said he believed the clock started a click late, replays showed Fisher got off the shot in time. He sprinted off the court but stopped in the runway to watch the shot on a monitor.
"I normally have point-four (seconds) to turn and shoot, so I was halfway into my shot as I was catching the ball," said Fisher, who scored eight points and played terrific defense.
"That's the cruelest loss I've ever been involved with," said Popovich, whose team is filing a protest about the starting of the clock