NBA Finals | Stunned Lakers take a break

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A day after the Lakers' colossal collapse in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, coach Phil Jackson canceled practice.

For psychological reasons.

"You know, just in the checking out of how the guys were and how they felt, I just felt it was a good idea," Jackson explained Friday at the team's practice facility. "We have two days to work on the things we need to work on."

Jackson said he sent the players home after a brief get-together that included watching some of Thursday night's debacle against the Boston Celtics.

"I told them that the series is not over and we want to force the action," said Jackson, whose opportunity for an NBA-record 10th championship ring as a head coach appears to be slipping away — at least for now.

"We watched some tape, we looked at the first half. Obviously, we were successful in the first half and did some things that got a lead for us, and I wanted to explain to them that they were the same ballclub, the same personnel that went out there in the second half, and if they can get that kind of a lead, they can maintain that kind of a game if they really put their minds to it."

The Lakers did play a terrific first half Thursday, and that extended halfway through the third quarter, when they held a 70-50 lead.

Suddenly, the Celtics turned the game around, an especially shocking development since the Lakers were playing at Staples Center, where they hadn't lost since March 28.

The Celtics outscored the Lakers 47-21 to finish the game for a 97-91 victory and a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. That's an obstacle no team has overcome in the Finals.

Now what? Apparently no lineup or rotation changes.

"No, not at this point," Jackson said. "But we're likely to do — pull out everything as this series goes along."

No telling how long that will be. The Lakers need a win Sunday night at Staples Center and two more in Boston to win their 15th championship.

Jackson said he's counting on the resilience of the players to help them bounce back from the biggest collapse in Finals history since the Elias Sports Bureau began keeping detailed records in the 1970-71 season. The Lakers led by as many as 24 points, 45-21, in the second quarter.

"I don't think there's any doubt that if we had to play this morning, we probably wouldn't feel that great about playing this morning, but fortunately, we're not playing until Sunday, and we'll be back ready to go by Sunday," Jackson said.

"I just told them as a team, they had their hearts ripped out. It's tough to recover from that, but they will."

Celtics are feeling the pain

Boston's bench has been a reliable contributor during the NBA Finals. It's about to get even more important.

With starters Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo both unable to finish Game 4, and Paul Pierce also injured, the Celtics will be relying on their reserves when they try to close out the Lakers in Game 5.

"We're not in great physical shape, there's no doubt about that," coach Doc Rivers said Friday, when he gave his players a day off.

Perkins left Game 4 clutching his left shoulder after slamming into Lakers forward Lamar Odom early in the third quarter. The Celtics said Perkins had a strained left shoulder, and he didn't return to the game.

Rivers said Friday that Perkins has a 50-50 chance "at best" of playing on Sunday.

Rondo bruised a bone in his left ankle in Game 3 and didn't practice before the fourth game. He started Thursday, but played just 17 minutes before going to the bench for good with 7:06 left in the third quarter.

Pierce, who sprained his right knee in Game 1, went to the floor late in the game while trying to keep Kobe Bryant from spoiling the Celtics' comeback. Pierce said he "tweaked" his knee, but spokesman Jeff Twiss said the Celtics captain rolled his ankle.

"I'm feeling kind of sore," Pierce said Thursday night. "Rajon is hurting, Perk hurt his shoulder, so I think these two days will be great for us to recuperate from our minor injuries and try to suck it up on Sunday and end this thing before things get worse."

Note

• Game 4 of the Finals on Thursday night had an 8.7 rating on ABC, down from a 9.2 for Game 3 on Tuesday night. Through four broadcasts, the 2008 NBA Finals are averaging an 8.8 rating, up 42 percent over last year's 6.2.