Video

Lakers, Celtics react to Game 4 June 12: Kobe stunned after L.A. blows a record lead.

/

"Whine about it tonight, a lot of wine, a lot of beer, a couple shots, maybe like 20 of them, digest it, get back to work tomorrow," Bryant said when asked how the Lakers would rebound from the loss. You just hope that Kobe will distribute those 20 shots among his teammates more evenly than he did in the second half.

Late in the third quarter, the Laker Girls appeared during a timeout and performed clad in T-shirts with the word "Hancock" emblazoned on them. The shirts were a nod to the soon-to-be-released movie starring Will Smith, who was seated nearby, a comedy about "an alcoholic superhero despised by everyone." Which is not to be confused with Ironman, another summer '08 blockbuster starring an alcoholic as a superhero loved by everyone.

Hancock is described as being "incredibly sarcastic, invulnerable, and possesses superhuman strength and the power of super-sonic flight." A surly superhero of sorts. The fans at Staples Center, they have seen this movie before.

Michael Jordan played in six NBA Finals, a total of 35 games. Only twice, however, did the Bulls trail in those series, and only by one game following a Game 1 (1991 and '98). Kobe Bryant's Lakers now face a 3-1 deficit, and the task ahead is something that Jordan himself never had to overcome to win an NBA Finals.

Erase a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals? Even 23 would be impressed if 24 can do that.

More news

NBC Sports

Will experience carry Celtics?

  SportsTalk: Will the veteran Celtics beat the younger, more athletic 76ers in Game 7?

PBT: 76ers vs. Celtics ... first team to 80 wins?

Headlines

• Label

CSN: Surgery ends season for Celtics' Bradley

SportsTalk: Do Heat actually want Celtics?

PBT: Spoelstra fined $25K for criticizing officials

PBT: Knicks give Woodson multiyear extension

PBT: Knicks' J.R. Smith arrested in South Beach

PBT Extra: Can young Thunder stun Spurs?

PBT: How do Thunder deal with Spurs' Parker?

PBT: As The Magic Turn — no decision on Howard