Ventura County Star (CA) (KRT) via NewsEdge :

May 14--EL SEGUNDO -- No Kobe?

No chance.

Despite continuing discomfort from back spasms, Kobe Bryant said Tuesday there was no scenario in which he would not play tonight in Game 5 of the Lakers' second-round playoff series with Utah.

The series returns to Staples Center after the Jazz won twice at home to even the best-of-seven series at two wins each. Game 6 will be Friday in Utah, with Game 7, if necessary, on Monday in Los Angeles.

The back, injured during Sunday's overtime loss in Utah, was "a lot better" Tuesday than Monday, Bryant said after sitting out practice in favor of continued treatment. And so he said he'd definitely play, though he won't really know where he stands until after today's shootaround.

"I'd love to come in feeling pretty good and get out there and shoot the ball and get up and down a little," he said. " I hope I can do whatever's necessary for us to win the game."

With Bryant not having practiced since Game 4, coach Phil Jackson conceded, "there's a chance he may not shoot the ball well.

"But that doesn't really concern us that much, because he'll find a way to do what is necessary in the ballgame at some level. As long as he can play, we're satisfied we'll be OK."

Bryant's history of playing through injuries or illness has created that level of comfort and confidence in his ability to perform.

"If there's even a couple of hours between the end of the game and the next game," said guard Derek Fisher, "he'll find a way in the two-hour period to get himself in a position where he can help the team.

"That doesn't mean he's going to be Kobe Bryant, in terms of having to score 40 or 50 points, or whatever. He'll find a way to help the team, and having two days between Sunday afternoon and (tonight) I think has helped him, and will help us."

Given that Bryant said he was still in pain Tuesday, it's unlikely he will be himself.

"Elevation, cutting, changing directions" are all more difficult, he said.

"The key is to kind of know what you can and can't do. I think the last game is the indicator for me. I don't think it will be that bad again, but if it is, I know what I can and can't do."

But while he may know that, the Jazz won't -- and they probably won't be alone.

"If there are some limitations to his game, that's not necessarily something he will tell us," Fisher said. "He's the best at kind of being a chameleon at taking what his limitations are, and his weaknesses, so to speak, and still figuring out a way to play a strong game and make a positive contribution."

His teammates, in turn, will figure out what Bryant can do and what they need to do in return.

"If I have to be more aggressive offensively," said Pau Gasol, "of course I'm ready to do that."

While it may be a bit more difficult for Gasol, most of the other Lakers have enough history with Bryant to understand the necessary adjustments without being told.

"Because I've played with him so much," said Fisher, "I'm always able to kind of observe that myself. ... Most of our guys have been with him now for three or four years, and they probably can observe, as well, how he's moving and the way he looks. We know when he suits up, that he's going to help us."

The Lakers know a win would allow them regain the upper hand, protect their home-court advantage and have the opportunity to close out the series Friday. And while there was much talk Tuesday about pressure -- "We're not trying to hide from it," Bryant said -- Jackson, at least, said he felt none.

"We know we have home-court advantage," he said. "We earned it, we worked hard to get it and we feel confident in our home court.

"We know we have to play a more physical game. Whether we can or not is the question. Whether we have the ability to play a little more physical as a basketball team is something we still haven't seen."

Which, of course, was a question even at the start of the series.

"This is when the playoffs become really, really interesting," Bryant said. "There was pressure on us to win the first two games, but that doesn't change. I just think the familiarity of the two teams has changed."

Since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960, this is the eighth time they have been tied 2-2 in a seven-game playoff series after winning the first two games. They have won all seven of the previous series, the most recent coming in the 1988 Western Conference finals when they beat Dallas in seven games.

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