Battling Indiana's Reggie Miller, the Sixers' warlike mantra reared its head following a loss in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Pacers. Both the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors and the conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks got pushed to pivotal Game 7s. So Iverson was right. The Sixers have grudgingly experienced wars. The difference this time is that they would welcome a war with the Lakers, but no one is predicting it will come to that.
Domination is anticipated.
Annihilation is expected. A contest is considered far-fetched by most basketball people, and the reasons abound. O'Neal is averaging nearly 30 points and 15 rebounds while leading fastbreaks. Bryant has proven to be the heir-apparent to Michael Jordan, averaging 33 points and providing an abundance of material for the highlight reels. In dismantling the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers have resembled a bunch of posh garbage men, throwing their competition in the trash, leaving them to rot.