Playoffs 2000:Lakers' playbook: Rice heats up

Lakers' playbook: Rice heats up
Coach's Edge

Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle early in the Lakers' Game 2 victory, and is listed as day-to-day. This moves Glen Rice from the third option to second, behind Shaq, of course.

The Lakers acquired Rice because he is a proven scorer, averaging more than 20 points for his career. His importance to the team increases, whether Kobe returns for Game 4 or not.

ANIMATE THIS PLAY DIAGRAM WITH SHOCKWAVE
	(A) Rice is an important option in the triangle offense, and the Lakers do run plays for him. Now they will just run more. Here is the old single-double: Rice reads his man and chooses his screen. Brian Shaw (20), who took Kobe's spot, gets the ball to Ron Harper (4) at the point.
	(B) From a spot under the basket, Rice (41) has his choice of a double screen to the left, or a single to the right. Rice chooses A.C. Green's (45) screen, and pops out to the right to stroke his classic jumper.