LOS ANGELES – It was just another bizarre scene in Lakerland – a crowd of 60 journalists standing around an empty podium on the Staples Center court for 25 minutes yesterday.
Gary Payton blew off the NBA Finals’ media session yesterday, which drew a $5,000 fine from the NBA. Payton was also mum Sunday night following his disasterous, foul-plagued outing in the Lakers’ 87-75 loss in Game 1.
Payton, who had three points, took just four shots, had just three assists and two turnovers in the series opener, is an angry man. He was dominated by the Pistons’ Chauncey Billups, who hit for 22 points and had four assists and three steals. “He’ll be playing a lot harder (tonight),” Billups said. “He’s proud, you know.”
Payton never fully adjusted to coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense and smaller role, stewing whenever Derek Fisher played ahead of him in the fourth quarter.
Jackson said he did not talk individually with Payton yesterday nor did Payton speak up during the team’s group meeting. “Knowing Gary, he’s so competitive that he’s got a game, he’d just would like to forget about it,” Jackson said. “Everything he did, it seemed like it was a foul or he had turnovers or didn’t get the breaks or calls. He wants an opportunity to get back at it. So we expect a real competitive Gary.”
Rick Fox, the Lakers spokesman/reserve forward, was searching for reasons why Payton blew off the session, letting his teammates take the heat about a loss for which he was greatly responsible.
“That’s a choice he made,” Fox said. “Right now he’s having his play speak for him. Maybe it’s best for the team if he’s not going to say anything that’s positive.”