NBA CHAMPIONSHIP : Lakers vs. Celtics : It’s Going to Be Tougher in Boston, Scott Says

Byron Scott used to disappear in big games.

But now Scott is helping to make the Boston Celtics vanish.

Scott scored 24 points as the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics, 141-122, Thursday night at the Forum to take a 2-0 lead in the National Basketball Assn. championship series.

Scott said the Lakers, who have lost just one game in the playoffs this season, aren’t thinking about sweeping the defending world champion Celtics.

“You can’t think sweep with the Celtics,” he said.

“We did the job at home,” Scott continued. “Now we have to do it in Boston. Their fans will be very vocal, which will lift the Celtics. We have to come out quick and attack, not wait, and take their game away. It’s going to be tougher to play as well in Boston.”

Scott started well against the Celtics. He had 10 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in the first period as the Lakers took a 38-34 lead. He added six points in the second period.

Scott missed just one shot in the first half, hitting 6 of 7 from the floor in 19 minutes.

He wound up the game hitting 9 of 11 shots from the field and 6 of 7 free throws. He also had 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal.

“It felt good,” Scott said of his big game. “But it would have felt good if I had scored two points and we’d won.”

But Scott didn’t neglect his defense.

Scott, who is assigned to check Danny Ainge, has shut down the Celtic guard in the first two games of the series.

Ainge had just six points in 37 minutes Thursday, and he scored only 11 points in the first game of the series.

Scott said he’s approaching the finals differently than he did in the past.

“I just went out there to play,” he said. “It may be the championship, but it’s just a game and I want to go out and enjoy it.”

The Laker guards are killing the Celtics.

Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper and Scott had a total of 67 points Thursday night.

“Our guards shot a variety of shots, not just jump shots,” Scott said. “That’s what makes us so tough. Coop, Magic and myself can do a variety of things--hook shots, throw it up left-handed. If we were just jump shooters, we wouldn’t be as effective.”

While Scott seems to have finally established himself with the Lakers, forward Kurt Rambis may be the forgotten man on the team.

Rambis, who started at power forward on the Lakers’ last two championship teams, has a less significant role as the Lakers head toward another NBA title.

Rambis, who lost his starting job to A. C. Green last November, now comes off the bench.

He came off the bench to score eight points and grab five rebounds Thursday night. He also had four fouls and two assists.

“Kurt reminds me of Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry because he’s so tough,” Laker forward Mychal Thompson said.

But Rambis apparently doesn’t get any respect from the officials.

Rambis picked up his first foul just six seconds after entering the game Thursday night. He replaced Green with 3 minutes 38 seconds left in the first period and was called for a foul with 3:32 left. He got his second foul with 2:25 left in the period.

Are the referees out to get Rambis?

“I have no comment on the officials,” Rambis said, sidestepping the question.

Rambis, who failed to score in a nine-minute stint in the opening game of the series against the Celtics, was busy during garbage time Thursday night.

Rambis wound up making 2 of 3 shots and all 4 of his free throws in 20 minutes. He also had 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 fouls.

There has been speculation that the Lakers won’t protect Rambis in the NBA expansion draft after next season.

But if Rambis is worried about leaving the fast lane in Lala Land for the slow lane in Charlotte, N.C., he doesn’t show it.

“I’ll survive whether we win a championship or not,” Rambis said. “I’m here to ride the wave for as long as it takes me. As soon as it peters out I’ll do something else. If I’m here, or if I’m not here, I’ll survive. I’ve got a beautiful wife and kid.”