Lakers Put All Guns on Display; Could It Be Too Much, Too Early?

The Lakers are in deep trouble, friends. Deep trouble. Obviously this is a basketball team peaking way too soon and headed straight for disaster.

What’s the problem? Too much R&R; (run and rebound) during the time off between playoff opponents? Not enough rest to mellow the fellows? Too much scouting? Too much Pat Riley fire-and-brimstone psychological inspiration and intimidation?

Whatever it was, the overprepared, overqualified, overeager overdog Lakers came out Sunday and squished the Utah Jazz by 19 points in the opening game of the second round of the NBA playoffs.

It was 5 minutes of demonic defense and boardwork, and 43 minutes of garbage time.

“Before we blinked, the game was over,” Utah Coach Frank Layden said.

Blown sky high was the Laker strategy of sneaking into the conference finals, and then the NBA finals, as something of a fat-cat underdog.

After tiptoeing past San Antonio in three straight non-momentous, non-breathtaking wins, the Lakers were playing it perfectly, not really impressing anyone, striking no fear across the league.

Then the Lakers, a team noted for its haughty indifference to the first few minutes of any given contest, came out so fast Sunday that the game looked like a footrace between Ben Johnson and Oprah Winfrey.

It was a Laker day. Five minutes into the first quarter, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tossed up a skyhook that bounced five times on the rim before dropping into the net. CBS broke away for two commercials waiting for the damn thing to fall.

At the other end, Kareem, well rested from waiting for that shot to stop dancing, swatted a Mailman Malone shot. Next time downcourt, Mailman shot again. The Postman always rings twice. James Worthy smacked that one away. Insufficient postage.

Overall, an impressive display? Yes, and a big mistake by the Lakers, that 24-8 first quarter. It’s far too early in the playoffs to unveil a secret strategy of ultra-aggressive rebounding and pit-bull defense.

“They worked as hard as any team we’ve seen all year,” said Utah’s brilliant point guard, John Stockton. “They packed it in, forced us to go to our second and third option.”

The Jazz’s first option right now would be to play the Albany Patroons, to try and rebuild the confidence the Lakers stripped away Sunday.

The Laker attack wasn’t fair, it wasn’t sportsmanlike. Against a nice, tough, but outmanned team like the Jazz, the Lakers are supposed to be fast and cute and not hurt anybody.

But the Lakers hardly scored a basket on the run all afternoon. They pounded away at the Jazz. Three of the Lakers’ first four baskets came on offensive rebounds.

“They went after every board,” Stockton marveled. “They tipped it and tipped it and tipped it.”

The referees, according to Layden, cooperated by calling a loose game, looking the other way when elbows, hips and teeth were flying.

“I’m not complaining about the officials,” stressed Layden, who has already been fined $10,000 for that offense this season. “The Lakers would have beaten us if I officiated.”

But if Layden had officiated, he would have allowed a lot less Laker aggressiveness.

“If they (the refs) allow you to do all that, the Lakers could beat the Chicago Bears,” Layden said. “Think about it. The Lakers are taller.”

And the Bears don’t have anyone who passes as well as Magic Johnson, who completely took over the second quarter.

Not that the Jazz ever had a prayer. Layden was in trouble before the opening tipoff. He engaged Jack Nicholson in a little courtstide repartee, not realizing that it’s impossible to chat with Nicholson and not come away a little dazed and confused, with possible brain damage.

Alas, another Laker secret weapon shown too early.

The Lakers came to their senses in the second half, allowing the Jazz to outscore ‘em, 60-55, but the home boys had blown their cover, revealed their game plan for repeating as World Champs.

Apparently they’re planning to win a title the hard way, by earning it, instead of trying to get to the promised land on cruise control.

“At this level, your biggest enemy is complacency,” said Utah’s Marc Iavaroni. “Riley did a good job of convincing them that the Jazz are to be respected.”

Caught between the Lakers and Nicholson, stereo woofers, the Jazz simply never had a chance.

How good did the Lakers look?

“I don’t think they can play much better,” Utah center Mark Eaton said.

Iavaroni overheard Eaton’s comment and told Eaton sternly, “Don’t challenge them!”

That’s OK. The Jazz couldn’t possibly start a game flatter than they did Sunday, and the Lakers couldn’t be any more determined.

Maybe the rest of the league wasn’t watching Sunday and the Lakers can still sneak up on everybody. Most likely, though, they have foolishly tipped their hand and the word is already out: The Lakers are ready.