SOME MAGIC LEFT : Johnson Says the Lakers Aren’t Quite Ready to Write Any Concession Speeches

When Earvin Johnson left the game Thursday night, a fan behind the basket waved a sign that said, “Cry, Magic, Cry!” But this is how he walked:

Head high.

Smiling.

He slapped Mychal Thompson’s hand, and said something and smiled, and then slapped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s the same way, and so on down the bench. When James Worthy and Byron Scott came out of the game, he rose to greet them, too.

What’s to smile about, you ask?

For the Lakers, nothing on the surface, or under the surface after the 104-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons that put them down, 3 games to 2, in the NBA Finals. The Lakers aspire to be repeat champions, but one more loss ends the dream--and makes collectors items of all those Pat Riley “I-guarantee-it” T-shirts.

For Magic Johnson, however, they were already getting ready for Sunday’s fifth game, and he didn’t want any downhearted comrades-in-arms.

“That’s right,” Johnson said. “The guys are not down. They know what they have to do. But you got to make double sure.”

Thus ended the Laker trip to Michigan and Johnson’s own streak of dazzling games. It was fun while it lasted. After he dominated Game 3 here, the Detroit News asked about 30 reporters to choose between him and Larry Bird. All but two picked Magic. One of the two who didn’t was the Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan, who said he’d always been a Bird man, but that it was a tough call.

Sic transit gloria. Johnson played well enough Thursday night (15 points, 17 assists) but he missed 11 of his 15 shots, leaving him unable to turn the Piston tide.

“Mistakes and shots that didn’t go in,” Johnson said. “I short-handed a few of ‘em.”

Is it fatigue?

The question always comes up. Johnson was out there trying to lug his club on his shoulders for 45 minutes Thursday night, and 36 of the first 36. The Pistons went at him in the usual waves: Joe Dumars; Dennis Rodman, who was effective against him, even if he fouled out in the effort; even a little John Salley.

“Well, you be tired a little bit but that’s not an excuse right now,” Johnson said. “I just didn’t get it done. I know what I did so I just got to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“I’m used to that (multiple defenders). I just got to readjust. It’s nothing that nobody did. I just missed, because I was right there every time. I just missed.”

Lots of other Lakers missed. The other two guards, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper, went 6 for 16 and 0 for 3, respectively.

Lots of Lakers, like James Worthy and A.C. Green and Cooper, were missing, too--on the bench in foul trouble for large parts of the game, a circumstance that dominated conversation in the Laker locker room. They could have talked about their 53-31 rebounding deficit but they chose not to.

“We were ready to play and everything,” Johnson said. “I think, when James and Coop went out, it was tough.

“James’ third was a big foul. We were movin’, rollin’, playin’. The fourth was an even bigger foul. We were kind of making our move.

“We did (have the Pistons reeling) for a minute there, but when you have to play passive, it changes your game. Bam! Bam! You got two fouls. Wham! You got three. You’re not playing the same type of game.

“Then Coop came in and got three. Then we had to play different people. We got Kurt (Rambis) and Tony (Campbell) in, and they’re not used to playing. It’s kinda tough. You’re counting on somebody that’s not there.”

Well, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it, or anyone.

“Does this show just how tough it is to repeat?” someone asked.

“Well, we’re not out of it yet,” Johnson said, smiling broadly. “We’re still champions until we lose one more.”