Lakers Meet, Then Let Their Play Do Talking Against the Cavaliers

The state of the Lakers, in attitude as well as performance, was at such a low point after another road disaster the other night that Coach Pat Riley did the only thing any high-powered executive in Los Angeles would do--call a meeting.

During this extended group-therapy session, the Lakers took a hard, uncensored look at themselves and made plans, not only for Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but for the future.

And after that session, during a private meeting between Riley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, another deal was struck. Riley will give Abdul-Jabbar the quality time he desires, and if Abdul-Jabbar’s play does not improve significantly in 2 weeks, the center will accept a reserve role.

“We had some good meetings,” Magic Johnson said. “Real good. We accepted the challenge.”

So, if the Lakers’ purpose was to make a statement Friday night, as well as simply win another home game, then their resounding 116-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers before 17,505 fans at the Forum spoke volumes.

With their 21-point romp over the team with the National Basketball Assn.’s best record, the Lakers said loudly and clearly that reports of their demise were premature, at best, and maybe even false.

As for Abdul-Jabbar, the reports of a possible early retirement for the 41-year-old star in his final season apparently have been put to rest, although he has agreed to the 2-week trial.

Friday night, Abdul-Jabbar had 6 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes.

“He’ll be evaluated, and we’ll do what’s best for the team,” Riley said. “But I already know he’s going to do well.”

Said Abdul-Jabbar: “I’m just trying to come back and be ready; I have a ways to go to be satisfied at the level I want to play.”

Not only did the Lakers improve their home record to 14-0, they played perhaps their best overall game this season since, well, their 11-point victory in Cleveland a month ago Friday.

That also was the Lakers’ last road victory. But while the Lakers have lost 8 straight on the road against the good (Seattle) and the bad (Sacramento, 106-97, Tuesday night), they have handled all challengers at the Forum.

This figured to be the Lakers’ toughest home game yet, but they finally put together an almost flawless performance, using a nearly unstoppable fast break, a swarming defense and hot outside shooting--the same combination the Cavaliers (25-7) had been using to beat teams this season.

The Lakers took control early and let up only occasionally. They had a 23-point second-quarter lead, maintained a comfortable margin in the third quarter and then expanded it to 25 early in the fourth quarter before Riley began a parade of substitutions.

The Lakers were led by Johnson, who had 26 points and 11 assists, and got productive nights from Mychal Thompson (18 points, 8 rebounds), A.C. Green (14 points, 15 rebounds), Byron Scott (19 points) and James Worthy (17 points).

Scott, who showed no ill effects from a bout with the stomach flu, said: “We had to prove to them and everyone that we’re still champions. We can’t play Cleveland every game, so we have to transfer it to whatever team we’re playing.”

Added Michael Cooper, who was limited to 11 minutes because he separated a rib cartilage while sneezing (honest) earlier Friday: “The meeting was good, because it identified the problems that each individual had. We were forced to look at ourselves without (biases).”

In assessing this victory, the Lakers considered it somewhat of a turning point. That road slump still exists, but the Lakers have adopted an attitude that they will approach every game as if they were playing the Clevelands of the league rather than the Sacramentos.

“We didn’t play with any mental effort the other night (in Sacramento),” Riley said. “It’s all mental with this team. That’s obvious. You saw that tonight.

“I think the fact we were playing the team with the best record in the NBA had something to do with it. I think we sent a message tonight. We’re a proud team and we showed it.”

Cleveland’s players, who were coming off a franchise-record, 11-game winning streak earlier in the week, certainly got the message.

The Laker defense helped force Cleveland to shoot only 38.1%. Mark Price (16 points) and Larry Nance (12) were the only hot-shooting Cavaliers. And the Lakers surprisingly outrebounded Cleveland, 52-43.

Ron Harper, who made only 4 of 10 shots and had 10 points, apologized for the effort.

“I’m sorry we got blown out,” Harper said. “It may not be now, it may not be until next year, but we’re going to beat them. But it seems every time we see them, they play well.”

Still, Harper and other Cavaliers tried to deflect the importance of losing twice to the Lakers, just in case the teams meet in June.

“It’s important to beat every team,” Harper said. “They are the world champions. But we’ve got a pretty good, young team. They didn’t want to lose against us; that was obvious.”