Harris Unable to Accentuate Positive in Loss : Pro basketball: Coach critical after Lakers fall to Timberwolves, 109-103.

Previously, he had done a good job of emphasizing the positive, which for the Lakers these days mean an X-ray that comes back negative.

Then came Friday night, and there went Coach Del Harris. Maybe it was the 109-103 loss to Minnesota before 17,891 at the Target Center, or maybe it was the Lakers’ third loss in a row and sixth in eight games, or maybe it really was the defense against the Timberwolves.

Or maybe he had just finally seen enough.

Two nights after praising his players for hanging tough in a four-point loss at Orlando, Harris was critical of their effort and intensity. And that was just for the start of the game. The end was about mental breakdowns.

“Defensively, we were soft again,” Harris said. “That’s four games in a row we’ve been soft on defense. I have to take part of the blame because until today I haven’t made as many strong demands on our players because a lot of them have been playing big minutes with so many injuries.

“It’s all in the defensive effort. Defense is the thing that carried us when we were playing well, and it’s the thing we have not done when we haven’t played well. It’s a matter of effort, determination, desire. It’s not a matter of X and O.”

But couldn’t a grueling stretch of schedule--tonight will be their 13th game in 21 days--combined with the injuries be a factor?

“If we give into that,” he said, “we’ve got no chance. If we say, ‘We’ve got guys hurt, we can’t do it,’ we might as well mail it in.”

It had that look in the second quarter, when the Lakers trailed by 14 points on several occasions. By halftime, even after cutting the deficit to 59-54, they had, according to Harris’ count, given up 18 points on second-chance baskets from offensive rebounds.

What made it so irritating was that no one should have been tired, despite what the schedule said. Harris had given them the day off Thursday and followed that up by playing Lloyd Daniels 38 minutes but using no other Laker more than 35.

They recovered in plenty of time to make it a game. Sparked by the play of Sedale Threatt, who scored 26 points to reinforce a claim that he is finally 100% after being hampered since early January with a bad right foot, the Lakers led, 94-93, with 4:41 to play.

The Timberwolves quickly moved back ahead. It was still a two-point game, 105-103, when Vlade Divac made one free throw with 29 seconds left. The Lakers needed a defensive stop and called on Tony Smith for that very purpose.

Minnesota called a timeout. It took all of six seconds after play resumed for Isaiah Rider, back after sitting out four games because of a sprained ankle, to get behind Daniels and break to the basket. Smith rushed over to help, but it was too late--Tom Gugliotta delivered the ball and Rider scored on a driving layup to give the Timberwolves a 107-103 lead.

The other breakdown wasn’t far behind. The Lakers did not take a timeout on the ensuing possession to conserve the clock and advance the ball to halfcourt, even with Harris screaming for them to make the call. The result was a stray three-pointer by Daniels.

“There are certain things you do in that situation,” Harris said. “One is to call time out. You’ve got to be looking. But even if you’re not, you’ve got to know.”

Laker Notes

Nick Van Exel said his comment after Wednesday’s game at Orlando about not being injured, countering a claim by Coach Del Harris as to why Van Exel did not play in the fourth quarter, was a joke. The Laker guard said he added moments later that his hip and his back were a problem. Friday, Harris again went with Anthony Peeler and Sedale Threatt in the fourth quarter and left Van Exel on the bench. . . . Isaiah Rider scored a game-high 33 points for Minnesota.