Jones Picks Up Lakers’ Slack

The Clippers kept pace with the Lakers most of Friday night, close enough to be frustrated in a 107-100 loss before 16,207 at the Forum.

“It was just like a nightmare,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “I would have felt better if I got hit by a truck.”

He had to settle for a mini-van.

Eddie Jones, on the frontcourt at 6 feet 6 and 190 pounds after being switched from shooting guard to small forward, replaced the injured Cedric Ceballos in the opening lineup but otherwise remained constant, continuing his offensive surge with a career-high 32 points while making 11 of 19 shots.

The first of what could be two months of size mismatches pushed his scoring average to 18.8 for the season and 23.2 for the last five games.

“They’re taller,” he said, “but I’m quicker.”

His offense also wasn’t missed in the backcourt--new starter Byron Scott had 19 points and went three for five on three-point shots. It was needed on the first night of the season in which Shaquille O’Neal didn’t at least tie for the team lead in scoring, finishing with 18 points and only three rebounds in 29 minutes before fouling out.

Laker Coach Del Harris said he didn’t give a lineup other than the one with Jones and Scott serious consideration, mainly because this causes less disruption. Jones has played plenty of small forward and Scott only had to move from the bench to the starting lineup. The only other option would have been to move Corie Blount from his role as a key power player off the bench to Ceballos’ old spot, a spot Blount played some last season.

This should also provide an opening for Kobe Bryant to move up the depth chart, or at least to play. His much-hyped preseason turned into 7.4 minutes a game coming into Friday’s contest, second-fewest on the team, although he had made seven appearances compared to two for Rumeal Robinson.

But there would be no promises from the coach of increased opportunities. When one came, Bryant opening the second quarter in place of Scott, he got one foul within 18 seconds, two within 88 seconds and four within 7:01. Then, not surprisingly, he got the bench.

“He still will have to come along at a certain pace,” Harris said of his prized rookie, held back by poor shot selection, turnovers and fouls. “Obviously, there’s one less player. But at [small forward], we still have Eddie and Corie and, hopefully, Jerome [Kersey]. And at [shooting guard], there’s Byron and Eddie and Rumeal [Robinson]. So we still have depth at those positions.

“On the other hand, I think Kobe will get more minutes. And this is a two-month thing. So gradually it may mean more minutes for Kobe.”

Only more gradually than expected for starters.

Jones, meanwhile, was having few difficulties. He was giving away an inch and 65 pounds to Clipper counterpart Rodney Rogers and an inch and 45 pounds to backup Lamond Murray, but, in truth, giving up nothing. The bigger players were unable to capitalize on their considerable size advantage while Jones used his superior speed on offense, blowing by each on the perimeter for driving layups.

By halftime, he had 17 points, already equaling his season average, and the Lakers had a 56-49 lead. With 3:28 gone in the third quarter, Jones had surpassed his previous 1996-97 best of 25. His career high of 31 points, set Nov. 9, 1994, at Minnesota, was history 3:03 into the fourth quarter.

The Clippers didn’t fall so easily. Down by 11 heading into the final quarter, they got an immediate break when O’Neal picked up his fifth foul on the first possession--and, unlike previous times with such difficulties, he went out, if only for about three minutes. Then the visitors closed to within 87-79.

They didn’t stop there. O’Neal fouled out with 6:58 left, his second disqualification in three games, and the Clippers cut the deficit to 98-94 with 3:33 to play, then 99-95 with 2:31 remaining. But that’s as close as they got, Scott’s three-pointer with 2:06 showing and one on the shot clock, giving the Lakers a final cushion.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A Season of Expectations

The Lakers acquired nine new players this season, including Shaquille O’Neal and his $120-million contract. In turn, with big acquisitions come big expectations. Throughout the season, The Times will monitor O’Neal’s numbers along with how the team compares to some of the best Laker teams in history.

GAME 9 OF 82

* Record 6-3

* Standing 2nd place

Pacific Division

1996-97 LAKERS VS. THE BEST LAKER TEAMS

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Year Gm. 9 Overall 1987-88 8-1 62-20 1986-87 8-1 65-17 1984-85 4-5 62-20 1979-80 7-2 60-22 1971-72 6-3 69-13

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Note: The five teams above all won NBA championships

THE SHAQ SCOREBOARD

Basketball Numbers

* Friday’s Game:

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Min FG FT Reb Blk Pts 29 6-11 6-10 3 2 18

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* 1996-97 Season Averages:

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Min FG% FT% Reb Blk Pts 38.0 .604 .541 12.4 2.7 25.8

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* 1995-96 Season Averages:

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Min FG% FT% Reb Blk Pts 36.0 .573 .487 11.0 2.1 26.6

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Money Numbers

* Friday’s Salary: $130,658.53

* Season Totals: $1,175,926.77

* FACTOID: In the ninth game of the 1971-72 season, the Lakers lost their second consecutive game, 109-105, to Golden State. Coach Bill Sharman said: “Sure, we were without [Jerry] West and [Keith] Erickson, two of our best hustlers, but it doesn’t excuse guys from dogtrotting up and down the court.” After the game, Elgin Baylor retired, and the Lakers started their record 33-game winning streak in the next game.