LAKERS vs. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Western Conference Quarterfinals

* LAKERS AT A GLANCE: Their strong finish, with victories in four of their last five games to close the regular season, and the even stronger finish by Shaquille O’Neal after he had sat out two months of play because of a knee injury, offer plenty of optimism. It’s not only that the Lakers had been winning before Sunday’s loss at Portland. It’s that every one of the victories was impressive: They beat the Suns by 16 points; O’Neal had 39 points and the game-winner at the buzzer in a victory over the Utah Jazz; O’Neal scored 42 to beat the Sacramento Kings; then the Lakers routed the Clippers.

* TRAIL BLAZERS AT GLANCE: Many of the faces have changed, but the team hasn’t. They’re one of the best rebounding clubs in the league, as always, and have the potential to cause problems, as always. And not only for the front office. Lost somewhere amid a reputation as a collection of malcontents is a team that beat the Lakers in three of the four regular-season meetings.

Portland, probable starters:

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Position, Player, Ht Wt., No. F Rasheed Wallace, 6-10 225, #30 F Clifford Robinson, 6-10 225, #3 C Arvydas Sabonis, 7-3 292, #11 G Isaiah Rider, 6-5 215, #34 G Kenny Anderson, 6-1 168, #7

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Portland, key reserves:

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Position, Player, Ht Wt., No. C Chris Dudley, 6-11 240, #24 F Gary Trent, 6-8 250, #33 G/F Stacey Augmon, 6-8 205, #2

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Lakers, probable starters:

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Position, Player, Ht Wt., No. F Elden Campbell, 6-11 250, #41 F Robert Horry, 6-10 220, #5 C Shaquille O’Neal, 7-0 315, #34 G Eddie Jones, 6-6 190, #6 G Nick Van Exel, 6-1 183, #9

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Lakers, key reserves

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Position, Player, Ht Wt., No. G-F Kobe Bryant, 6-6 200, #8 F Jerome Kersey, 6-7 240, #12 F Travis Knight, 7-0 235, #40 G Byron Scott, 6-4 205, #4

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GUARDS

One of the reasons Western Conference coaches picked Jones for the all-star team was his defense, and he is the best the Lakers have in the backcourt. But Rider will be a handful to slow down, partly because much of his offense is based on power and he outweighs Jones by about 30 pounds. The point guards, Van Exel and Anderson, are similar in style in many ways. Both will take the three-point shot and penetrate.

FORWARDS

Wallace is one of the few power forwards with the size, speed and athleticism to stay with Campbell. Just maybe not to stop him. The great run by Campbell during the absence of O’Neal has continued since the two have been reunited in the starting lineup. Robinson has historically had major drop-offs in the playoffs after impressive regular seasons, but this time around comes with extra incentive: He’s a free agent July 1. Horry, at 6-10, can match up.

CENTER

O’Neal against John Williams and the Suns. O’Neal against Dean Garrett and the Timberwolves. Instead, the Lakers get the worst of the possibilities: O’Neal against Sabonis, a pretty close match in size, but a definite contrast in styles. The problem Sabonis presents is that he can body up inside on defense, but he must be respected all the way out to the three-point line on offense. He’s a threat from there, to shoot or to throw inside as arguably the best passing center in the league. The problem O’Neal presents for the Trail Blazers is that he’s sometimes unstoppable.

INTANGIBLES

Laker confidence, given a boost by the success without O’Neal and Horry, is high, even after Sunday’s loss at Portland dropped them to 1-3 against the Trail Blazers. The mental side has long been the Lakers’ X factor. Two seasons ago, they were focused. They beat the SuperSonics, even after looking terrible in the opener, and then pushed the heavily favored San Antonio Spurs to six games. Last season, they were imploding, then lost to the Houston Rockets in four. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers might have finished seven games behind the Lakers, but winning three of the four head-to-head meetings has to be worth something.

COACHES

Harris has gotten all the grief--for an inconsistent rotation, for the several early losses to lottery teams and for not giving playing time to Bryant--but none of the credit. Who coached the team that opened the season with seven new players on the active roster and had the preferred starting lineup together for only 14 games to within a few seconds of the Pacific Division title? Who oversaw a significant change in defensive philosophy after the loss of O’Neal, fine-tuned it late in the 28-game absence, and then worked the superstar center back in as the playoffs loomed? Not that Harris will get any sympathy for lack of recognition from P.J. Carlesimo. According to some reports, he was going to get fired weeks ago. For some reason, Carlesimo kept showing up to work, then helped a Trail Blazer team that underwent its own roster overhaul nearly reach 50 victories.

THE PICK

These Lakers like a big challenge. This would be one. Sunday’s loss to the Trail Blazers wasn’t enough to derail the emotional run after the return of O’Neal, but it may be enough for added motivation to a team more focused than at any time all season, and more talented. The Lakers in five.