Lakers Go for a Knockout

A big day has arrived for the Lakers, or at least what could be an economical day. It’s a chance to eliminate the Portland Trail Blazers and a problem area at the same time. Two for the price of one in a 7:30 tipoff at the Rose Garden.

With a 2-0 lead in hand in the best-of-five first-round series, a victory means the Lakers return home to rest and prepare for the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals beginning in Salt Lake City on Sunday. A loss means they stay here to play Game 4 Friday against a team they have given new life.

Just as they gave Sacramento new life on Dec. 10, the Kings going from 12 points down late in the second quarter to five up late in the third.

Just as they gave Charlotte new life Jan. 8, the Hornets going from 18 down with 9:03 left in the third period to only three down with 4:47 remaining.

Or the Seattle SuperSonics, who on Jan. 26 trailed by 21 points midway through the second quarter, only to take a one-point lead early in the fourth.

Or the SuperSonics who went from 15 down with 7:02 left in the third on April 1 to one up with 1:05 left.

Or the Vancouver Grizzlies, who stepped into an 11-point hole in the first quarter Feb. 21 and not only climbed out to regain surer footing, but took a six-point lead in the third.

And those are the ones the Lakers held on to win.

“It’s a sign of immaturity,” said Byron Scott, one of the veterans and one of the captains. “But I think we’ve gotten better. The good sign on the bench Sunday in Game 2 was that we got up by 10 points and we still said, ‘Let’s go up by 20 now.’ I think we’ve all learned by our mistakes.”

Indeed, that second game at Seattle was the only one in which they have lost a significant advantage in the last two months. And only once all season have the Lakers lost a game after leading by at least 10 points, although that one was enough for a dynasty or three:

Dec. 17 at Chicago. The Lakers went from 19 up in the fourth quarter to a loss in overtime, even as Michael Jordan struggled.

Laker players have long since acknowledged their struggles, the frustration at a lack of killer instinct. So now comes the chance to answer, once and for all, by ending the series before it has even started for the Trail Blazers.

“All it is for us right now is going up and taking care of business,” Scott said. “We don’t want them preparing for another game. We don’t want to give them life. When we have the grave dug, we need to push them in.”

Scott knows whereof he speaks. He and Elden Campbell are the only holdovers from the 1993 team that became only the fourth club in NBA history to go up, 2-0, in a best-of-five series and then lose the next three. At least the Lakers went in as big underdogs against the Phoenix Suns.

Figure that series, four years ago, becomes a topic of conversation sometime before tipoff, a last bit of motivation to close out the Trail Blazers.

“I’m going to talk to them a little bit,” Scott said. “But I don’t want to bring up the memories myself, to be honest.”

All the Lakers of today hope to take it from there. If the Trail Blazers have the advantage of playing at home--”Our fans are going to be like their fans,” Portland guard Isaiah Rider said, a nod to the atmosphere at the Forum the first two games--they also have the disadvantage of being the Trail Blazers, a team that apparently has become disjointed at precisely the wrong time.

“They are subject to some doubts,” Laker Coach Del Harris said. “And if you give them the chance to change the mind-set and get a lead, it can be a problem. But a good, aggressive start can be a big advantage for us in that way.

“I think that’s a good plan in any event. But when you’re ahead in a series, if you can come out and establish your game early, that could be a great advantage.”

Especially when you can hold the advantage.

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NBA PLAYOFFS

LAKERS vs. PORTLAND

Tonight’s Game

* Site: Rose Garden in Portland

* Time: 7:30

* TV: Channel 9.

* Radio: KLAC (570)