Loss of Focus or Loss of Shaq, Losses Add Up

By JASON REID

Dec. 12, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Lakers have slowed down recently and are trying to rediscover their spark, although most teams would long for their problems.

Panic hasn’t set in because a three-game losing streak isn’t cause for alarm, no matter the Lakers’ lofty goals. But they are concerned about their recent play, especially after Wednesday’s 93-92 loss to the Golden State Warriors, who have had considerably greater difficulties.

The Lakers have lost three in a row for the first time since January 1996 and have been knocked out of first place in the Pacific Division, albeit by only half a game. The Houston Rockets, leaders of the Midwest and winners of nine in a row, come to the Forum tonight, so things could be better.

“We’re in a funk that we have to work our way out of,” Coach Del Harris said. “It happens and you don’t like it, but it’s just the normal thing you have to work through.”

The Lakers are annoyed with themselves and looking inward to identify the problems. They said the missing ingredient from their 11-0 start isn’t a big mystery, and they’re determined to regain their fearsome form.

“Our focus has been the biggest thing,” guard Eddie Jones said. “Being a team with so much talent, the expectation level to win has to be there every time out. You have to go out there with the expectation that you’re supposed to be the best, and we did that in the first 11 games.”

But in the last few games, the Lakers admittedly haven’t played with the same urgency. The problem?

“We think we’re so great sometimes that we can go out and play at the level of these teams for most of the game, and we can still turn it up at the end and win,” Jones said. “We’re playing at the level of these teams, and these teams are playing at an even higher level at the end than we are.

“We’ve lost that focus a little bit, but we’re going to get it back. We just have to get back to starting off strong.”

The missing concentration has contributed to the Lakers’ offensive woes, such as in failing to capitalize on fastbreaks. The Lakers scored only 18 points in 26 fastbreaks against the Warriors, 12 points fewer than Harris expects in that many opportunities. And defensively, the Lakers aren’t lending helping hands as much.

“Our judgment has not been as good,” Harris said. “It’s not any one person, it takes five people.”

“We started out 11-0 and now everybody is gunning for us, and we have to be ready for that,” said center Shaquille O’Neal, still sidelined because of a strained abdominal muscle.

“We have to come out ready to play every team. In this league, no matter how good you are or how much talent you have, if you aren’t ready to play, teams can always beat you.”

The Lakers obviously have missed O’Neal, going 7-5 without him. But they refuse to use the all-star’s absence as an excuse for their play, pointing out that O’Neal sat out 31 games last season. They coped then, going 18-13, and must cope now.

“You have to play with confidence, no matter what the situation is, and we’re not playing with the same confidence,” swingman Kobe Bryant said. “When we had the streak going, we played with all the confidence in the world. We had a real carefree attitude out there, and you could see it in everything we did.

“Confidence comes from working hard in practice and being focused out there. When you go into a game knowing that you gave it your all, that you prepared as well as you could, your confidence is naturally going to be there. That’s what we’re working to get back.”

The Lakers’ fast start stirred excitement throughout the organization--and the Southland. But because it’s still so early, isn’t all this hubbub about a three-game losing streak a little silly?

“No, it’s not,” Bryant said. “We have a lot of talent on this team, so we should never even lose two in a row.”

* STILL NO O’NEAL

He won’t play for at least a week, meaning he will miss game against Bulls. C10

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

First 11 Games

Record: 11-0

Points: 111.9

Pts. Allowed: 96.1

FG%: 49.3

Opp. FG%: 43.5

Turnovers: 14.8

Assists: 26.5