A Laker’s Trip From Hell Turns Into Nice 4-1 Cruise

The man was practically out of sight late Monday night, in the back of the Laker locker room, seated at a table, facing a wall, doing paperwork. But his words carried an unmistakable prominence.

“We had some trips in the ‘80s like that,” said Bill Bertka, in his 17th season as an assistant coach. “But this certainly matches anything we did then.”

For a ‘90s Laker trying to build his own identity, there probably would be a more welcome analysis. But for historical significance, for perspective on what this team had just accomplished by beating the Houston Rockets, 94-83, before 16,285 at Compaq Center behind double-doubles from Nick Van Exel and Elden Campbell, there could be few greater compliments.

It wasn’t so much the 4-1 record on the trip that ended with the season’s third victory against the Rockets--their ancestors from the Showtime Era went undefeated in journeys as long. It’s how the 4-1 record came about:

* Against teams that today have a combined winning percentage of .608.

* With victories over two teams that were division leaders at the time, the Rockets, knocked out of the top spot Monday, and the Atlanta Hawks.

* Against five teams that figure to make the playoffs.

* And while playing five times in seven nights, with two back-to-backs.

“It’s definitely the toughest trip we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Van Exel, the fifth-year point guard, after his 10 points, 10 assists and three steals. “To be 4-1, we’d like to be 5-0, but we’ll take it.”

The loss, Wednesday in Chicago, came in the second game and came in resounding fashion--a 21-point blowout. But a 3-2 trip would be nice, many figured at the outset.

Then came the most impressive showing, Friday’s victory against the Hawks, the team that also had an 11-0 start and that still had the best record in the Eastern Conference.

And then the victory in Charlotte the next night, a difficult consecutive-night effort, though the Hornets also were playing for the second time in about 24 hours.

And then, Monday night, with fatigue beginning to appear during a first half in which the Rockets led by as much as 11 points, there came the comeback that turned into victory with another strong fourth-quarter showing.

“Laker fans should really be proud of their team,” Coach Del Harris said. “We played six games in the last nine days in six cities; five games in the last seven, against five playoff teams, and just performed wonderfully.

“Did I think we would come out and get four of five? I don’t know how many times I said to the NBA, ‘Thanks for my Christmas gift.’ The toughest seven days in the league, we got ‘em.

“If you’re talking about quality teams, five in seven nights, five cities, it’s just hard to do any better than this quality of teams.”

The Rockets, with Charles Barkley on his way to 21 rebounds and 14 points, presented major problems through the first half, at least. But from there, after taking a 45-36 lead, their starters shot 20.6% after halftime and the Lakers took the lead at 58-56 midway through the third quarter, never to trail again.

Come the fourth period, the Rockets stayed close for a few minutes. It was 75-72 with 9:01 remaining, at which point the Lakers went on an 8-0 burst to gain control for good. That 11-point lead never dipped below eight, as Campbell got eight points and five rebounds in the final 12 minutes to finish with 18 points and 14 rebounds on a night when it was determined he would have to stand in for Shaquille O’Neal for at least two more weeks.

“It’s pretty simple,” Barkley said. “We just don’t have an answer for them right now. They and Seattle are clearly the best in the West right now. They’re the deepest and most athletic team, even without Shaq. They’re good even without their big guy.”

They’re especially good now.

“We feel real good,” Van Exel said. “Happy. Confident. And glad to be getting a few days off to get some rest.”

The newest best part about the trip. It’s over.