Scouting Report

Lakers vs. Portland

Series Format: Best-of-five

* About the Lakers: Concern about the condition of Rick Fox has faded during the last several days without a game. “Much better,” he said. “A lot better.” The sore right foot had been the biggest problem, but the starting small forward had also recently been hampered by a groin injury. He also got over back spasms several weeks ago. “I haven’t been 100% healthy since North Carolina,” Fox said. But he needs to be close now to counter the strength and size of 6-foot-9 Brian Grant, a former power forward. The Lakers are the NBA’s second-youngest playoff team, with an average age of 26.2 years on the 12-man roster, behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers. But five players--Robert Horry, Elden Campbell, Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones--have at least 20 postseason appearances, offsetting the youth factor. The Lakers led the NBA in scoring at 105.5 points, the best by any team in three years, and they scored 111.8 in four games against Portland. That was their second-highest output against a Western Conference playoff team, behind only the 113 against Minnesota.

* About the Trail Blazers: They are trying to avoid a first-round loss for the sixth consecutive year, the downside to the otherwise-impressive streak of reaching the playoffs 16 seasons in a row, the best active run in the league and tied for the fourth-best ever. The preferred starting lineup--Damon Stoudamire, Isaiah Rider, Arvydas Sabonis, Grant and Rasheed Wallace--was together only once before the final week, and even then you’d have trouble proving it. That was the 124-59 loss Feb. 27 at Indiana. As always, rebounding is a Trail Blazer strength. They were No. 2 in percentage, tops in the Western Conference, with Sabonis ninth among all individuals at 10 per game.

* Keys to game: The Lakers should have a huge advantage in depth, providing another opportunity for the bench, which has been a major contributor all season, to play a major role again. Of course, it helps that one reserve (Nick Van Exel) is not in the starting lineup only at his own request and that another (Kobe Bryant) regained his first-half form the final week. The Lakers might not be able to keep up on the boards, but if they can at least shut down the Trail Blazers inside offensively, it will probably become a huge factor--Portland is a terrible three-point team.

THE STARTERS

LAKERS

GUARD: Derek Fisher, 2

GUARD: Eddie Jones, 6

FORWARD: Rick fox, 17

FORWARD: Robert Horry, 5

CENTER: Shaquille O’Neal, 34

TRAIL BLAZERS

GUARD: Damon Stoudamire, 3

GUARD: Isaiah Rider, 34

FORWARD: Rasheed Wallace, 30

FORWARD: Brian Grant, 44

CENTER: Arvydas Sabonis, 11