Jones Can’t Just Be Along for the Ride

Seventeen thousand fans, 24 players, three referees.

For a game of one-on-one.

That’s what it was about Friday, as much as Shaquille O’Neal’s pulse-changing dunk, as much as as Nick Van Exel’s eye-popping three-pointer, as much as the Lakers’ 104-102 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoff opener.

One-on-one.

A guy fighting for his postseason reputation versus a guy who openly challenged it.

Eddie versus J.R.

Every time Laker guard Eddie Jones and Trail Blazer guard Isaiah Rider squared up, whether it was with the basketball or with their glares, eyes were focused. Breaths were held.

You knew it would be like that.

But you didn’t know it would be like this:

Rider won.

Rider kicked Jones’ rear to Hollywood Park and back.

Jones was the player standing at the end, sinking two free throws to clinch the victory.

But he was also the one wearing the most blood, the one staggering in very unchampionlike fashion.

Rider outscored Jones, 12-4, when the two players were guarding each other.

Rider outhustled Jones when the two players were fighting for position.

Rider played like a man possessed. Jones played like a man haunted.

Jones chased down a couple of important rebounds at the end, but the plays might not have been so important if he had won more fights earlier.

Earlier this week, this is what Rider said about Jones:

“Eddie Jones is a good player, but I can post Eddie Jones up all day.”

That’s precisely what he did.

Rider also said this:

“We play the same position, we’re both young. He gets a lot of notoriety around the league, and deservedly so. But I feel as if I’m a better player and I try to prove it every time I play against him.”

On Friday, he proved it.

With the echoes of cheers still bouncing around the Forum parking lot, this will not be a popular time to express this opinion.

The Lakers won in an exciting, dramatic comeback, fans will say. Why pour cold water on the hottest team in the NBA?

Because one of the reasons they finished so well was, Jones shot 52% in the team’s final 15 games with a 50-21 assist-turnover ratio.

Because Jones must continue this fine work if the Lakers hope to be playing in June.

Because this is not the first time he has disappeared in a playoff game.

With or without Rider in his face Friday, Jones made two of nine field goals. He had two turnovers and no assists.

His best stat was, again, rebounding, in which he grabbed seven while Rider had two. Jones also had six blocked shots.

But the Lakers need more.

“I think Eddie handles all of this in stride,” Coach Del Harris was saying before the game. “I look down the stretch, he was so steady.”

Dramatic opening victory or no, he needs to find that pace again, and soon.

“Obviously, Eddie’s a good player, he’s an all-star, but to me, I don’t think he can touch me,” Rider said last week. “Some people get all the hype. I don’t care about the hype.”

Jones had countered with, “You know how I am when things are said. They say whatever. Now we just got to go out and play.”

So they did.

Forty seconds into the game, Rider tried to get fancy while dribbling against Jones, lost the ball to Derek Fisher, who promptly scored the Lakers first points on a layup.

Advantage Jones.

Three minutes later, Jones missed an off-balance three-pointer, Rider ended up with the ball at the other end, posted up Jones as promised, spun, fell backward, made a nine-footer.

Advantage Rider.

Rider sneaked through the middle, caught Jones looking the other way, made a 25-footer before halftime.

Moments into the second half, Jones fouled Rider, then allowed him to spin past him for a five-foot jumper that gave the Trail Blazers their biggest lead at 58-47.

And so it went.

The Lakers won. Jones did not.

It was a nice evening. But for Eddie Jones and the Lakers’ championship hopes, it will not suffice.