Lakers Walk the Walk

The mouth of Isaiah Rider that had somehow managed to turn much of this first-round NBA playoff series between two teams into a matchup between two individuals opened wide Sunday afternoon and attacked again, offering commentary far more imposing than his plans to kick Eddie Jones’ aspirations. Going for originality, he even had a new target.

His own Portland Trail Blazers.

Of course, he more likely was being realistic. He knows the Lakers have a 2-0 lead after their 108-99 victory before 17,505 at the Great Western Forum as Rick Fox had 24 points and Jones added 21, knows the Lakers are in command even though Shaquille O’Neal appeared tame for the first time in about a month and a half, knows the Lakers can clinch Tuesday at the Rose Garden.

He also knows the biggest decision for the Lakers today as they head to Oregon is whether to pack for one game or two.

“I’ll be honest,” Rider said. “We need a miracle. That’s a tough team with a lot of talent. We’re down, 2-0. We need a miracle.”

Which makes the Trail Blazers’ frame of mind, what?

Concerned?

Excited about getting home, where they won both games in the season series?

“Desperate,” Rider said.

It likely comes from the Trail Blazers realizing they need to win three in a row against a team that has only lost three games in six weeks. Or, maybe, that Portland did not simply lose two contests at the Forum, but two opportunities.

Friday, the Lakers arrived devoid of playoff intensity. The Trail Blazers were able to put them down by 11 points, early in the third quarter, but never away. It became a 104-102 come-from-behind victory.

Sunday, O’Neal had his smallest offensive output (19 points) since March 1 at New York, adding nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 37 minutes, and still Portland could not capitalize, despite shooting 51.4%. The closest the Trail Blazers got after midway through the third quarter was seven points, and it took the Lakers being shut out in four consecutive possessions to make it that interesting with 3:35 remaining.

When O’Neal and Fox answered that by combining for all the points in an 8-2 surge, the Lakers were again very much in control. Of the game and the series.

“We’re just going to have to go up there and put them away,” O’Neal said.

Even if it won’t be quite that simple.

“I don’t think they’ve done enough to make us believe we can’t beat them,” said Trail Blazer guard Damon Stoudamire, who had 17 points and 14 assists, but also six of his team’s 18 turnovers. “They may think they have. But they haven’t won in Portland all year.”

Doing so Tuesday would be especially big. It would mean a series sweep after a 2-2 regular season, but also allow the Lakers rest and additional practice, since the next series, likely against the Seattle SuperSonics, wouldn’t open until Saturday at the soonest.

A loss Tuesday means a Game 4 at the Rose Garden on Thursday, and the chance to face true pressure, knowing that another defeat would mean a deciding Game 5 at the Forum on Saturday afternoon. It is therefore left to the Lakers to prepare for all the options as they practice today and then fly to Portland in the afternoon.

At least most of the Lakers.

“I’m only packing one suit,” Kobe Bryant said. “Hopefully, I don’t have to go shopping on the road.”

Added Fox, who went from the disappointment of playing 20 minutes in Game 1 because of foul trouble to making eight of 14 shots and setting a career playoff high with the 24 points: “You just pack. Sometimes you end up wearing the same thing twice.”

But. . . .

“You pack your mind-set for one game,” he said.

The carry-on approach. As opposed to what came Sunday--the carry-over the Lakers wanted from Game 1’s second half, when they got past a lethargic start and the Trail Blazers at the same time, stumbling on the first step before regaining balance.

Game 2 was much more what they had in mind, an 11-point advantage with only 7 1/2 minutes gone that prompted Derek Fisher to later note, “I would definitely say we cranked it up a notch or two.” The lead was 10 early in the second quarter before the Trail Blazers made a move, going up by five with an 18-3 run, but the Lakers responded again, taking a 54-52 edge at halftime.

They never trailed again, and only for 4:04 in all. But midway through the third period, it started to become a rout again, reaching 17 points and standing up to their own critique and the Trail Blazers. Tough opponents both, if only temporarily.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA PLAYOFFS: LAKERS vs. PORTLAND / BY THE NUMBERS

34-52: Number of free throws Lakers made and attempted.

17-21: Number of free throws Portland made and attempted.

2: Number of fouls Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis picked up in the first four minutes.

3: Number of technical fouls called on Portland.

12: Number of points Rick Fox scored in first quarter.

9: Number of points Rick Fox scored in Game 1 of series.