Lakers Looking to Come of Age

Pop psychologists need not apply. Save the advice and the insights. Those letters to the Great Western Forum, those calls, they’ll only end up under Del Harris’ thin skin, and you don’t really want that. (Do you?)

The Lakers don’t require outside help. They understand the problem, know the cause and have the cure. Give them that much credit.

Of course, that’s also what makes it so frustrating. That they understand the problem, know the cause and have the cure . . . and still won’t step off the tracks as the puffs of smoke appear from around the bend.

They do not have the attitude, the mental approach, of champions.

That simple.

The talent, yes. Without question. The speed, the size, the bench that has proved dependable after appearing susceptible at the start of the season, versatility that would be the envy of any team. But all of that is about the body.

The Lakers’ problem is the soul.

“We’ve won probably half our games on pure talent,” forward Rick Fox said. “We’ve lost half our losses relying on pure talent.”

So much for having the championship mentality to go with the championship talent.

“Right now,” backup point guard Derek Fisher said, “I don’t think we do. I think we talk about it, dream about it and say where we want to be. But we don’t have it, whether you want to attribute that to inexperience or complacency or whatever.”

Of course, most teams would love to be stumbling like this. The Lakers are 34-11 and are No. 1 in the league in scoring by a full five points, No. 2 in shooting, No. 3 in blocks, No. 4 in assists, No. 7 in steals and No. 8 in fewest turnovers committed. All while playing 22 of the 45 games without Shaquille O’Neal, while sometimes rationing minutes to Nick Van Exel in hopes of nursing his left knee through June, while beginning the season with a new starting power forward and a new starting small forward.

To be sure, the panic button remains under glass.

“I don’t know how anyone could not be pleased, other than we would like to have won every game,” Harris said. “But when we have Shaquille play about half our games and we’re running with the second-best record in the league, we’re doing something right.

“And you look at the fact that we’re playing well enough to get four of our players selected to the All-Star game, and we have the best road [winning] percentage, lead the league in scoring and are easily the most exciting team in basketball.

“The only negatives we receive are when we’re compared to teams whose best players are in their mid-30s. Our best players are in their mid-20s. With the exception of Kobe, who is just past his mid-teens.

“We think we’re in great position now, if we stay healthy. We know this. We’ve played 80% ball with Shaquille O’Neal in the lineup the last two years. . . . Having said all that, we’re not satisfied.”

Obviously they’re in great position now, two games behind the Seattle SuperSonics in the league, the conference and the division--with 37 to play. To suggest this team has no chance to be in the finals would be ludicrous.

But the standards are such that, contrary to Harris’ statement, there is reason not to be pleased. A team that goes for so long without sustained intensity, without a killer instinct, raises serious questions about its ability to suddenly turn it on in the last weekend of April.

The final games before the all-star break were the first half in a capsule: The Lakers got four representatives in the All-Star game, talk about how they’ll love the pressure that brings--then give a heartless performance two days later against the New Jersey Nets. They play without two starters--and crush the Bulls. They follow that without a very nice showing for the first three quarters against the Portland Trail Blazers--then fail to put the game away, allowing for a comeback and a tainted victory.

Now, in a fitting carryover, they return after the break with what could be an equally telling schedule: tonight against the Trail Blazers, the team they just missed the chance to rout; the Golden State Warriors, who typified Laker first-half struggles against the lower-class by showing more grit in the fourth quarter to post a one-point victory Dec. 10 at Oakland; and the SuperSonics, who come to the Forum on Friday to continue that rivalry.

Of course it’s a future the Lakers are looking forward to, either for revenge or for a good start to the pseudo-second half, officially coming with Game 46. Or maybe just because they see something in the immediate future.

Looking for wins?

Looking forward to the playoffs?

Said Eddie Jones: “I look for maturity.”

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* CLIPPERS: Guard Brent Barry returns to practice, but is considered questionable for tonight’s game at Utah because of a heel injury. C3