Fisher, Rookie Lue Competing for Key Role Behind Harper

If you listen to Laker Coach Kurt Rambis, it sounds as if Derek Fisher, who started his fourth consecutive game at point guard Tuesday, and rookie Tyronn Lue are in a bit of a competition to see who will retain their playing time once former starter Derek Harper regains his legs and is ready to re-take a prominent role.

“It’s real tough to have a three-guard rotation [at the point],” Rambis said before the game against the Warriors. “We’ll probably have two guys and have one guy as a spot guy.

“It is an adjustment I’m going to have to see, try to make the best judgment. . . . I know what Derek Harper can do.”

Fisher had a total of 10 points and 13 assists in his three starts before Tuesday--and had no points or assists in the Lakers’ victory over Vancouver on Monday; Lue had career highs in points (15) and assists (six) against the Grizzlies.

But Rambis says he isn’t necessarily looking for stats out of his point guards.

“I don’t need my point guards scoring--their role is to initiate our defense, to get us into our offense, pass the ball,” Rambis said.

“In our offense, the way teams play us, they may not get an assist because they pass the ball, somebody doubles, they pass the ball out . . . they may have the second pass.

“I like what [Fisher]’s doing now. If he gets on a roll, he stays in. If Ty gets on a roll, he stays in.”

*

Shaquille O’Neal, agreeing the Lakers are in need of leadership in the locker room and that it is up to him to provide it, is in the process of meeting with each of his teammates to urge them to gear up for the final few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs.

O’Neal shrugged off his plan Tuesday. But for days now, Rambis has pointed to O’Neal as the clear centerpiece personality and player of this team.

“I’ve been telling you guys all along that he is our team,” Rambis said. “He is our leader. He has to step up and perform well at both ends of the court. He is capable of being a dominating player at both ends of the court. I think he understands that.”

*

An interview Dennis Rodman did with ABC’s Diane Sawyer will be televised in two parts today on “Good Morning America” at 7 a.m. and continued on “20/20 Wednesday” at 10 p.m.

TONIGHT at Portland, 7 / Channel 9

* Site--Rose Garden.

* Radio--KLAC (570 AM).

* Records--Lakers 27-16; Trail Blazers 30-10.

* 1999 Record vs. Trail Blazers--0-1.

* Update--The Lakers are 1-1 in their previous third-game-in-three-days scenarios, having lost to Vancouver and won in Sacramento in previous finales. Of course, the Trail Blazers gave the Lakers a season-worst 27-point defeat April 13--Dennis Rodman’s last game as a Laker. Portland’s Tuesday game at Denver was postponed after the high school shootings in Littleton, Colo.