Trip Spotlights Improved Defense

The Lakers’ just-completed 4-0 Eastern trip spotlighted probably their most important improvement from last season: Even in hostile environments and with weary legs, their defensive intensity and consistency give them an edge.

On the road last season, the Lakers were 13-12, and opponents scored 97.3 points a game.

This season under Coach Phil Jackson and with Shaquille O’Neal playing far more actively on defense, the Lakers are an NBA-best 10-3 away from home and are giving up an average of only 90.2 points in those games.

In the four-game trip sweep, Laker opponents averaged 88.5 points and shot only 41.2%. Road opponents shot 45.5% last season.

“We’ve been a really good defensive team simply because we make teams shoot jump shots, and we’re cleaning up the boards,” Jackson said.

“Shaq’s done a great job rebounding, and that’s been a difference for us--we’re not giving up fastbreak points a lot except maybe in turnover situations. So that’s been a difference, making teams earn the baskets.

“I don’t know how good we can be, but I think we’re pretty stifling at times.”

So, can this team win the championship this season?

“Yes,” O’Neal said, without need for elaboration.

Jackson, of course, was not ready to make that leap when asked the same question.

“Not this week,” Jackson said. “But I think we’ve improved a lot during the course of the year, and I think if we continue improving in the next couple months, we’re going to be a pretty good team, we’re going to be a team that has that kind of ability.

“I’m still amazed at some players, like A.C. Green and Robert Horry, doing a great job kind of a tandem team at [power forward], a spot where we were supposed to be weak and we’re getting great performances at them.

“And I’m impressed with Glen Rice’s every-night experience out there; he has an occasional off night, but he’s been great.

“And Shaq and Kobe [Bryant] have been terrific. And we’re finding a way to make that [other] guard, that off-guard with [Ron Harper and Derek Fisher] work out for us.”