Lakers Discover Cure-All

One would have never known that the Lakers were a team in turmoil heading into Thursday night’s game at the Arrowhead Pond.

But then again, they were playing the winless Clippers.

Although at times they looked like the same stale team that got Del Harris fired as coach, the Lakers played more together under Bill Bertka and even dusted off their dormant fastbreak to defeat the Clippers, 115-100, in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 18,456.

In his first game as coach, Bertka’s job was fairly easy, even though newest Laker Dennis Rodman was not in uniform or at the Pond.

“Everything that happened has been kind of a burden for our players,” Bertka said. “I think we cleared the air a little bit with our play.”

Added Derek Harper: “We did a lot of things tonight that Del’s been telling us to do.”

Thursday’s game may have been listed as a Clipper home game but the crowd clearly was behind the Lakers. From the pregame warmups to garbage time late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers did not disappoint.

The numerous fans who attended the game wearing Laker jerseys got to see Shaquille O’Neal make a couple of his customary power dunks and even lead a few fastbreaks. They saw Eddie Jones float to the basket and play sticky defense. They also witnessed the return of Robert Horry, who had missed the last seven games because of an irregular heartbeat, and all he did was make his first five shots.

“I’m happy that we won, but it’s nothing to hurrah about,” said O’Neal, who had a game-high 11 rebounds. “We’re supposed to do that against a team like that.”

The Lakers had six players score 11 or more points, led by O’Neal’s 19 and Jones’ 17. Kobe Bryant was the only starter not to score in double figures. He finished with a season-low seven points.

With the loss, the Clippers--who have not defeated the Lakers since March 1997--dropped to 0-10 to remain the NBA’s only winless team. To make matters worse, Maurice Taylor, who led the team with 20 points, had to leave the game in the third quarter because of a right knee injury that might force him to miss a chunk of the season.

“I was running forward, saw the ball to my left [and] I tried to react before my feet were sturdy beneath me,” said Taylor, who will have an MRI done this morning. “Basically, I landed funny on it. I felt a twist, but it felt like it locked up on me.”

The Clippers hung tough for the first 20 minutes, but the Lakers made a run before halftime and carried the momentum into the second half. The Lakers blew the game open with 35 points in the third quarter, their highest point total for a quarter this season.

For the Clippers, this condensed season is starting to look like an eternity and Ford is hoping for any of his players to make a stand.

“Right now I’m searching for guys to give minutes to,” Ford said. “I’m looking [for players] to step up.”

Ford was pleased with the play of Sherman Douglas, who made his first start at point guard, and said that the veteran may continue to play ahead of Darrick Martin.

“The two of them are going to [continue] to play,” Ford said. “We’re not playing such unique basketball where one guy is going to get all of the minutes.”

* SIDESHOW TIME

The Lakers are becoming accustomed to all the craziness this season has presented. Page 13