Rodman Signing Can Be Assessed More Fully Today

The news conference at Planet Hollywood was entertaining. The appearance on Jay Leno’s show was amusing. The new hair colors are eye-catching.

But none of that matters.

Today is what matters.

The impressive rebounding totals and smothering defense and floor-banging hustle have certainly been appreciated, but today the Lakers find out if their gamble in signing Dennis Rodman has truly paid off.

Today they find out if he can slow down, confuse and frustrate Utah Jazz power forward Karl Malone long enough for the Lakers to finally break into the win column against the Jazz, whom the Lakers will face in Salt Lake City.

This, above all else, is why the Lakers got Rodman.

For the last two seasons, the Jazz has been the roadblock that ended the Lakers’ playoff drives. Utah knocked the Lakers out of the 1997 postseason in five games in the second round and then swept the Lakers out of the conference finals last season.

Nine playoff meetings in two years. Eight Laker defeats.

“Everybody looks at us like we can’t stop Utah,” Laker Coach Kurt Rambis said. “I haven’t seen anybody else stop them much either.”

The Lakers headed into this season knowing that beating the Jazz might be more important than ever. With the Chicago Bulls depleted, Utah appears to be the team to beat for the NBA title.

In their initial meeting with the Lakers this season, nothing seemed to have changed, the Jazz winning, 100-91, at the Forum, with Malone scoring 28 points.

Enter Rodman.

He has always seemed to perplex Malone, especially last spring when Rodman did a highly effective job against Malone in the NBA finals as a member of the Bulls. Rodman plays a tight aggravating style of defense that involves more than getting into Malone’s face.

“Dennis has done a good job of getting into [Malone’s] head,” said fellow Laker forward Kobe Bryant. “I’ll be curious to see how he does [today].

“Dennis is able to be a lot more physical with Malone. He has good foot speed, he understands Malone’s game and he does an excellent job on him. The way Dennis plays him can do nothing but help us.”

He’ll get no argument from Laker assistant coach Bill Bertka.

“Dennis is a tremendous defender,” Bertka said. “I’ve always admired him. When he played against us in those championship series [with Detroit], he was the guy they put on [James Worthy] and Dennis played some damn good defense.

“He was a lot younger then, but he still brings the same energy and activity. He is so light on his feet. I’m anxious to see the job he does on Malone. There is no question that Malone has been a huge factor in our frustration with that team.”

How Rodman himself feels about facing Malone remains unknown. After Laker practice Saturday, he refused to talk to reporters, perhaps because there were no cameras around.

This much is known: Rodman’s success against Malone doesn’t mean that Rodman will necessarily start the game and be in there whenever Malone is on the floor.

“We have Shaq [O’Neal], Corie [Blount] and Travis [Knight],” Rambis said. “They are all big men who can offer different looks to Malone. And I’m not afraid to use them. We have a lot of fouls to give.

“My worries are not over because we have Dennis. No, that’s not the end of the story.”

But the Lakers are hoping that, by getting Rodman, the story of their struggles against the Jazz will have a happier ending.

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The Rodman Factor

How much effect will Dennis Rodman’s defense have on Karl Malone? Here is how Malone scored against the Lakers last season and in first game this season, and how he scored against Rodman’s Chicago Bulls last season:

MALONE VS. LAKERS

Games: 9

Points: 252

Average: 28.0

Note: Jazz won six of nine games, including 4-0 sweep in Western Conference final.

MALONE VS. BULLS

Games: 8

Points: 215

Average: 26.9

Note: Teams split games, but Bulls won NBA finals, 4-2.