Trail Blazers Try to Keep Wallace Under Control

Rasheed Wallace has a face that was made for easily accommodating wide, tooth-filled grins.

It’s an expression his Portland Trail Blazers teammates know well, whether he’s talking playful trash with them and waving a towel from the bench during a blowout, or beaming with joy when one of his young sons comes bouncing into the locker room.

Unfortunately, it is the side of Wallace that most people never get to see. Mention his name, and fans are as likely to recall one of his spontaneous, explosive on-court tirades as they are his electrifying slams or effortless fallaway jumpers.

Wallace, 25, is having the best season of his five-year NBA career, averaging career highs in scoring (16.4) and rebounding (7.1). Starting all but four games because of Brian Grant’s injury problems, Wallace made the All-Star team for the first time.

The 6-foot-11 player also has unleashed some of the most acrobatic dunks this side of Vince Carter, using his long reach and leaping ability to throw down some alley oops that other players could never reach.

Wallace was been at his best during the Blazers’ recent stretch of eight losses in 15 games. In that span, he has averaged 20 points and made 59 percent of his shots.

“Without him, we’re not where we’re at this season,” said Grant, whose team still has the league’s second-best record. “He continues to play this way, he’ll be an All-Star every year, and whichever team he’s playing for will be successful.”

Wallace scored a season-high 34 points on 16-of-22 shooting in Thursday night’s 96-85 win over Dallas to snap a four-game home losing streak. Even after one of his best pro games, Wallace, as always, refused to act the part of a star.

“I don’t care whoever shoots what, or how many points I get, as long as we get the ‘W,”’ he said. When a fan asked him what his career high was (it’s 38), he said: “Honestly, I do not know. I don’t keep track of that.”

Wallace would be a megastar if not for his occasional blowups at the officials. But that unpredictability makes him a constant risk, and in the wrong situation could cost his team a shot at its first championship since 1977.

Wallace has 32 technical fouls this season, leading the NBA by 15 over Seattle’s Gary Payton. Wallace has been ejected five times, and with Dennis Rodman out of the league probably for good, his lead in that department seems safe.

Almost unnoticed, Wallace is on the verge of breaking the NBA record for technicals in a season. Charles Barkley had 32 in 1992-93 and 1994-95 with Phoenix, and Rodman had 32 in 1993-94 with San Antonio.

Still, his behavior has only cost the Blazers a game once -- at Dallas on Jan. 15. Wallace was thrown out with 6:02 left in the third quarter after picking up two technicals barely a minute apart. The Blazers trailed by as many as 22 to lowly Mavericks, but were staging a comeback when Wallace was ejected. Without him, they lost 113-105.

The ejection came just one night after both Wallace and coach Mike Dunleavy were tossed for arguing in a comeback win at Phoenix.

Wallace won’t discuss the issue. He rarely talks to reporters after games, and when he does, he usually faces his locker with his back to the microphones and tape recorders.

At a league-mandated interview session before the All-Star game in Oakland, he did say he wasn’t bothered by the technicals. He also promised he’d never get ejected from a playoff game, when his teammates need him the most.

“I’ve never been thrown out of a playoff game, and I never will be,” he said. “The regular season, it’s cool. It’s all right. Right now, I could have million techs. I don’t care.”

That attitude dismays Dunleavy, who has tried to get Wallace to tone down his act before the playoffs.

“It’s good that he feels like he has that kind of self-control, but we’ve talked to him about exercising that self-control right now,” Dunleavy said. “Because by the time the playoffs get here, you’ve already worn enough people out ... and memories don’t disappear.

“Referees are human, and humans hold grudges.”

Scottie Pippen is the calming influence most of the time when Wallace gets upset, talking to him and blocking his path toward officials.

Dunleavy, who was coach of the year last season, has added amateur psychology to his skills, learning to spot the warning signs of a petulant, ball-slamming outburst by Wallace.

In a home victory over Sacramento on March 14, Wallace was called for an offensive foul with 7:31 left in the third quarter and the Blazers leading just 61-57. Wallace, his legs outstretched beneath him, leaned over, grabbing the ball on the court and stewing.

Dunleavy hustled from the scorer’s table and practically yanked backup center Jermaine O’Neal out of his chair to replace Wallace before anything could happen.

Wallace finished with 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting as the Blazers won 96-91.

Two nights later, there was nothing Dunleavy could do when Wallace got frustrated playing Kevin Garnett. After picking up an offensive foul against Garnett with 10:39 left in the third quarter, Wallace let referee Mark Wunderlich have it, shouting, “I made the All-Star team too,” followed by an expletive. The technical came immediately.

Dunleavy just closed his eyes and sighed. The Blazers ended up losing 96-92, and Wallace was ejected with 5.1 seconds left for arguing another call.

“At times I’ve got a feel for it,” Dunleavy said. “Sometimes you’re better off leaving a guy in the game and he plays well, and then there’s other times when you think that by taking him out it throws a little bit more gasoline on the fire.”