SOONER OR LAKERS...

This is the honeymoon (cont.)?

Imagine that, another Isaiah Rider, uh, situation.

It’s not as if everyone in the world didn’t warn the Lakers this would happen. Now that it’s happening, they’re trying to pretend they don’t mind or it isn’t news.

Actually, the Lakers should be on their knees, thanking the press for its restrained coverage. If they were trying this in New York, they would have awakened Thursday to two-inch high headlines on the back pages of the Daily News and Post, on the order of:

J.R. TO PRESS: DROP DEAD

Wayward Laker Says He Can Do It Too

In this newspaper, it was strictly inside-pages stuff for two days, while Rider compounded his usual problems by making the usual ominous sounds.

For two days, our stories were so short, they were signed, not bylined. When Rider told reporters he’d retaliate “and not through any articles,” adding, “And you can call David Stern and tell him I threatened you,” our story ran on Page 5, under a single-column headline that said:

Rider Forgiven

For Being Late

Is this a great market or what?

Unfortunately for the Lakers, playing with a defending champion in a sunny, tranquil environment hasn’t changed this leopard’s spots. It isn’t only reporters and referees he thinks are picking on him, now it’s Phil Jackson too.

After Tuesday’s game, when he played four minutes after arriving an hour late, Rider was overheard by reporters, snarling at General Manager Mitch Kupchak, “I don’t give a . . . how many championships he’s won!” and claiming Jackson uses a double standard.

In fact, only Jackson’s high threshold for wackos is keeping Rider here now, although even for Jackson, the noted shepherd of eccentrics (see: Dennis Rodman, Bison Dele), this is a new level of irresponsibility.

Rider, who has been let go by three teams in five years, admits this is his last chance, spurns a guaranteed $2.25 million to come here for a guaranteed $250,000 and can’t even stay on his best behavior for a month? Even Rodman, who was late for everything, wobbled in by 6:30 for 7:30 games.

Fortunately for Rider, Jackson is giving him more last chances, although it’s becoming clear that 1) Rider is still Rider, 2) limiting his minutes until he understands the offense only stresses him out more, and 3) no one knows what will work, since nothing ever has.

Unfortunately for Rider, Shaquille O’Neal, who, you may have noticed, wields no small power in this organization, is now signaling his impatience.

This is astute of him because a central truth is emerging:

The Lakers don’t need Rider.

With Rick Fox and Robert Horry, who went through season-long slumps, showing signs of reviving, the Lakers who were supposed to be dying without Glen Rice are instead the league’s best three-point shooting team at 40%.

Everyone thought they would need Rider’s scoring, with the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs bulked up, but that’s not how it looks now. Around here, the important thing is how well O’Neal and Kobe Bryant are playing together, and when it goes the way it has recently, everyone else is in trouble.

Of course, it’s early in the season. Unfortunately, it’s not early in Rider’s career.

It’s not that Rider is evil. Before the Lakers’ recent game against Minnesota, Timberwolves public relations director Kent Wipf hung around to say hello to Rider. Isaiah spent his first three seasons torturing the Timberwolves, until they dumped him on the Trail Blazers for James Robinson, Bill Curley and a draft choice.

“Nobody ever said he wasn’t a good guy,” Wipf said.

As a player, however, Rider’s a Picasso painting. Everything’s there, but the pieces don’t quite fit.

Nothing has happened in Los Angeles that didn’t happen in Minnesota, Portland or Atlanta--arriving late for this, missing that, charming the media, threatening the media. They haven’t hit last season’s low point, when he said Hawk teammates ratted him out, but they still have time.

It’s hard to see where the Lakers think this is going, other than onto the rocks. What are they waiting for, his New Year’s resolutions?

Actually, it may not be long after that, not if Fox and Horry keep knocking down three-pointers and Rider trots out his act again.

This was a longshot to begin with. Now, tear up the ticket.