Shooting, Rhythm Get Attention

The Lakers fired up scores of jump shots during Wednesday’s practice with Coach Phil Jackson’s voice bellowing and scores of reporters on hand, which has to be at least as much pressure as the Portland Trail Blazers could inflict.

“Robert [Horry] has not made but one outside shot in the last 12 quarters, and he’s a better shooter than that--you know, he’s got to shoot it,” Jackson said Wednesday, after the Lakers’ woeful six-for-27 three-point shooting effort in Portland’s Game 5 victory Tuesday.

“I challenged these guys today about their shooting. And we spent a lot of time just getting the rhythm back in our offense.”

Jackson said the solution to Portland’s active defense is the same as it has been this entire series--players other than Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant have to make outside shots to loosen up the tight concentration inside.

“They took a risk on us not hitting shots, and we complied,” Jackson said. “But we’re going to make some of those shots.”

Maybe the Lakers were due for an off-performance, Jackson suggested, after two giant victories at Portland to take command of the series, which they still lead, 3-2.

“It’s tough to beat a good team three times in a row,” Jackson said. “But, in the same regard, they have to beat us three times in a row [to win the series]. So we know that we’re in the driver’s seat.”

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Jackson continued his analysis of Scottie Pippen, his former Chicago Bull player, who has at times controlled this series and at times let his temper get out of control, including throwing a forearm into the back of John Salley’s head at the end of Sunday’s Game 4, which the Lakers believe should have drawn a suspension.

“He got off lightly. He knows it, the NBA knows it, I know it,” Jackson said. “[Indiana center] Rik Smits was thrown off the court for doing less than that [against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round].”

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O’Neal found unanimity at last on Wednesday, becoming only the fifth player since 1981-82 to be a unanimous selection to the All-NBA first team.

It was the second first-team berth for O’Neal.

Bryant, a third-team selection last season, was voted onto the second team.