Peaceful Coexistence Is the Key

First of how many?

A long, long time ago, I was in Dodger General Manager Al Campanis’ box when a newly recalled outfielder, who was one of the organization’s proudest prospects, lined his first major league hit.

“First of 3,000!” proclaimed Campanis.

Unfortunately, this was Candy Maldonado, not Roberto Clemente, who also started out in the Dodger organization. Campanis’ prediction turned out to be about 2,000 too high, but that’s how it is with youth and promise, you have your hopes and you have your reality.

This is the Lakers’ reality: The expectations didn’t end Monday night.

In an age in which there are only a handful of dominating players, the Lakers are the only team with two. Since one is 28 and the other 21, you have to like their chances.

With all the work that remains to be done on this champion, only one thing can keep them from being back, and that’s Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, having made peace long enough to bring home this prize, falling out again.

Not that it’s impossible. The Lakers’ late-season run began with a behind-the-scenes argument Jan. 19, after a win over the Cavaliers in which Kobe turned the ball over six times.

Despite O’Neal’s recent proclamations of lifelong brotherhood with Bryant (with Shaq as big brother, he adds), it only takes a big enough loss for the fault line to tremble again.

As recently as the Lakers’ Game 6 loss in Portland, O’Neal groused about teammates jacking it up from the outside. That is Shaq’s code for: Kobe (who had taken nine threes in that games, and made six) is jacking it up from the outside.

Not that this is anything but a classic problem. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar coexisted for five years on the Showtime Lakers before actually becoming friends. After that, Johnson still yearned to prove he could win a title without Kareem, and Kareem must have grown tired with suggestions he couldn’t have won without Magic.

In the end, they won five titles together and that’s all anyone remembers.

“I had to come in and put my ego aside and try to make sure he got his shots, make sure he understood it was still going to be his team,” Johnson said. “And after a while, you figure out, there’s enough everything. Enough stardom. Enough ego. Enough shots.

“That’s what they [O’Neal and Bryant] have grown, finally, to understand, that if Kobe’s not there, Shaq can’t win it. If Shaq’s not there, Kobe can’t win it.”

They’re both here, so if they can stay/become friends, the Lakers may yet put their names on another decade.

Here’s how it went, for all your heroes:

* Phil Jackson--He came, he saw, he conquered, even if it was a bigger surprise to him than anyone else. As you may have noticed, Jackson likes the sound of his own voice, but this was a great job of coaching two confused young stars and organizing the leftovers. There are few men who would have had the clout and personality to get on top of Shaq and Kobe, but Jackson did.

* O’Neal--Now he can take his rightful place as the game’s most dominating player, since Wilt Chamberlain or ever. “I always had a great deal of respect for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because of his ability to put the ball in the hole,” Larry Bird said. “[But] as far as a total package, I’ve never seen one as powerful.”

* Bryant--Every six months he gets better, but the last six months were something. His shooting is sure to improve and he just discovered he has teammates! In another year or two, he could be living at the level he reached in Games 3 and 7 of the Portland series and Game 4 of the finals. If that happens, the rest of this league is really in trouble.

* Glen Rice--Outta here.

Despite all the post-title happy talk, he and Jackson had a season to work it out and nothing got worked out. Rice can’t run Jackson’s offense and Jackson won’t change the system to accommodate Rice. Besides, there are so many things they need, Rice would look nice in a sign-and-trade package.

He did play well Monday night, though, didn’t he? Thanks for the memory.

* A.C. Green--Old, undersized, but he gave them what he had. But more than anything else, they need a full-sized power forward.

* Ron Harper--Talk about your mirror jobs, how about nursing this 36-year-old through a season, in which he averages a lowly 7.0 points and shoots less than 40%--then averages 11 in the last two rounds of the playoffs? Nevertheless, they need someone younger.

* Robert Horry--Missing in action since he was traded out of Houston four years ago, he awoke in the second half of the season. He isn’t a power forward but he’s a nice backup.

* Rick Fox--Hard-nosed and can do a little of everything, but the question is, how much use does Jackson have for him?

* Derek Fisher--Another miscommunication. Just before they hired Jackson, who likes big guards, they signed the 6-foot Fisher to a seven-year, $21-million deal. Jackson then put him on the bench. Fisher struggled but played better late in the playoffs. Nevertheless, with a $3-million salary, and a lot of teams looking for point guards, they might move him.

* Brian Shaw--Talk about coming out of nowhere. He hadn’t played any meaningful ball in years but was a big help and will be back.

* Travis Knight--Has a $3-million salary, but no future here.

* Devean George--Jackson isn’t famous for developing kids, but surprised everyone by giving this rookie a chance. With all the age around here, they could use a few guys under 30.

* John Salley--The Human Quote was more of a factor for the media than the Lakers. We would appreciate it if they could bring him back, in any capacity.