Unguarded Moments Are Jackson’s Worry

Though almost all of the analysis and criticism of the Lakers’ Game 2 loss to Portland has been focused on the Laker offense, Coach Phil Jackson said the key to the next two games probably will be how their defense handles the Trail Blazers’ slashers.

“We’re not so worried about the offense,” Jackson said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s defensively--you have to be able to play in this game and that’s what carries your offense. The offense will come and go but your defense has to be solid.’

Jackson said his staff is planning no major adjustments on defense (switching Kobe Bryant onto Scottie Pippen and Glen Rice onto Steve Smith had been suggested), saying that the Lakers only need to make better decisions on the floor against the players they are guarding.

“I can understand that they got on their heels defensively, and that’s a bad sign,” Jackson said. “You can’t play for fear of fouls or whatever, and you can’t be concerned about fouls in this game. If you are, if you’re concerned what the referee’s going to call, then you put yourself in jeopardy and the team.”

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If the Lakers were looking for a couple of torrid practices to get them ready before they flew to Portland on Thursday, they did not get them, apparently.

“Practices have been kind of so-so,” forward Robert Horry said Thursday. “They were supposed to be hard, but they weren’t.

“We came out, a lot of guys were banged up, so a lot of guys seemed like they were trying to hold themselves back and not go out there and stretch themselves too much.

“But as long as you get the thought process mentally down, I think that’s what the guys [wanted].”

There was one new injury--rookie swingman Devean George sprained his left ankle during the workout and his status is uncertain for tonight.

Backup center John Salley described a spirited workout Thursday in which the purple team (backups) pressed the first unit, including some testy moments.

“It was supposed to be a calm practice, not so hectic,” Salley said. “That’s not what happened.”

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Jackson said that Rice, who played limited minutes in Game 2 at least partially because of soreness in his right knee, has looked much better in recent practices.

Also, Jackson said it wasn’t because of health worries that he cut guard Ron Harper down to 15 minutes in Game 2.

“I just didn’t like Harp’s decisions,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t nursing him or anything else. I just didn’t think he got loose when he came out to play and I didn’t think he made good decisions when he had the ball.”

Harper has been unavailable for comment for the last three days.