They’re Looking in the Mirror at Reasons for Slump

Payback and revenge are the least of the Lakers’ concerns as they prepare to play the Houston Rockets tonight for the second time in six days.

Because while the Rockets thumped the listless Lakers, 84-74, Tuesday at Houston, the Lakers believe they beat themselves in equaling a Los Angeles franchise-record low in points scored.

“I don’t think our defense is what killed us, although [Houston] did get some things down at the end of the game that were fortuitous for them, the bounces that came their way,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said after practice Saturday. “The reality is our offense was really the limiting factor, mostly because of turnovers and no second shots.”

Shaquille O’Neal agreed.

“We’re a little bit better than that,” the Laker center said. “We just have to move the ball, limit our mistakes.

“Even though we’ve lost three games, we basically beat ourselves all three games.”

The Lakers, who turned the ball over 19 times at Houston, are averaging 16.5 turnovers (they averaged 15 turnovers after six games in Jackson’s inaugural season last year) with Kobe Bryant averaging a team-high 3.5.

O’Neal made 13 of 32 shots in losses at Houston and San Antonio.

“I think Shaq’s made a statement that he never has two bad games in a row,” Jackson said. “So I expect that the third game will be OK.”

O’Neal said the Lakers’ key tonight is simply a matter of maintaining concentration against the Rockets, particularly in the fourth quarter.

“Most teams are sagging off of us,” O’Neal said. “So we’ve got to swing the ball around, try to get it in that way, or I just have to do the other things--rebound, play good defense.

“It’s not really what they did that caused us the loss; it’s what we did. We just have to worry about ourselves and take care of the ball.”

TONIGHT

vs. Houston, 6:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 3-3, Rockets 3-4.

* Record vs. Rockets--0-1.

* Update--Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon needs nine rebounds to reach 13,000. After limiting the Lakers to 74 points Tuesday, Houston held the Vancouver Grizzlies to 76 points two days later, marking the first time in franchise history the Rockets had held consecutive opponents to fewer than 80 points. Then they gave up 111 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.