Lakers Finally Catch a Breath

It had been a while since the Lakers had done the routine, game efficiency being tied as closely to defensive diligence as it is.

But they’d tried a little harder recently, which amounted to victories.

Given yet another chance at the routine, with a sound and settling Derek Fisher at one guard and a healing Kobe Bryant at the other, the Lakers overwhelmed the Washington Wizards, 101-89, Friday night at the MCI Center. Before a sellout crowd of 20,674 that did not include Wizard President Michael Jordan, the Lakers were steadier in places they had been timid, and patient where they’d been rash.

“That’s not the best we’ve played this year,” Laker forward Rick Fox said. “But it was something we needed to do.

“They are the younger players on the team and when you look at where our deficiencies have been, those guys have younger legs and can be a little more aggressive. That is what Derek builds his reputation on, and Kobe got [first team all-defense]. It’s nice to know that you have two guys who can create some problems out there.”

Fisher made four of six shots, both of his three-pointers, scored 11 points, had six assists and helped Bryant check a Wizard backcourt that occasionally can be potent. Bryant scored 26 points and had five steals, and then kept his hands in the faces of Richard Hamilton and Hubert Davis. Shaquille O’Neal scored 16 of 18 points in the first half, and did not play the fourth quarter.

On the tail end of back-to-back games, the kind of scheduling that often takes the legs from their aged players, the Lakers showed a fresh knack for defense and a grudging understanding for what it could do for their offense. The Lakers’ 16-2 run in the third quarter, a four-minute hail of steals and hustle plays that took their lead from 56-54 to 72-56, effectively buried this town’s other Dubyas.

That left 14 full minutes of garbage time, which J.R. Rider didn’t crack. Back from his five-game suspension for not complying with the league’s anti-drug program, Rider played five second-quarter minutes, missed two shots and did not return.

The Lakers appear to have other plans for their backcourt. Fisher does. His aggressive presence has kept some of the smaller, darting guards away from O’Neal, and has allowed everybody to sneak up a step or two on their own assignments. It looked particularly good against the Wizards, as you’d figure it would. They fell to 16-49.

“That was probably more like the way it’ll be night in and night out for me,” said Fisher, who scored 41 points in his first two games back from a stress fracture in his foot.

His intent is to make things routine again, as things were for long stretches last season, when the Lakers played defense as though it meant something to them. Confronted again by the seemingly pedestrian task of beating down an inferior team and then keeping it down, the Lakers led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Wizards shot 42% from the field, 25% on their three-pointers, and committed 21 turnovers that led to 37 Laker points.

Asked if, given the relative stature of the Wizards, he put any weight on those defensive efforts, Laker Coach Phil Jackson smiled and said, “Not too much.”

He added, almost reluctantly, “Our defense is getting better in that regard.”

The rest, they took comfort in the general competence of it.

“It felt good,” Bryant said. “We needed one like this.”

Upon arriving in Washington early Friday morning, hours after scoring 39 points in Detroit, Bryant ordered several bags of ice from room service, emptied them into his bathtub and submerged his ailing ankles. They were better by Friday afternoon, and his entire game appeared better for it.

“Surprisingly,” he said, “I felt pretty good.”

The Lakers have won three in a row and 11 of 14. They have started a five-game trip 2-0, with Orlando, Atlanta and Milwaukee ahead.

Pressed or beaten by the likes of Detroit, Boston and Seattle, among others, in recent weeks, the Lakers appeared to be more comfortable and determined against the overmatched Wizards.

“On a back-to-back, it’s good to see that kind of energy,” said Fox, who scored 13 points and had four assists.

NO EASY RETURN

J.R. Rider was back from his five-game suspension, but he had trouble fitting in with the offense and didn’t score. D5

CLIPPERS94

GOLDEN ST.76

Jeff McInnis had his first career triple-double with 21 points, 11 assists and a career-high 12 rebounds. D4

AROUND

THE NBA

The 76ers were humbled by the Kings, 100-79, and Allen Iverson and Larry Brown will miss the start of their upcoming

trip. D4

PLEASANT

MEMORIES

Pete Sampras’ victory over Patrick Rafter reminds him of last year’s Wimbledon final.

D9