Jackson Has Sympathy for Dunleavy

After having uncomplimentary signs ripped from the hands of his paying customers Sunday at the Rose Garden, Portland Trail Blazer General Manager Bob Whitsitt told reporters he was not ready to discuss possible organizational changes.

Coach Mike Dunleavy is believed to be among those with pink-slip issues, despite apparent support from Trail Blazer fans and Portland media.

Either way, Laker Coach Phil Jackson, that noted book giver, feels his pain. Asked Sunday to recommend a book for Dunleavy, Jackson said, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”

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Although the Trail Blazers were reputed to be the ones with depth, even without Bonzi Wells, Shawn Kemp and, finally, Dale Davis and Stacey Augmon, it was the Laker role players who drove the series.

Matched against Horace Grant or Robert Horry, Rasheed Wallace averaged 16.7 points, 2.5 points below his season average, and made 37.3% of his shots.

“I was particularly pleased with the play of [Derek] Fisher, [Rick] Fox, Robert Horry,” Jackson said. “I thought Horace played well. Guys that we have to have step in and play well for us to be successful.

“Teams are going to take away our strengths, or at least make it difficult for our primary scorers to score. We have to have some help from players that are important to us. They have to hit shots, take care of the ball and read the defense well, and they did a good job.”

As a result, on Sunday, when neither Shaquille O’Neal nor Kobe Bryant was dominant, four other players scored at least eight points and the Lakers won by 13.

“They’ve been stepping up hitting huge shots,” Bryant said. “Derek Fisher is hitting big shots. Fox is hitting big shots. Horace Grant is playing great for us. This is by far the best our teammates have been playing.”

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Assuming the NHL’s Kings and Colorado Avalanche go to a sixth game, it appears the Lakers will play Sunday afternoon at Staples Center against either the Sacramento Kings or Phoenix Suns. The hockey game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.