Making a Stand, They Still Look Unbalanced

Shaq and Kobe, together again, just like the old times.

Well, at least through pregame introductions.

Nothing is the way it was for the Lakers these days. It’s not the way it was for three seasons, when they won three titles. It’s not even the way it was two weeks ago, when they started their seven-game winning streak.

With Shaquille O’Neal back Friday night, they greased out a 92-84 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, with Kobe Bryant going for the now-standard 40 points, O’Neal getting 24 and the rest of the team chipping in 28.

A tribute to ball movement, this wasn’t. That gagging sound you hear is Tex Winter, convulsed at the sight of what they’re doing to his offense.

Before O’Neal went out with a sore knee, and Bryant started carrying the Lakers despite a sore knee of his own, spectacular 20-footer by spectacular 20-footer, they were a respectable-looking team that seemed on the uptick. Now they look like they’re making the game plan up as they go.

“There has to be a balance out there and we have to use our strengths as a basketball team,” Coach Phil Jackson said before the game.

“We talked about it a little bit today. If there’s a team that has a real aggressive defense with the possibility of trapping Kobe, getting the ball out of his hands, it’s Portland. But if they do that, it means they can’t throw two defenders at Shaq.”

Jackson might have been wishing out loud, but it didn’t happen that way.

“We’ve got a lot more bodies to throw at him, our big guys are quicker and this and that,” Portland’s Scottie Pippen said before the game, reprising all Jackson’s theories that had been in Friday’s papers. “But we ain’t buying that.”

The Trail Blazers didn’t try to get the ball out of Bryant’s hands. Kobe took a lot of shots (32), most from long range, and, as he has been doing recently, made a lot of them (15).

Of course, O’Neal got his touches, but nobody else played much of a part in the offense. And when they did get shots, they missed. Through three quarters, Derek Fisher was one for six, Robert Horry was one for five and Rick Fox was 0 for 3.

The Blazers started the season 10-11, when Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire were busted for smoking marijuana and Pippen ripped the front office for all its bad trades. Between then and Friday night, they also went 24-7. Go figure.

In between exchanging valentines with Jackson, (Phil: “We know he would fit”), Pippen prepared to deal with Bryant, Michael Jordan’s old teammate girding for Jordan’s supposed heir apparent.

“Shooting more,” Pippen said, asked what Bryant was doing different.

“I mean, I don’t know what else is different. He’s been more aggressive to shoot. Looks like the other guys on this team are reluctant to shoot. I don’t know if it’s the pressure of them losing and now. It’s like fans turn against you.”

Of course, you never know when opportunity is going to come along. Having missed all three of his shots, Fox was lurking under the basket late in the fourth quarter when Bryant launched a three-pointer that missed the rim entirely, bouncing off the backboard right into Fox’s hands. Fox went back up and scored, putting the Lakers up, 84-81, with 2:41 left.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers were making two shots from the floor in the last 5:33, including Derek Anderson’s three-pointer at the buzzer.

Someone had to win, it says in the rules.

“They’re still the team to beat,” Pippen said of the Lakers beforehand. “Obviously, we’re not in the playoffs today, so it really doesn’t matter what their record is or how they’re playing. We know that once the playoffs start, they are heavy favorites. People can look at [Sacramento] and say they’re heavy favorites but, you know, no one has proven they can beat this team in a series.”

Of course, “this team” hasn’t been in any series lately, nor will any be played until April. Between now and then, the Lakers have some sore joints they hope will heal and a game to relocate.