Playoffs 2000:Blazers out of answers as Lakers go for clincher

Blazers out of answers as Lakers go for clincher
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Portland coach Mike Dunleavy has tried just about everything to beat the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, with the Trail Blazers on the brink of elimination, he wants the referees to help.

Tuesday, May 30

If Portland hopes to extend the series tonight, the Blazers must play like they did in Game 2, when they were very aggressive taking the ball to the basket right from the beginning of the game.

With a few exceptions, they never got off that track. Their third-period run, when they outscored the Lakers 28-8, really broke the game open. The Blazers began the next two games with runs much like that one in Game 2, but they couldn't sustain them. That's clearly what they have to do in Game 5.

When the Blazers were more offensively aggressive, they made Shaquille O'Neal a more passive defender because he didn't want to get into foul trouble. Then when the game progresses, and he's not in foul trouble, then he becomes more active and more intimidating as a defender.

Since then I have been surprised that the Blazers have played such a slow-down, sluggish game for the most part. They are just taking turns posting somebody up. Then everybody else stands around and watches. That's not why the Blazers don't think that is the way to beat the Lakers.

The Lakers must come out really focused tonight. If they think because they are going to win simply because they are at home, they could have a rude awakening. But I think they will come ready to play mainly due to the influence of Phil Jackson, Ron Harper and -- to a certain extent -- A.C. Green, although he's a quieter member.

Harper has unpredictably emerged as a very important player for the Lakers with the way he's played the last two games in Portland. The Blazers were counting on Harper as a weak point. Even Green has knocked down an occasional shot when the Blazers wanted it least. Those contributions from unlikely sources are so important for the Lakers.

On the eve of Tuesday's Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, Dunleavy leveled a blast at the officiating and how, he said, it makes it virtually impossible to deal with Shaquille O'Neal.

"There were three times in yesterday's game where he commits fouls that they don't call," Dunleavy said before what might have been the Blazers' final practice on Monday. "... He's not Wilt Chamberlain yet. He can foul out of the game between now and when he retires."

They were comments born of frustration after the Lakers' weekend sweep in Portland put them up 3-1 in the series. A victory tonight will send Los Angeles to the NBA Finals for the 18th time.

The officiating regarding O'Neal is inconsistent, Dunleavy said.

"There's been times we've tried to foul him on purpose, but they aren't called and he winds up dunking the ball because we've got to foul him harder," he said. "Then there are other times when you can't pick a rhyme or reason. You're just bodying up and the whistle blows."

And then there's illegal defense.

"It's interesting to me when I have a conversation on the sideline with one of the referees and I'm saying `OK, Brian Grant's past the hash mark. Shaquille is in the lane with both feet. That is illegal. Why won't you call it?' And I get no response," Dunleavy said. "That to me is just unbelievable."

The three illegal defenses that were called against the Lakers on Sunday weren't nearly enough, he said.

"Shoot, let's go back to the film and shoot them retroactively," Dunleavy said. "We might have still won that game."

The dilemma that is the Lakers begins and ends with O'Neal. He is so big and powerful, he must be double-teamed.

"I think they know what their game plan has to be," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They've got to focus on Shaq."

So that leaves Kobe Bryant, perhaps the most dynamic young player in the NBA.

Or Glen Rice, a deadeye shooter who finally got some screens from his teammates in Game 3 and scored 21 points.

Or Ron Harper, who knows what it's like to be an NBA champion. He scored 18 points in Game 4 and hit the winner on a pass from Bryant in Game 3.

Or Robert Horry, whose 3-point barrage helped Los Angeles win Game 1.

When O'Neal is making his free throws, as in his 9-for-9 performance in Sunday's 103-91 victory, opponents might as well give up.

"They've grown and I think that's the key for this team this year," Jackson said. "They wanted to grow. We've had to make some changes to adjust to their team. Our players have done a real good job."

After Scottie Pippen gave the Lakers fits in Portland's 29-point blowout victory in Game 2, Jackson put Bryant on him. Pippen has been far less effective since.

Pippen was in an ugly mood on Monday. He spoke to reporters for only about 90 seconds, obviously weary of the same old question.

"That's it," he said, then walked away.

Just eight nights ago, the Lakers blew their homecourt advantage with that ugly home loss. The predictions they weren't as good as advertised were reampant.

But instead of folding, Los Angeles seemed to find its character in that weekend in Portland.

"I just think we matured a little bit more," Bryant said, "kicked it up a level as far as execution goes. If we get in a tight situation, we're going to remember those games we pulled out. It's good for your confidence."

The Blazers' offensive strategy will be to attack the Lakers for 48 minutes, not just in the early stages of the game.

"We have to be aggresssive," Dunleavy said.

Point guard Damon Stoudamire said his team needs to push the ball upcourt and try to speed up the tempo. The Lakers are toughest defensively in a halfcourt game, Stoudamire said.

"Whatever it takes, you've got to put the ball in the hole," he said. "You can sit up here and talk about double-teaming Shaq and Kobe and Ron Harper scores 18, but if we put the ball in the hole, it's still a different game, that's the bottom line."

Only six teams have come back from being down 3-1 to win a series. At least the Blazers know it is possible to win on the Lakers' court. They have done it twice, once in the regular season and again in that Game 2 rout.

"It doesn't look great 3-1," Blazers guard Steve Smith said, "but if we get this one and go back to Portland, I don't see us losing three games in a row in Portland. So we figure we can make it back here."