TUALATIN, Ore. -- Reporters tried to goad Trail Blazers reserve Steve Kerr into saying something nasty last week about the Lakers.

	Dale Davis has it tough vs. Shaq.

Kerr, who has four NBA championship rings, was asked whether Los Angeles was an arrogant team.

He shrugged and said: "Whoever wears the crown gets to act that way."

Up 2-0 in their first-round series with Portland, the Lakers not only are acting like royalty, they're barely acknowledging the Trail Blazers' existence. Unless the Blazers do something special in Sunday's Game 3, no one can blame Los Angeles for looking ahead in its quest for a third straight title.

"I think we're starting to kick into that mode," Shaquille O'Neal said following Friday's practice. "As long as we keep doing that, it's going to be pretty easy for us."

The Lakers have beaten Portland six straight times in the playoffs, and 15 of 20 times dating to 1997. Los Angeles went 8-0 on the road in last year's postseason, and in all likelihood, coach Phil Jackson will win his 21st straight playoff series.

As if the Lakers need any more of an edge, Portland is despondent about its inability to stop O'Neal, who had 31 points and 14 rebounds in Thursday night's 103-96 win. The Lakers are trying to sweep the Blazers for the second straight year.

"I know Shaq's been dominant, and we all know he's been dominant, but that means maybe I have to come up with a different defensive scheme," said Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks. "I have to give (my players) that belief that we can win the game."

Cheeks felt particular sympathy for Dale Davis, the center who has been routinely frustrated in his attempts to guard O'Neal. In his five playoff games with the Blazers -- all against the Lakers -- Davis has averaged two points and four rebounds. He fouled out twice, was ejected twice and suspended for the other game.

On Thursday, Davis lost his temper in the third quarter when he was called for two quick fouls on O'Neal. Davis received two technical fouls 27 seconds apart -- the second after kicking the ball into the stands. Davis took off his jersey on the way to the locker room, and raised an arm to a heckling fan.

"I have a little soft spot in my heart for Dale trying to guard Shaq," Cheeks said. "Every time we got a little run, got a little momentum, they'd throw the ball to him, and he would wheel to the rim, get some type of dunk. (But) to me, it's still no excuse to get technical fouls."

The Blazers got four second-half technicals and a flagrant foul, recalling their tantrum-filled loss in Game 2 last year. The loss of cool stunted a rally in which the Blazers cut a 21-point lead to six with 1:43 to play.

Jackson said his team's "attention wavered," but if the players were bothered by it, all was forgotten by Friday's light workout in El Segundo, Calif. Several players did an impersonation of Davis being ejected from Thursday's game. The best was by Rick Fox, who drew laughs when he removed his shirt and stalked around the court.

Asked about Portland's familiar lack of self-control, Kobe Bryant said: "It's really none of my concern. I'm not thinking about what they do. That's their issues to deal with. We do a pretty good job keeping our composure, especially when the money's on the line."