Playoffs 2000:Gamesmanship begins three days before series

Gamesmanship begins three days before series
Associated Press

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Let the gamesmanship begin. And Phil Jackson made sure it did, three days before the start of the Western Conference finals.

The first-year Los Angeles Lakers coach, known for stirring things up in Chicago, was at it again Wednesday, saying he believes Scottie Pippen has to lead the way for the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I personally think if Scottie doesn't lead this club and take them by the horns, they're not going to get by us," Jackson said at the Lakers' practice facility on a day off for his team. "I'm going to try and take that strength away.

"I don't know who else can lead them. I don't see another leader on that basketball club."

How's that for pressure?

And what does it say for the rest of the Blazers, who have been fragile in the past?

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday at Staples Center, where the Lakers have a 23-1 record since losing to the Blazers nearly four months ago. Game 2 is Monday night before the series shifts to Portland.

Pippen didn't fill the leadership role with the Bulls, who won six championships during the 1990s - Michael Jordan did. Neither Jackson nor Pippen has won a title without Jordan. Perhaps one will next month.

"This is what it's boiled down to, as ironic as it is," Jackson said. "I think this is great intrigue."

The 34-year-old Pippen played 11 seasons for the Bulls, the final nine under Jackson, before leaving for Houston following the 1997-98 season -- the same time Jackson stepped down.

After an unhappy season with the Rockets, Pippen was traded to the Blazers last October, and it's been a happy marriage.

"We're very confident that we are pretty much the team to beat," Pippen said in Portland. "We're just clicking on all cylinders."

Asked about playing against his former coach, Pippen said: "It's going to be fun. But the focal point is not between me and Phil Jackson. It's the Lakers against the Blazers, and it's the players out on the court. But it should be a fun series, I'm going to enjoy competing against him."

Jackson called Pippen one of the most skillful players he's coached.

"He's got the ability, ball-handling, reading defenses, to do a lot of things, create havoc at both ends of the floor," Jackson said. "I'd like to think I helped develop that ability. He's the one that did it."

The Lakers and Blazers were the NBA's best teams during the regular season, winning 67 and 59 games, respectively, and they split four games, with each winning once on the other's home court.

Despite the fact that his team won eight more games and has homecourt advantage, Jackson said he understands why many people favor the Blazers due to their depth and talent, not that he believes his team won't win.

Jackson also said he thinks the Blazers underachieved this season, that he figured they'd win more than 59 games.

"They had a low spell in March, after we beat them up there," Jackson said.

He referred to the teams' final game against each other, on Feb. 29 in Portland, when the Lakers won a 90-87 decision. Both teams brought 11-game winning streaks and 45-11 records into the game.

Starting with that loss, the Blazers went 14-12 to finish the season. However, they were without Brian Grant due to an injured right foot for 11 games, including the one against the Lakers, something Jackson was quick to point out, and later lost starting center Arvydas Sabonis, who also injured his right foot.

Both are healthy now.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Grant used his strength to play a major role defensively against Shaquille O'Neal, the NBA's leading scorer and MVP, when the Blazers rallied for a 95-91 victory over the Lakers at Staples Center on Jan. 22. O'Neal, list as a 7-1, 315-pounder, scored only three points in the second half and 17 overall in that game.

O'Neal and Bryant provide the Lakers with a 1-2 punch the Blazers can't match. However, as Jackson said: "They're pretty deep one through 11 or 12 or whatever. That's the one intriguing thing about this series - does quantity beat quality, in terms of experience, talent?

"Our key is Shaquille, going inside, making them adjust. Our key is to corral their offense. They have a lot of things that they can do, a lot of bodies for Shaq."

The Lakers' only loss at Staples Center since Portland beat them was a 98-80 setback to San Antonio on April 8. Los Angeles played without O'Neal in that game, and had already clinched homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.