Wednesday, 5/14/97 Several questions remain unanswered in wake
of playoff loss Lakers face hard time, must prevent
self-destruction
A tumultuous Laker season came to a merciful end on Monday, when
the Lakers suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Utah Jazz
that eliminated them from the post season. No sooner were the
Lakers ousted from the playoffs that the future of this young Laker
team came into question. Will malcontent point guard Nick Van Exel
be back next season? Will Robert Horry, who disappeared in the
playoffs, be seen in Laker purple and gold next season? Is Del
Harris’ job in jeopardy? And those are just some of the questions
that were fueled by the disappointing performance. The Lakers’
deterioration began before the playoff seedings were even
determined. A string of injuries and locker room confrontations
slowly ripped the team apart from both a physical and mental
standpoint. When Shaquille O’Neal was lured away from the Magic
Kingdom by a $121 million contract, the Lakers felt that they would
again be able to recreate the Showtime glory days of the late ’80s.
Many players and fans alike thought that the Lakers would be able
to challenge the Bulls for the NBA title. Instead, Shaq still has
10 fingers and no rings for them. Not all of the blame can be put
on Shaq’s shoulders. His supporting cast was virtually nonexistent
and did not contribute to the team down the stretch. More
specifically, the collective magical disappearing act of Eddie
Jones and Horry at the start of the playoffs ultimately contributed
to the Lakers’ demise. Jones, a member of the Western Conference
All-Star squad, played like he was in the CBA, with limited
offensive production and countless defensive lapses. Horry, who was
relieved from his towel-throwing duties in Phoenix, was atrocious
from behind the arc – at one point missing 13 shots in a row. (He
did redeem himself by hitting seven of seven in Game 2 vs. Utah). *
* * There were a few bright spots on an otherwise disappointing
Laker squad. Thrust into the spotlight, rookies Travis Knight and
Derek Fisher played with the composure and poise of seasoned
veterans. Former Trail Blazer Jerome Kersey played with the
enthusiasm and spirit of a rookie. Even Sean Rooks, who was
impressive while playing for the injured O’Neal during the season,
played like an all-star. * * * I don’t know whether it was his
infatuation with Tyra Banks (who, by the way, will be on campus
today) or his great personal relationship with the referees, but
Nick Van Exel did not provide any type of consistent play at the
point guard position this season. A player at the point guard
position is expected to do two things: first, take on the role of
team leader – the one player who should maintain control of the
team while on the floor and in the locker room; second, create shot
opportunities for your teammates and yourself by distributing the
ball to the other players. As the Laker point guard, Van Exel was
unable to accomplish any of these things on a consistent basis. Not
only was he disruptive in the locker room, but on the court he
would time and again take ill-advised shots or turn the ball over
in pressure situations. If the Lakers are to make a serious run at
the NBA title with their relatively young nucleus of players, the
Lakers should invest in a point guard who knows where his place is
on and off the court and who is willing to accept the
responsibility of the point guard position. Yun is a Daily Bruin
sports writer and columnist, and can be reached by e-mail at
tyun@media.ucla.edu.