Nothing Works for the Lakers

By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

March 3, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS — The Lakers continued down the dark path Sunday, admitting their bouts of frustration and discouragement but insisting they are staying united. That probably means everyone is dropping the bread crumbs for when the time comes to find their way back.

The 101-85 matinee setback to the Indiana Pacers before 16,711 at Market Square Arena is only the latest problem, of course, the Lakers having lost six of their last eight. This was the first time since Shaquille O’Neal went out that the defeat came against a team with a losing record, so at least it was an original another.

The Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks had come before, none of which would have been a disgrace even at full strength. But the Pacers are 28-29, might not even make the playoffs, and began the day 18th in the league in shooting at 44.8%. Then they shot 52.7% and got a triple-double of 17 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds from Mark Jackson.

“They’re playing hard,” Coach Del Harris said of his Lakers. “I don’t see anybody giving up out there. We’ve had two games where we’ve shot about 35% and still had a reasonable chance in the fourth quarter to win the games.

“It takes character, that’s all. It takes will. Strong people are able to go through hard times and weak people drift off into the sunset. Hopefully, we’ll have a group of strong people.

“As long as I see them continue to battle and fight and get upset when bad calls go against them, then I won’t be upset. They’re all right.”

Even if the cracks are starting to show.

“I think any team is going to be discouraged or frustrated at certain things,” Byron Scott said. “This was the first time on the bench where the guys kind of voiced their opinions to one another.”

Voiced their opinions?

“Got a little angry at each other,” he said.

“That happens. But it’s over . . . We kept our poise. We’re going to stay together.”

Said Nick Van Exel, when asked if the situation has become discouraging: “At times. But I think we’re all still together. We’re all together on this team because we know what we have to do.

“This is a difficult time, but we’ve got to stay together. There are times when I’ve argued with a couple of the guys, but that’s part of the game. We love each other.

“All in all, we’re on the same page. We’re going out and working hard. We’re just not getting wins.”

Making it interesting serves as a consolation because of the way they’re not getting wins.

Against the Knicks, the Lakers were down by five points with 19.7 seconds left and out of timeouts and still forced overtime, then another, before falling. The next game, at Houston in the start of this five-game trip, they trailed by 20 early in the third quarter before cutting that to 94-90 with 1:52 remaining, before losing. From there, a win at Washington.

Then came the 34.7% at Atlanta and the 36.3% versus Indiana, still good enough to make a game of it in the fourth quarter, as close as five points with 3:16 left Friday and six with 5:23 showing Sunday as the Lakers committed only one turnover in the fourth quarter. Both times, though, they got left in the dust in the final minutes, the Hawks closing with a 10-4 run and the Pacers a 13-3 rally.

“If you know that you’re going to go out and play extremely hard,” Eddie Jones said, “that should help you from being discouraged.”

Victories is another matter.

“We weren’t really sharp,” Harris said. “I thought the guys gave a strong effort, but the shooting was once again not adequate enough for a win, especially on the road. Forfeiting the rebounding game [48-35, with no Laker starter getting more than eight] made it harder for us to win.”

Their problems didn’t stop there. Jones was the one Laker with a hot hand, having made eight of 14 shots, including six of seven three-point baskets, a career high for makes behind the arc and the most by an opponent at Market Square Arena. But he got an attack of back spasms in the fourth quarter after bumping into an unknown Pacer while chasing Reggie Miller around a pick and left with 7:38 to play.

Jones did some stretching exercises on the sidelines and returned with 5:10 left, just as the Lakers got within 88-82. But he lasted only another 55 seconds before a sprint downcourt on defense brought the pain back, his day ending after a game-high 28 points, his immediate availability listed as day-to-day with the next game Tuesday at Dallas.

“I’ve got a couple days,” Jones said. “Right now, I feel fine.”

He stopped.

“I won’t say that. That’s a lie. I’m in a little bit of pain. But I’ll be all right.”

The Lakers as a whole are counting on a recovery in kind.