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Patience pays Lakers' Rice finally heats up in Game 4
Posted: Monday May 29, 2000 09:03 PM
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- The triangle offense employed by Phil Jackson and his coaching staff was terrific for Michael Jordan and the Bulls in Chicago, and it's working well for Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. As for Glen Rice, a prolific shooter coming off screens most of his 10-year NBA career, it hasn't been ideal, because that's not how it works. So Rice hasn't been the scorer with the Lakers that he was been in the past, especially in these playoffs. That changed in the third quarter Sunday in Portland, when the Lakers looked for Rice, and he rewarded them with 12 points to spark a 34-19 surge that put Los Angeles ahead for good en route to a 103-91 victory over the Trail Blazers and a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. "You always get down a little bit when you go out there and can't do the things you're capable of doing," Rice said Monday at the Lakers' practice facility. "I've realized I've got to be patient; good things come to those who are patient." Rice finished with 21 points -- his first 20-point game in six weeks -- and seven rebounds as the Lakers moved within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance in nine years. They can clinch that berth Tuesday night at Staples Center in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series. "We've been trying to use Glen all year; he's been there for us in tough times," O'Neal said. "I'm sure he's going to be there tomorrow." Rice was there Sunday, his 33rd birthday, at least in part because Jackson made sure he'd be there, stressing the 6-foot-8 sharp-shooter get opportunities to score. "We always make a conscious effort to try and get Glen the ball," Jackson said. "Once Glen got going, he was fine. We didn't have to go back to specific sets." Rice, who brought a 20.6-point scoring average into the season, entered the game having averaged 12.9 points in 13 previous playoff games and 9.7 in the first three games of the conference finals. "To see the way they went out and looked for me [Sunday], ran me off screens, it was a big plus," Rice said. "The first thought that came to mind was, 'All right, I can do what I do best.'" Rice's right knee bothered him during and after the Lakers' 106-77 loss to the Blazers in Game 2 at Staples Center on May 22, but three days off before Friday night's third game gave him a chance to heal. "The knee is pretty solid," he said Monday. Right now, so are the Lakers. 'It was definitely a big test for us,' Rice said of Games 3 and 4 in Portland. 'Winning twice up there was no surprise to us. We realize when we go out and play the way we're capable of playing, we're the best team in the league. 'One of the things we do very well, we learn from our mistakes. I think that's the most important thing.' Rice has said he hopes to remain with the Lakers following this season, when he becomes a free agent. Whether the parties will be able to agree to a financial package both can live with is in question. But right now, the focus is on the present. "It was a big accomplishment for us," Rice said of the wins in Portland. "But we realize the series is not over. Portland is a great team, they've beaten us on our court before, pretty much manhandled us. "You don't want to go back to Portland, give them any confidence. By putting the pressure on them, I think we can pull this thing out. We've got to move the ball, try to get their legs tired." It might help if the Lakers find No. 41 a little more, as they did Sunday.
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