Lakers Could Use a Switch-Hitter

OK, which one of you guys was supposed to hit that switch?

The playoffs have arrived, thankfully for the Lakers, who couldn’t get it back together during the season that, let’s face it, has become so b-o-r-i-n-g for them.

The problem is, they’ve been hitting that switch for weeks ... and the lights have yet to come back on.

Harking back to April 1, 2001, when they suddenly turned from quarrelsome and divided to happy and unbeatable, Laker players have been greeting every little winning streak as the Start of Something Big, but then something would happen ... the wipeout in Phoenix ... Shaquille O’Neal hurting his wrist ... the Trail Blazers, in mid-tantrum with Scottie Pippen ejected and Rasheed Wallace kicking chairs, still looking hungrier than the Lakers as they came from 10 points behind in the last 5:25 of regulation and eight down in the last 1:51 of overtime.

Doesn’t sound much like last season yet, does it?

That was when the Kings folded in the stretch, leading the division April 1 before finishing 6-5, a game behind the Lakers, who went 8-0.

This March, it was the Lakers who won at Sacramento, cutting the Kings’ lead to half a game, with a 2-1 lead in the season series and an appointment to see them again in Staples the last night of the season.

Then the Lakers went 7-4 while the Kings went 11-0 to clinch the No. 1 seeding.

Oh, and the Spurs, whom the Lakers figure to meet in the second round, also are a lot hotter than they are, having just won 20 of 23.

As Phil Jackson, a devotee of the late-season run, says: Momentum counts, making teams, like last season’s Lakers, more than they were.

Last spring, the Lakers hit San Antonio for the Western Conference finals on a 15-game winning streak. The Spurs massed their defense on Shaquille O’Neal, whereupon Kobe Bryant got 45 and 28 points in Games 1 and 2 in the Alamodome and O’Neal adopted Bryant as his little brother for life.

Then the Spurs went to work trying to contain Bryant, whereupon Derek Fisher scored 41 in Games 3 and 4, going eight for 12 on three-pointers. After that, the Spurs were just happy to be allowed to leave.

That was then, this is now and the Lakers have no momentum ... making them less than they are.

This is a better team, with O’Neal and Bryant, the game’s mightiest tandem, together in a way we never thought we’d see. Fisher is an established weapon, Devean George a front-line player, the athletic Samaki Walker has taken the place of the venerable Horace Grant, etc.

But that team was hot and this team is not ... yet, anyway.

Momentum made them a monster a year ago. With that much less now, they’re that much more vulnerable.

On the other hand, think of it as suspense, the first Laker fans have felt for a while.

This is how it shapes up:

1. SACRAMENTO vs. 8. UTAH

The Kings won the season series, 4-0, so obviously this isn’t the matchup the Jazz was hoping for. The Kings have an offensive machine and right now, it’s a red-hot offensive machine, averaging 113 points in April.

You never want to underestimate those Utah tough guys, so maybe they’ll win a game.

2. SAN ANTONIO vs. 7. SEATTLE

They split the season series, but the SuperSonics--who surprised everyone, going on a 19-5 run shortly after the All-Star break with Gary Payton and seemingly little else--went cold (2-6) in April, while the Spurs kept on blazing.

The new SuperSonic big men, Predrag Drobjnak and Jerome James, were pleasant surprises, but Tim Duncan and David Robinson are Hall of Famers.

The Spurs will be there if the Lakers make it to the second round.

3. LAKERS vs. 6. PORTLAND

If Sunday’s game at Portland did nothing else, it reminded the Lakers how dangerous the NBA’s 2 Live Crew can be, even in the midst of their histrionics.

Coach Maurice Cheeks went small at the end, with three guards, Ruben Patterson and Rasheed Wallace, which meant O’Neal had to guard Wallace, which meant Rasheed could sit on the arc and fire at will. Cheeks definitely will try it again. My bet is this time, Jackson has O’Neal guard Patterson, who stays closer to the hole.

Oh, and Patterson, the “Kobe-stopper,” has probably said way too much for his own good.

The Lakers will make the second round. The question is whether they’ll struggle or play well enough to develop some momentum of their own.

4. DALLAS vs. 5. MINNESOTA

The Mavericks cooled off, but the Timberwolves hit the wall. Minnesota was 39-18 on March 1, having just polished off the Lakers in the Target Center, and 11-12 after that, amid reports of problems between Wally Szczerbiak and teammates again.

This looks like a five-game shootout (the Mavericks averaged 111 as the teams split their four games, the Timberwolves 113) with, oh, let’s say the Timberwolves in an upset.

So, it should be exciting from here on--oh, I forgot about the East.

1. NEW JERSEY vs. 8. INDIANA

The Nets won the season series, 3-1, but they haven’t seen each other since Dec. 29, when the Nets were rolling and the Pacers were confused.

Not that the Pacers are over being confused as Isiah Thomas tries to get a handle on this coaching thing, but since acquiring Brad Miller, they’re bigger, stronger and defend better. Jermaine O’Neal averaged 24 points in April, as the Pacers clawed their way in.

The Nets are good too, so this should be a terrific series. Call me Mr. Upset. I’ll say Pacers in five.

2. DETROIT vs. 7. TORONTO

These might be the East’s two best teams. The Pistons had the conference’s best record (24-9) after the All-Star break. The Raptors went on an amazing 12-2 season-ending run after Vince Carter was injured, so this is a bad time to be catching them.

The Pistons won the season series, 3-1, but that’s meaningless, because the last game was Feb. 22, when the Raptors were at full strength.

Let’s call it Pistons in five because they have Jerry Stackhouse, who’s the real deal, while the Raptors have to hope Antonio Davis and Mo Peterson, normally supporting players, keep putting up numbers.

3. BOSTON vs. 6. PHILADELPHIA

In their first playoff appearance since 1995, the Celtics get a break in the first round against the out-on-their-feet 76ers.

Allen Iverson, who’ll try to go with a cast on his broken left hand, sat out the last four weeks and isn’t certain to make it back for Game 1, or any of them. Derrick Coleman sat out the last two games because of a sore knee.

Of course, the three-point-happy Celtics could disappear in a twinkling if their shots stop falling, although it doesn’t figure to happen here.

Nevertheless, as an old 76er beat writer, let’s say Philly in five.

4. CHARLOTTE vs. 5. ORLANDO

Now for their last hurrah in Carolina. The big question is, will they draw 10,000 for Game 1?

While their owners were pulling the plug and preparing to flee to New Orleans, the Hornets, thought to have the East’s deepest, biggest and most talented roster, made a late run.

Of course, the Hornets are longtime underachievers too, so you never want to expect too much of them.

The Magic, however, is a goner. Needing only to beat Miami at home in the season finale for No. 4 and home-court advantage, they had to play without Tracy McGrady (back) and Mike Miller (ankle) and succumbed meekly.

The Hornets won the season series, 3-1, and outrebounded Orlando by 4.5 a game, when the Magic was healthier than it is now. NC, baby, no contest.