Yet here they sit, now with the homecourt advantage. They are in Portland for the next two games, too, a place the Lakers have gone 1-7 in their last eight. The wonderful thing about the Blazers is they've been doing it this way for a couple seasons now. And they win. All five starters averaged in double figures during this past season, and four of the five in the playoffs are averaging at least 10 points a game.
Nobody is a star.
Everybody has his assignment. The Blazers' run has not been without its share of grumbling, of course. Point guard Damon Stoudamire has complained about his playing time, others have groused. Still coach Mike Dunleavy cajoles and scolds and somehow gets all these guys to play to their utmost, to sit still when they're sitting and to hack Shaquille O'Neal when needed and to hustle and foul and play as a team. Now there's a concept.