Shock Troops : Laker Opponents Can’t Afford to Relax When Riley Gives His Starters a Breather

In Pat Riley’s perfect basketball world, there would be no need for reserves. The Laker coach would have five players, conditioned physically and mentally, to play 48 minutes a game for 82 games, and he would be satisfied.

It is not that Riley dismisses the advantages of depth displayed last season by the NBA champion Detroit Pistons. It is simply that Riley has long believed that using too many players can dilute the product, adversely affect his team’s delicate balance.

“I always have had a tendency to play it closer to the vest,” Riley said. “Playing nine guys is a lot of guys. Eight is the perfect mix. With seven, you can win it all. But six or even five may be all you really need.”

Maybe that was true when the Lakers won NBA championships by playing seven or, at the most, eight. But, in the ‘90s, the Lakers appear to have diversified.

Riley, grudgingly, has expanded his playing rotation to nine. More surprising is that four reserves--Michael Cooper, Orlando Woolridge, Vlade Divac and Larry Drew--are each playing nearly 20 minutes per game and have a group scoring average of 32.9 points.

There are at least three reasons for the change of philosophy.

First, the Lakers have assembled enough talent and experience to stock two decent starting teams. Second, the depth reduces the regular-season wear-and-tear on Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Mychal Thompson. And third, with the retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it allows the team to be more versatile in terms of the personnel and style of play.

“I think the bench has exceeded expectations,” Riley said. “For me to be playing nine guys is saying something. It really is. I’ve never got used to that type of rotation, even if I did have the depth. These guys have shown me I can go deeper into the bench and it can be productive. I’ve learned to trust them more. I think Larry and Vlade have exceeded expectations. I knew what Coop could give and what Orlando could give.”

Cooper, who has made a career of being Riley’s sixth man through the ‘80s, says the best Laker bench was in 1984-85: Cooper, Bob McAdoo, Mitch Kupchak and, in a limited role, Mike McGee.

“That was a strong team, and then there was the one with McAdoo, myself and McGee and James (Worthy) as a rookie, but James broke his leg,” Cooper said. “But this year is different because we’ve got virtually every position covered and more guys are playing more minutes.”

Cooper, now playing strictly small forward and off guard, has seen his playing time decline slightly from 27 to 22.7 minutes per game. His scoring (6.6 points) and shooting percentage (37.4%) also are down. But, at 33, he still is providing expert defense and leadership.

Drew, 31, has replaced Cooper as the sole backup point guard and has played 17.4 minutes per game, considerably more than predecessors Wes Matthews and David Rivers. Drew, in his ninth NBA season, has averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 assists. His ballhandling ability has allowed Johnson to occasionally move into the low post.

Woolridge, 30, has thrived while returning to small forward this season after being a major disappointment at power forward last season. After missing the first 20 games because of a knee injury, Woolridge is playing 20 minutes per game, averaging 11.4 points and shooting 55%. He has improved other aspects of his game enough that Riley sometimes plays him in the final minutes of close games.

Divac, the 7-foot-1 Yugoslav center, has played beyond expectations. Playing 19.5 minutes per game, Divac averages 8.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocked shots.

Other reserves are small forward Jay Vincent, who has a 16.8-point career scoring average, veteran center Mark McNamara and rookie swingman Steve Bucknall. Vincent and McNamara had been starters at various times in their careers.

“I think our second unit could be a team,” Woolridge said. “We, as a unit, have to have the attitude that we not only want to maintain the play but go at the opponent just like the first unit. The main thing is confidence. When we play confident, we play well.”

The confidence has come from Riley’s faith in the bench, obvious by his willingness to periodically keep Johnson or Worthy on the bench for six minutes.

“Sometimes, I put (the reserves) out there, and they don’t score for two or three minutes and the other team runs up four or five points,” Riley said. “I mean, I used to not wait long. Now, I let them go. Unless it really gets out of whack and we lose eight to 10 points. . . . I do want to keep them out there a minimum of six minutes together. They have played with the mentality of a group, and that’s great.”

Sometimes, the starters find themselves on the bench for unusually long stretches because the reserves are playing so well. A few other times, however, it has been like the old days with the starters working long shifts.

“For eight years, Earvin has been used to playing an entire quarter, getting a timeout in between quarter breaks, then two minutes and he’s back in,” Riley said. “Now, when that group is playing so well, he sits until the six-minute mark. The adjustment is that they are not used to sitting so long that they stiffen up and get a little out of the game. I’ve talked about that with them. It’s not a problem.”

Here is a look at the Laker reserves:

MICHAEL COOPER

Strange that it should happen so late in his career, but Cooper had an identity crisis earlier this season, necessitating a closed-door session with Riley.

Cooper, technically, was a backup to Byron Scott at shooting guard, yet his shooting percentage hovered slightly above the 30% mark. Cooper, according to Riley, thought he was not being used correctly. They talked.

“He was a little confused about his role,” Riley said. “We had a conversation about this. I said that I don’t want him to be a shooter. He said, ‘Well, I’m the off guard and the off guard on this team is the shooter.’ Early in the season he was thinking that, but I said no. With the second unit, the offense should go to James and Vlade and Orlando. I told him, you and Larry should work toward running the break, playing the defense and being in the ballgame. Now, if he gets a wide open shot, he takes it. But I don’t want him thinking he has to play Byron’s role because that’s where he gets in trouble.

“I think Coop understands. Reality is there. We’re deeper now. Before Orlando came back, he was playing 27 minutes a game. I was only using eight guys. I’m not affected, like other people are, by Michael’s field goal percentage. He hits a lot of threes and makes big shots. I get affected if I don’t see him playing defense and making plays that fire up the team. Even though his minutes are down, it’s only because we’re going deeper.”

That Cooper is nearly making as many three-point attempts (32.7%) as regular field-goal attempts (37.4%) attests to his ability to make many big shots and miss a lot of others. His defensive skills have not greatly deteriorated with age and, when inspired, he can shut down an opposing scorer.

Although frustrated as late as a month ago, Cooper said he now is content with his role.

“It’s a lot more fun now,” Cooper said. “There are more guys playing off the bench. I don’t necessarily like the minutes I’m getting, but it’s the same for everybody. If the game’s on the line, I know I’ll be in there.”

LARRY DREW

Asked if he was happy to be playing so much as Magic Johnson’s backup, Drew could not hold back a smirk that implied that 17 minutes is not enough.

A starter on poor teams his previous eight seasons, Drew has averaged at least 28 minutes per game. But Drew said he accepts his role and feels fortunate to be playing as much as he is, given Riley’s philosophy on reserves.

“That’s the first thing I heard about when I came here, that the backup doesn’t play much,” Drew said. “But those guys (Rivers and Matthews) were younger and they didn’t get the minutes to prove themselves.”

Drew has been a steadying influence on the offense when Johnson sits. The Lakers say they signed him to be a ballhandler and passer; scoring is a bonus.

Drew probably could have started on a few teams, had he not signed with the Lakers as a free agent.

“At this phase of my career, this is the best situation I can hope for,” Drew said. “This is what I’ve wanted all my career--to be with a winner.”

ORLANDO WOOLRIDGE

The visiting Lakers led the Pistons by 11 points entering the fourth quarter last month. Three times the Pistons, known as fast finishers, cut the deficit to five. The Lakers held them off.

Noteworthy was that Woolridge played the entire fourth quarter. At this point last season, Woolridge would play only in fourth quarters of blowouts, if then.

“I’ve got confidence now,” Woolridge said. “When the game’s on the line, I want Coach to have the confidence in me. The only way that can happen is to do the job on the court. I’m working on the things he wants me to do.

“Not only do I feel a lot more comfortable with the guys, but the three spot is my natural position. It’s what I played for seven years in the league. What made the transition especially tough last season was that I was playing a position I never had before.”

This season, when Woolridge and Worthy play at the same time, Worthy moves to power forward. Woolridge’s offensive game, as a result, has been revived. He is scoring on his usual slashing drives to the basket, as well as consistently making jump shots.

VLADE DIVAC

As good as Divac is now, and some are listing him second only to David Robinson as the NBA’s best rookie, Laker assistant coach Bill Bertka says Divac has not reached a plateau.

“Plateau?” asked Bertka, who works with Divac after each practice. “He hasn’t even started up the ladder yet. He can and will get a lot better. He’s still finding out what he can do.”

The Lakers are no longer in a rush to find a replacement for Abdul-Jabbar. Before the season, they tried to trade for Rick Mahorn, believing Divac was not ready to play even a limited backup role right away.

Not surprisingly for a European player, Divac is more advanced offensively than defensively. He still has trouble guarding physical offensive players such as Akeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing.

“He’s working on positioning, but he’s improved on defense,” Bertka said. “The biggest adjustment is that there are certain big men permitted to play in a certain way (by officials) in the low post. Vlade isn’t one of them yet. Until he gets that respect, he can’t play the way he wants. Earlier in the season, he was making moves and getting called (for traveling). Now, the officials are getting used to him, so they don’t call it as much.”

Divac’s ballhandling, jump shot and ability to run swiftly for a 7-footer are well known now. But Bertka most highly values another attribute.

“He’s got this incredible enthusiasm for playing,” Bertka said. “He wants to learn.”

JAY VINCENT

His reputation as a malcontent preceded him. He played for six teams in the last four seasons. But when he signed with the Lakers as a free agent on Dec. 24, Vincent said he was willing to wait for a chance to play.

He is still waiting. And, so far, he has not publicly complained.

The 10th man in a nine-man rotation, Vincent has played mop-up duty in only eight games.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve talked to other coaches, the coaches I used to play for, and they said, ‘Jay, this is the perfect situation for you.’ I’m willing to wait and work and hope I get a chance. Because I know I’m a good offensive player. I can play. If not this year, then next year.”

MARK McNAMARA

McNamara started 18 consecutive games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1987-88. Mostly, however, he has made a good living in a supporting role.

He says there is an art to being the 11th or 12th man on an NBA team.

“People say to you, it’s got to be hard to be in that position,” McNamara said. “But that’s what I do. I realize I’m not going to go in there and rock the house, but I might grab a few rebounds and, more important, not make a mistake and break our momentum.

“You have to prepare to play at all times, but you can’t be obsessed about it. The key for me is if the coaches think I’m contributing. I’m still here, so . . . “

McNamara mostly sits. But against the Trail Blazers last week, he played the last 1:02 of the first half when Divac and Thompson each had foul trouble. McNamara grabbed two rebounds, made a free throw and did not make a mistake.

STEVE BUCKNALL

The impatience of youth has not touched Bucknall. A rookie free agent from North Carolina, the 6-foot-7 Bucknall has had cameo roles in 16 games and has tried to remain in shape by running three miles per day with Vincent after practice.

Although Bucknall could be playing on another team, he is satisfied for now.

“I have no regrets signing with the Lakers,” Bucknall said. “I’m learning a lot about the game. But eventually, in a couple of years, I’m going to have to make some decisions about my career.”