Offense Is Hitting on All Cylinders

A potent offense all season is especially sharp as the playoffs approach, the Lakers having shot at least 50% in four consecutive games for the first time in two years, gone a combined 54.2% in that time and averaged 113 points.

They already had a comfortable lead to finish as the highest-scoring team in the league, even before the late push that has come in victories over Washington, Toronto, New Jersey and Cleveland. But the 52.6% on Friday against the Cavaliers moved the Lakers into second place in field-goal accuracy (48.0%) and put them in position to become the first club to finish No. 1 in both categories since 1985-86, although it will take a charge over the final eight games to catch the Utah Jazz (48.8%).

Having a relatively sound lineup for a long stretch--minus Robert Horry, continuing to battle nagging injuries--has been a key. So have other factors.

“We’ve always had the ability,” point guard Derek Fisher said. “But I’ve really been starting to notice a lot of unselfishness. We didn’t see that from everyone at the start of the year.

“We’re really playing together again, which makes a big difference. Shaq [O’Neal] is doing a great job reading the double teams and kicking the ball out, and then those of us on the perimeter are doing a good job swinging it to an open man if we don’t have a shot. I think we’re starting to get the majority of our players playing good at the same time.”

Not to mention at the right time.

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Long bothered by what he feels is unfair treatment from referees, O’Neal got additional ammunition Friday, claiming one official responded to his complaints about the lack of fouls being called against the undermanned Cavaliers by saying, “They’ve only got eight guys. We got to give them a chance.”

O’Neal would not identify the referee from the crew of Ron Garretson, Jim Kinsey and Tom Washington. But he did not hide his continued annoyance.

“I’ve got to let it go, but I’m [ticked] off,” he said after playing 40 minutes and taking seven free throws, about four fewer than usual. “They make these rules, why don’t they enforce them?”

Today at Detroit

* 10 PDT

* Channel 4

Site--Palace of Auburn Hills.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 54-20, Pistons 34-41.

Record vs. Pistons--1-0.

Update--Grant Hill is day-to-day because of a strained lower back that kept him out most of the second half of Friday’s game against the Celtics. Not only was that the Pistons’ fifth consecutive loss, but one that came when they blew a 17-point lead with 6:56 remaining. The Lakers, meanwhile, are hoping to have Horry back in the starting lineup after he sat out the last game because of a strained Achilles’ tendon. This concludes their four-game trip and the schedule against the Eastern Conference.