Lakers Must Take a Look at Big Picture

The Big Ink Stain has finally figured out The Big Riddle.

The Lakers have punctuated this spring’s long stretches of dancing with short, dark episodes of flailing and weeping because, with one exception, they have an identity crisis.

The reason they have failed three times to clinch a playoff series at the first available opportunity is because, with one exception, they don’t seem to know who they are.

That exception is Shaquille O’Neal. He knows exactly who he is. We know, because he has told us.

At various times this season, he has claimed to be, among others, The Big Maravich (good free-throw shooter), The Big Aristotle (good thinker), The Big Felon (good defense) and The Big IPO (his stock keeps rising).

We have laughed, but we have listened. More important, so has he.

Shaq has played with such consistent confidence in his role and his abilities, he should be called, simply, The Big.

Which brings up a question repeated, from one no-hands cell phone to another, after each of the Lakers’ five playoff losses.

What about everyone else?

With the plane leaving this afternoon for Portland and Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals Friday--a scary event that could lead to a downright frightening Game 7--the rest of this team needs a better grip of who they are and how they fit.

The Big Question is, will what works for Shaq also work for them?

It is certainly worth a rather large attempt.

Start with the starting lineup.

Ron Harper is The Big Garage Sale.

His game is full of knickknacks and baubles both amazing and creaky.

Sometimes he shines like a priceless antique lamp. Other times, he wobbles like a three-legged armoire.

He made the decisive shot in Game 3 and is third on the team with 22 rebounds in this series. But he has also made only 20% of his three-point attempts.

The good thing about garage sales is that they are filled with the nicest surprises. The bad thing is, from Saturday morning to Saturday morning, you just never know.

Glen Rice is The Big Porch.

He looks best when surrounded by lots of screens. He can fade and warp without them.

The problem is, the Laker triangle offense has about as many screens as squares.

Either the Lakers need to run more plays like the one that began the third quarter and their game-winning run in Game 4--Rice down the middle off two screens--or Rice needs to figure out another way to protect his game.

A.C. Green is The Big R Us.

Whether bouncing his stuffed bear on the bench or bouncing off the other power forward on the court, Green often looks like, well, a toy basketball player.

He smiles kindly, he speaks softly, he is just so nice.

He’s also averaging the dud double of 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds against the Trail Blazers.

Before Friday’s game, Jackson needs to hand this man a headband and order him to go Rasheed on somebody.

Kobe Bryant is The Big “Big.”

You know, from the movie about the little boy that finds himself in the body of a man?

Kobe has long since adjusted to his new world, no longer stumbling over those big shoes or throwing the ball wildly around that shiny court.

In fact, in many ways, he has become more of an adult than the adults around him.

But down deep, there still exists the brashness of a child who still thinks there is no problem he cannot fix. And he’ll keep shooting until he does.

Tuesday, less than a week after his most mature moment in a Laker uniform, was one of those times. There will be others.

While Kobe must further learn to restrain himself, perhaps so should those Lakers who are so quick to openly criticize him.

As we learned last Friday after that last blocked shot of Arvydas Sabonis, the kid is worth the ride.

Now for the Laker top five reserves. When they play better than the opponent’s bench, the Lakers win. They deserve nicknames, too.

Robert Horry is The Big I.V.

He comes into the game and restores the energy, drip by drip. Heck, he is even built like that pole.

Of course, the plastic bag is eventually empty and needs to be changed before it becomes unusable.

That Horry is shooting only 30% against the Trail Blazers, having missed more field goals than any other Laker but Shaq has made is evidence of that danger.

Rick Fox is The Big Head Fake.

Movie star looks, singing-star wife, wore the hospital bracelet from the birth of their first child throughout the Sacramento series because he was so proud.

And Laker most likely to bust somebody in the head.

Coached by Dean Smith, intelligent, thoughtful and well-spoken.

And in five games against the Trail Blazers, only four rebounds and nearly as many turnovers (five) as assists (seven).

Derek Fisher is The Big Wax.

He doesn’t so much play as spread himself all over the floor, attempting to draw charging fouls or find loose balls or chase dribblers.

Sometimes this makes everything shine. Others times, it just muddles it all up.

Brian Shaw is The Big State Farm.

The Lakers’ good neighbor is steady and smart . . . but only noticeable when things are smoking or burning.

John Salley is The Big 7-11.

Whether on the court or in the locker room, whether jousting with Scottie Pippen or Kobe Bryant, he is always open for business.

“There is no such thing as garbage time,” Salley says.

And when all these diverse characters are put together?

The Lakers are The Big Uneasy.

Like the best of New Orleans, they can be vibrant and charming and wildly successful.

But, also like New Orleans, they can’t stand their success. They somehow don’t feel right until it’s 4 a.m. and their magical streets are littered with drunks.

Then they clean up and become a wonder again.

“Until we feel like we’re in trouble, we don’t perform the way we should,” Fisher was saying Wednesday. “We don’t have that natural sense of urgency. It has to be put there.”

That urgency is there now. Nothing big or metaphorical about it.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Game 6

LAKERS at PORTLAND

Friday, 6:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 4

(Lakers lead best-of-seven

series, 3-2)

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Bryant Does Some

Soul Searching

Laker star guard Kobe Bryant has a sprained right foot, but his continuing offensive problems against the Trail Blazers are his biggest concerns heading into Game 6. Page 8

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Pippen Exerts

Some Leadership

Scottie Pippen’s leadership and aggression in Game 5 victory leaves his Trail Blazer teammates singing his praises. Page 8

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All-NBA

Shaquille O’Neal (above) is a unanimous All-NBA pick. Page 8

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ALSO

Eastern Finals

Indiana: 88

New York: 79

The Knicks blow an 18-point, first-half lead as the Pacers storm back to move one game away from eliminating them and reaching the NBA finals. Page 9