If trend continues, Lakers will be headed to the finals

PORTLAND, Ore. - The remarkable road show known as the Western Conference finals makes its last Portland appearance Friday night, and one of the stars is hurting.

Kobe Bryant didn't practice with the Los Angeles Lakers for the second consecutive day Thursday because of a sprained right foot, an injury that occurred in the first half of his team's 96-88 loss Tuesday night.

''He's not ready to practice yet,'' coach Phil Jackson said.

Will he be able to play Friday?

''We don't know,'' Jackson said. ''We'll know game-time about that.''

Officially, the Lakers listed Bryant as probable.

Bryant's injury adds a little more uncertainty to a strange series in which the visitor has won four straight games and in which Portland is 2-1 in Los Angeles but 0-2 in the ultra-friendly confines of the multi-billionaire owner Paul Allen's Rose Garden.

Los Angeles leads the series 3-2. If the homecourt disadvantage persists in Game 6, the Lakers will be headed to the NBA Finals. If the Trail Blazers finally win one at home, the deciding Game 7 will be Sunday in Los Angeles.

''It's all good and dandy that we have confidence that we can win in L.A.,'' Portland guard Steve Smith said before Thursday's practice, ''but tomorrow means everything to us. We've got to win on our home court to keep the series alive.''

The Lakers worked out one final time at their El Segundo, Calif., practice facility before heading north. They have won three in a row in the Rose Garden, counting their Feb. 29 meeting in the regular season.

Bryant didn't talk with the media. Neither did Shaquille O'Neal nor Ron Harper.

If Bryant does play, he likely won't be at full strength.

''I definitely think Kobe's going to be limited,'' said forward Glen Rice, who was 1-for-8 from the field in Game 5. ''Myself and everyone else are going to have to pick up their game.''

The Lakers don't want the series to go down to a Game 7.

''Anytime you stretch a series out, things can happen,'' guard Derek Fisher said. ''We want to find a way to win tomorrow night. We're already on edge, with or without having to deal with the fact Kobe's injured a little bit.''

The Blazers have gone more and more to a big lineup that has Scottie Pippen at point guard. That spoils the matchup advantage Bryant had against 5-foot-10 Damon Stoudamire and shakes up the Lakers' defensive strategy.

Bryant has had to guard Pippen. That resulted in foul trouble for Bryant and 22 points for Pippen in Game 5, and it could mean even bigger problems for the Lakers if Bryant is hurting.

''Kobe's a terrific defender and where does he excel?'' Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. ''He excels in the open court, he excels at getting steals, making reads, coming and blocking shots from his position.

''When he's the main guy having to do the defending, it's a little bit different. He's needed some help.''

Pippen, in search of his seventh NBA championship but first without Michael Jordan, loves the big lineup.

''They've been able to take advantage of Damon's size at times out on the court with Kobe,'' Pippen said, ''but having bigger guys out there really puts us in a position where we really have to go and double-team one guy on a pass, and that's Shaq.''

Pippen dislocated two fingers on his left hand late in the first quarter Tuesday night.

''They feel better,'' he said. ''They've got a little bit more motion in them, so that helps. I feel fine.''

While Pippen and Rasheed Wallace have gotten most of the attention, Smith has quietly been a consistent long-range weapon at shooting guard. A year ago, that position was filled by the unpredictable and perpetually tardy Isiah Rider. Somehow, Blazers president Bob Whitsitt was able to talk Atlanta into a trade that sent Rider and Jim Jackson to the Hawks for Smith.

Smith is averaging 16.4 points in the playoffs, is shooting 54 percent from 3-point range (25-for-46), tops among anyone still playing, and has made 89 percent of his free throws. In the Lakers' series, Smith is 21-for-23 at the foul line and 11-for-18 on 3-pointers.

''I'm not saying I concentrate now more than the regular season, it just means a lot,'' Smith said. ''When you get good looks, you've got to hit them. I haven't been taking that many, but the ones I get, I'm making them.''

The Lakers, on the other hand, weren't making much of anything in Game 5. While O'Neal again was dominant with 31 points and 21 rebounds, his teammates were 6-for-27 from 3-point range. Whether there will be a hangover from that lousy marksmanship remains to be seen.

''We just missed a lot of shots,'' forward Robert Horry said. ''It's very rare that nine guys are off. I just hope nobody's hesitant.''