LAKERS HAVE GROWN UP SHAQ AND KOBE COME OF AGE.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

Kids grow up, or at least you hope they do. In the world of professional sports, sometimes they only tease you in that regard. The Lakers had done plenty of that. Since the arrival of heralded Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers had spent three seasons hinting at greatness, at taking that next giant step.

Then they went a combined 1-12 in their final playoff series over the past three years. The stubborn child refusing to hear maturity's call.

People still talked about the Lakers being the next great team when last season began, local hopes buoyed by the arrival of almost mystical Phil Jackson as their new coach. He brought a new offense, three new assistant coaches, meditation, incense and unmistakable leadership. There was someone on the bench who knew what he wanted and how to get it. The Lakers responded almost immediately.

They started the year with Robert Horry and Bryant on the injured list, but they broke out strongly. With them back, the Lakers first flexed their muscles and put the NBA on notice, at one point winning 23 of 24 games to go to 31-4. They had winning streaks of 19 and 16 games. They were no longer just the team NBC tried to foist upon the nation but an exciting one capturing the imagination of its city.

Their confidence grew as their record swelled. O'Neal and Bryant, supposedly at superstar odds, were playing together, a devastating mesh of thunder and flash. Former starters Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Derek Fisher accepted coming off the bench and excelled as role players. Ron Harper provided leadership on and off the floor. They won 67 games in the regular season and truly seemed to be growing before our eyes.

Yet the Lakers knew ultimately they never would be judged by what they did in the regular season. This team would prove itself in the postseason, where champions reigned. And in their first foray into the playoffs, they immediately got into trouble. After two fairly easy victories over the Sacramento Kings, a team that had given them trouble all season, they a lost Game 3 in Sacramento they clearly should have won - blowing a five-point lead in the fourth quarter - and then got swamped in Game 4 to force a deciding Game 5. After seemingly coming so far, they were one loss away from a massive disappointment, another false step on the way to greatness. The kid who refused to grow up.

``The most consistent thing about life is, nothing is the same,'' Jackson said before that Game 5. ``Everything changes. Sure, I'd like to see us sweep 15-0. But reality is, whatever it takes. If it takes us 25 games, you play them out. You sort it out at the end.

``The fun of it is the growth of this team. It's what we've been looking at all year. We grew a lot this season. This is another opportunity to grow as a basketball team. And if you're going to be championship-quality players and a team, then we're going to be able to do it and survive.''

It almost became a postseason theme. The Lakers answered their first call, leading by as many as 37 points before winning and advancing into the next round. They made it by Phoenix in five games, their only fairly easy series, before meeting Portland in the Western Conference finals. This was the showdown that had been anticipated since before the season began and it did not disappoint. Yet after taking a 3-1 series lead with a pair of victories in Portland, the Lakers again suffered growing pains. They lost Game 5 at Staples Center, Game 6 at Portland and were down by 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 7.

But then came one of the most dramatic and unexpected comebacks in Lakers history. They did not develop into a champion in one explosive quarter, but they demonstrated championship mettle. Maybe they were also a little lucky. Maybe the Blazers choked under pressure. Yet when the quarter was finished, the Lakers had an emotional 89-84 victory in their first trip to the NBA Finals in nine years.

In the Finals, they did not disappoint. The Pacers proved worthy but unable to match up against the Lakers talent, confidence and cool. There would be no more fitful steps, no more illusions of grandeur, no more awkward teenage years. The Lakers were all grown up. Maybe even a year earlier than any of us had a right to expect. By the time the Lakers dispatched Indiana in six games to capture their 12th overall title, they were the subject of conversation at every water cooler, the envy of every young child.

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Photo: Under Phil Jackson's direction, Kobe Bryant has become a more complete player.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer