OPEN FOR BUSINESS L.A. BEGINS DEFENSE OF TITLE WITH VICTORY OVER PORTLAND LAKERS 98, PORTLAND 87.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

Given their gaudy rings and their gleaming banner, given the glory they earned and the moment to bask in it they deserved, the Lakers paused to smile Tuesday evening. Paused to take a breath, relive briefly their incredible run last spring, and the championship that came with it.

But emotions were dispatched quickly. The smiles were tucked away, along with the boxed-up championship rings commemorating last season. And then, faster than you can say Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, the Lakers dispensed with their old rivals from Portland and got victory No. 1 in their quest for a third straight NBA title.

While the Trail Blazers were tortured with symbols of another season of Lakers dominance, the champs were focused firmly on the present. They blended new faces and old stand-bys and fused it all for a 98-87 opening- night victory at a sold-out Staples Center.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant scored 29 points each in a performance reminiscent of last April's first-round playoff sweep of the Blazers.

A year ago, the grandeur of a championship ceremony overwhelmed the Lakers in a loss to Utah. This time, it was all business after tipoff, perhaps the first sign of a team growing into its role as a consensus favorite.

``A lot of guys last year - it was their first championship, so they were all goo-goo-eyed over the ring,'' said Robert Horry. ``This year, they were like 'OK, we got our rings, now let's go out and start our track to another one.' ''

The Lakers led by as many as 17 points, only occasionally giving the Blazers any hope. But there were just enough rough spots to give coach Phil Jackson room to groan.

``We kind of limped across the finish line today,'' he said.

O'Neal, who limped through training camp on a sore toe, nevertheless was good for 40 minutes and finished with 18 rebounds, five blocked shots and five assists. Dale Davis, Shawn Kemp and Mr. Boumtje-Boumtje could only watch and try not to get themselves hurt.

Lindsey Hunter, making his Lakers debut, and Robert Horry scored 10 points each.

The night was a little rougher for new starting forward Samaki Walker, however. In early foul trouble guarding Rasheed Wallace, Walker played just 15 minutes and finished with one point and three rebounds.

``Some jitters,'' said Walker.

Portland, missing the services of new acquisition Ruben Patterson (suspended) and old workhorse Arvydas Sabonis (retired), looked overmatched, falling to an early double-digit deficit and trailing wire to wire.

The Blazers closed the gap to 68-66 late in the third quarter to create some brief suspense, but it was short-lived. Horry, already in playoff form it seems, hit a 3-pointer, and Bryant scored eight quick points to close out the period and give the Lakers a 79-68 cushion.

To the Blazers, the Lakers' roster realignment must have seemed wholly cosmetic - because the early results looked awfully familiar.

Much as they bulldozed the Blazers last spring, the Lakers bullied Portland from the opening tipoff, scoring the first six points of the game and establishing an 15-point lead before eight minutes had elapsed.

As the new faces hovered around the perimeter, the Lakers scored at will with their old stand-bys - a jump ook from O'Neal to open the game, a Bryant jumper after that, and an O'Neal-to-Bryant fast-break jam for punctuation.

The Lakers' initial 21-11 lead was accomplished solely by guys with shiny new rings - O'Neal, Bryant, Rick Fox and Horry, whose flying putback dunk looked positively June-like.

Horry also picked up two early fouls, forcing Jackson to call on Slava Medvedenko.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Kobe Bryant follows through on a breakaway dunk shot in the Lakers' season opener Tuesday at Staples Center.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Box: GAME RECAP