ROCKETS VETERAN IS WORN DOWN.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

Relaxing before practice Wednesday at Pauley Pavilion, the Houston Rockets did not look any different than they did in Game 1 of this first-round series against the Lakers. Scottie Pippen's hair was cropped just as closely. Hakeem Olajuwon's smile was just as easy, and Charles Barkley's pate was just as shiny. No gray, all glisten.

But sometime before Game 2, the Rockets got old. They got very old very quickly. At least, that's how they played in a 110-98 defeat Tuesday that gave the Lakers a 2-0 series lead.

``It was one of those nights,'' Pippen said. ``We didn't have the right focus.''

No one seemed to age faster than Pippen, who responded to his last-second turnover in Game 1 with an invisible performance in Game 2. In 37 minutes Tuesday, Pippen scored three points, all on free throws. The six-time champion and future Hall of Famer did not make a basket.

``Am I pressing? Not at all,'' Pippen said. ``I haven't even attempted to press. I just need to get myself involved. I'm very disappointed in my play personally.''

Pippen has never been a prolific scorer and he doesn't need be for Houston to win Game 3 tonight in the Compaq Center. But he must be the Rockets' defensive stopper and their playmaker, a double-whammy that would strain legs much younger than his.

One minute, the 33-year-old Pippen is chasing Glen Rice through a maze of screens. The next, he's trying to direct the offense while fending off Kobe Bryant's pressure.

``Kobe meets me at halfcourt, then I have to chase Rice,'' Pippen said. ``I've been carrying a lot of minutes. It takes its toll.

``It's wearing on me. The defense affects my offense: having to guard Rice, run to him in transition, then Kobe jumps on me. It's making me use a lot of energy.''

Just as the Lakers hoped.

Smother Pippen with pressure and responsibilities, they believe, and the Rockets will crumble.

``It's part of our game plan,'' Rice said. ``We want to keep Scottie busy all the time. If you give him some rest, he'll kill you. He'll give you more offense and be more active on defense.''

Pippen tried to get involved in Game 2, driving to the basket several times in the first quarter. But his plan evaporated under the Lakers' brilliance. In fact, nothing worked - not for Pippen and not for Houston.

Olajuwon cannot guard Shaquille O'Neal man-to-man, so the Rockets must double-team in the low post. That leaves a shooter open. Usually, it's point guard Derek Fisher, who has made 8 of 12 3-pointers in two games.

``I don't know where else to turn,'' Pippen said. ``We try to take it out of Shaq's hands and we try to limit Rice, and Fisher steps up. He's had a hell of a series.''

Although Pippen could not recall a comparable circumstance with the Bulls, Olajuwon and Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich survived several elimination games during their charges to NBA titles in 1994 and '95.

``You can't panic,'' Tomjanovich said. ``You have to play with a sense of urgency, but it can't be desperation. It can't be panic.''

With little preparation time, the Rockets can't make drastic changes. Offensively, they'll continue to force-feed Barkley and Olajuwon in the low post. Defensively, they'll continue to double-team O'Neal and hope the Lakers - who were 17 of 31 from 3-point range at the Forum - don't shoot as well on the road.

``They won't shoot as well in our building,'' Pippen said. ``If they (do), then crown them NBA champs.''

Although frustrated with his own play, Pippen noted (correctly) he's not the only reason for Houston's predicament.

Olajuwon, 36, was his old self in Game 1, scoring 22 points. But he lacked energy and authority in Game 2 and was helpless against O'Neal, who outscored his hero 28-8. Barkley, 36, also played well in Game 1, with 25 points. But in the decisive first half of Game 2, he made one basket.

Rather than building on their inspired performance Sunday, the Rockets seemed exhausted from it. Now they are gasping for breath, lunging for life.

``This is where our team character will be tested,'' Olajuwon said. ``If we win, the pressure shifts to both teams, because they don't want to play a Game 5. But now, the pressure is on us.''

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PHOTO (Color) no caption (Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant)