THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY SCOTTIE & PHIL TOGETHER AGAIN, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT THE COACH HAD IN MIND.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - This is almost as Phil Jackson envisioned things when he signed up to become Lakers head coach.

A dominant season, a strong playoff run, an NBA Finals berth in reach,and with the biggest series of the season about to get underway, Scottie Pippen right in the midst of it all.

OK, so this isn't exactly the reunion Jackson had planned.

Jackson badly wanted his former Chicago Bulls swingman in Lakers gear, spent much of the offseason talking about it and never hid his disappointment when the Portland Trail Blazers instead swooped in and plucked Pippen from the Houston Rockets last October.

So now Jackson can only smile and acknowledge the obvious: His former pupil, the one he felt would perfectly complement and tutor Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and guide them to the championship . . . now stands between them and the finals.

``That's very ironic, yeah,'' Jackson said Wednesday, as the Lakers prepared for Saturday's Western Conference Finals opener against Portland.

``This is what it's boiled down to. As ironic as it is, this is where it's at, and I think it's a great intrigue,'' Jackson said. ``I think it's really a lot of fun, because when it happened, I was able to say that we let our biggest opponent step in a gap and supply themselves with a player that could eventually end up costing us big-time, and here we arein this situation, wondering if this is what's going to happen.''

Jackson, of course, can have fun with this discussion because he's notthe one who decided against acquiring the three-time All-NBA selection. But he also knows what the consequences might be come game time Saturday, and he takes that matter seriously.

Pippen not only knows the triangle offense better than the Lakers after playing in it for 11 years, he also remains one of the league's top defenders, an eight-time All-Defensive team selection with a long wingspanand, even at age 34, great athleticism.

He can guard forwards, potentially shutting down Glen Rice, the Lakers' third leading scorer. He can defend guards, helping slow Bryant or more likely taking former Bulls teammate Ron Harper out of the game. And since Harper often runs the offense, that's no small concern. Pippen's skills also allow him to play the passing lanes, denying the Lakers the precision they seek in the triangle offense.

At times, the Lakers saw all of this in their four meetings with the Blazers this season. ``He hurt us, he hurt us badly,'' Jackson said of Pippen's role in the Blazers' 97-82 victory at Portland in November.

``He was pretty effective, as far as trying to break up the timing,'' Bryant admitted, ``but it really doesn't matter. . . . He's one man. It doesn't matter. If all five guys were in sync, then yeah, it'd be a littleharder. But even if that was the case, you can still get around it, because you're just basically going away from pressure. So no matter what Scottie does, we can get around it.''

Pippen himself seemed to agree with Bryant's analysis.

``What I know and what I see is not going to slow Shaq down, it's not going to slow Kobe down and it's not going to slow Rice down,'' Pippen said. ``We have to be on the court and do it.''

When Pippen isn't defending the triangle, he might be defending against his former coach's mind games. Jackson on Wednesday basically put the Blazers' entire season on Pippen's shoulders.

``I personally think that if Scottie doesn't lead this basketball club and take this team by the horns, they're not going to get by us,'' Jackson said. ``He's going to have to be the one that brings them by us. And of course, I'm going to be trying to take that strength in his game away.''

Notably, Pippen failed to lead the Bulls to the championship in 1994, after Michael Jordan retired and Pippen was forced into the leadership role. So why does Portland's fate rest in Pippen's hands?

``I don't know who else can lead them,'' Jackson said. ``I don't see another leader on that basketball club, that can get things done at critical times and make the plays. . . . He's got to make the plays happen, so somebody else gets the ball. He's a very good playmaker, he's one of the best playmakers in the game.''

Which is why Jackson wanted him in the Lakers lineup.

``It was just fun thinking about how we could harass people defensively, how much fun that would have been,'' Bryant said. ``But now he's on the other side, so I get to harass him a little bit.''

Owner Jerry Buss last summer had a shot at Pippen, but with the NBA's luxury tax looming, could not stomach the four years and $54 million remaining on his contract. Blazers owner Paul Allen, a Microsoft founder and billionaire, had no such hesitation.

``Sometimes,'' Jackson said, ``it's a matter of economics in this league, and this is one of them that stands out, most definitely.''

Which leaves him wondering where he'll find the next twist in this ironic play.

``Yeah,'' Jackson said, grinning, ``we'll find out. That's what it's about.''

CONFERENCE FINALS

L.A. Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers

GAME 1

Saturday

Portland at Lakers, 3:30 p.m.

GAME 2

Monday

Portland at Lakers, 6:30 p.m.

GAME 3

Friday, May 26

Lakers at Portland, 9 p.m.

GAME 4

Sunday, May 28

Lakers at Portland, 3:30 p.m.

GAME 5

Tuesday, May 30

x - Portland at Lakers, 9 p.m.

GAME 6

Friday, June 2

x - Lakers at Portland, TBA 

GAME 7

Sunday, June 4

x - Portland at Lakers, TBA

x - if necessary

PIPPEN YEAR-BY-YEAR

A closer look at Scottie Pippen's production through his 13 year career.

Year RPG APG PPGChicago 87-88 3.8 2.1 7.9

88-89 6.1 3.5 14.4

89-90 6.7 5.4 16.5

90-91 7.1 6.2 17.8

91-92 7.7 7.0 21.0

92-93 7.7 6.3 18.6

93-94 8.7 5.6 22.0

94-95 8.1 5.2 21.4

95-96 6.4 5.7 20.2

96-97 6.5 5.7 20.2

97-98 5.2 5.8 19.1

Houston 98-99 6.5 5.9 14.5

Portland 99-00 6.3 5.0 12.5

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo: (color) no caption (Scottie Pippen making layup)

Box: (1) Conference finals (see text)

(2) Pippen year-by-year (see text)