TOGETHER, THEY'RE GETTING IT DONE ENTHUSIASTIC, COHESIVE LAKERS CLAMPING DOWN ON D.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Once, many months and several crises ago, the Lakers were too flabby to win consistently. Then they were too fractured. Then they were too one-dimensional. Then too old and too slow but also too young and eventually too injured. And always, always, too soft on defense.

But now the Lakers have gone 51 days without a loss. They've won 17 games in a row and sport a 9-0 record in the playoffs. It seems entirely plausible that they could make history and go undefeated on the way to the championship.

``We're feeling good about ourselves,'' Kobe Bryant said, understating matters by tenfold.

Somehow, the Lakers of this magnificent spring show none of the weaknesses evident in December, January and February. They appear perfectly aged, perfectly conditioned, perfectly balanced.

All of which was evident in their 88-81 victory Monday at San Antonio to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. In what qualified as perhaps their best game of an incredible playoff run, the Lakers overcame a 14-point deficit, on the road, against the NBA's toughest home team.

In doing so, they displayed all the traits they lacked in a disappointing regular season.

They absorbed huge offensive surges and made defensive stops when it mattered most. They were composed no matter the circumstance - whether a deficit, a questionable call or the ejection of coach Phil Jackson. They were supportive to the extreme, the entire bench coming to its feet with every big play of the fourth quarter.

``It's fun playing on a great team,'' Shaquille O'Neal said.

Which is what the Lakers have become, thanks to the eradication of all their former maladies.

Take O'Neal. Out of shape early in the season, he was often unable to provide the defensive anchor they needed. But look at his fourth quarter Monday night:

O'Neal picked up four defensive rebounds that stunted Spurs rallies. He begged the coaching staff to let him double-team Tim Duncan. His efforts, combined with that of Robert Horry, forced Duncan into four turnovers in the period.

But it was his rebounding that killed the Spurs, who never got second- chance opportunities.

With the Lakers leading 78-76, and 5:15 to go, Duncan missed a jump hook and O'Neal got the rebound. A minute later, Terry Porter missed a 3-pointer that would have cut the lead to one point, and O'Neal grabbed the rebound. With 2:14 to go, the Lakers led 80-78 when David Robinson went for a layup. O'Neal blocked it then grabbed the rebound.

The Spurs' last, best chance to come back came with 1:34 to go, the Lakers leading 82-78. Porter missed another 3, O'Neal grabbed the rebound, then fed Bryant at the other end for a 3-pointer that sealed the game.

That's the kind of defense Jackson was looking for during the long, cold winter. As for the rest of the Lakers' weaknesses, they have been either eliminated or camouflaged during this unbeaten streak that dates to April 1.

Health is primary. Both O'Neal and Bryant are virtually injury-free. Rarely were either of them 100 percent during the season, much less at the same time.

The old-age problems? In part, diminished by O'Neal and Bryant's dominance, but also hidden by Jackson's shorter rotation. Horace Grant, who will be 36 in July, is averaging less than 22 minutes in this series. Ron Harper (36) has been replaced in the lineup by Derek Fisher (26). Brian Shaw (34), who averaged 22.9 minutes during the season, is averaging 16.5 in this series.

At times this season, Jackson had to rely heavily on youth, as well. But Tyronn Lue, Mark Madsen and Devean George rarely play now, and Mike Penberthy is off the roster. Instead, Jackson is leaning heavily on Bryant, O'Neal, Fisher and Rick Fox, with smaller contributions from Horry, Grant and Shaw.

It's no coincidence that Bryant, Fisher and Fox are perenially the three best-conditioned athletes on the roster, and for the playoffs, O'Neal merits mention in that group as well.

All of which contributes to the kind of all-out defensive effort that leads to championships. After surrendering 97.2 points and .438 field-goal shooting during the season, the Lakers are holding opponents to 91.9 points and .410 in the playoffs.

``I think we have such a veteran team, at times it was difficult with the grueling schedule and with demanding injuries,'' Bryant said. ``I think the adversity that we went through obviously sucked a lot of life out of us to perform. But toward the end of the season, things started turning around for us and we started stepping up and playing defense like we're capable of.''

And, of course, winning has reinforced the Lakers' cohesion and sense of unity. Witness the unabashed cheerleading from the bench Monday night.

``There's just so much enthusiasm, so much love for the game, so much support for one another,'' Bryant said, ``and it's beautiful to see.''

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Photo:

(color) Robert Horry, left, and Shaquille O''Neal clamp down on Tim Duncan, an example of L.A.'s stifling defense against the Spurs.

David Phillip/Associated Press