What the Blazers Has Happened to Them? : Western finals: Drexler says Portland isn't in shock, but players are looking for answers.

By CHRIS BAKER

May 27, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Center Kevin Duckworth of the Portland Trail Blazers knocked over a large trash bin outside the locker room in disgust after the Lakers trashed the Blazers, 116-95, Sunday at the Forum to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Western Conference semifinals.

“It was disgraceful,” Duckworth said after the Lakers ripped the heroes of Rip City. It was the worst lost of the season for Portland, which trailed by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

“I really can’t explain what happened,” guard Clyde Drexler said, shaking his head. “They out-hustled us and everything went right for them. They got all the breaks, but they made their breaks.”

The Blazers, who won 19 of their first 20 games and took 16 of their final 17 contests en route to the NBA’s best regular-season record (63-19), have collapsed against the Lakers, losing by 14 and 21 points at the Forum.

“We’re not in a state of shock,” Drexler said. “I think the Lakers have played two superior games here, we played awful and as a result we’re down, 3-1. Being down, 3-1, is something we hadn’t envisioned, but we got ourselves into this situation and it’s up to us to get ourselves out.”

After winning three of five games from the Lakers to take the regular-season series for the second consecutive season, Portland has lost three of four playoff games to the Lakers.

“The Lakers have upped their game a notch and we’ve gone down a notch,” Drexler said. “We’re not playing anywhere close to where we were in the regular season. But hopefully we can recapture that Tuesday.”

Only four teams in NBA history have rallied from 3-1 deficits to win a playoff series. Boston came back to beat Philadelphia in the 1968 Eastern Division final, the Lakers recovered to defeat Phoenix in the 1970 Western Division final, Washington came back to defeat San Antonio in the 1979 Eastern Conference final and the Celtics came back to beat the 76ers in the 1981 Eastern Conference final. Can the Trail Blazers become the fifth team to recover from a 3-1 deficit?

“If we play the way we’re capable of, I have no doubt in my mind that we can do it,” Drexler said. “But if we play the way that we’ve played in these last two games then I have plenty of doubts.”

Forward Buck Williams thinks the Trail Blazers aren’t finished.

“Don’t count us out yet,” Williams said. “We’ll be back at the Forum for Game 6. We’re going to go home and reflect on what we did well in Game 2 and whatever it was, we’re going to implement it on Tuesday.

“If we don’t adjust and bring what we talk about on the chalkboard out to the floor, our suits will be in mothballs and we’ll be watching the Lakers and Chicago or Detroit play in the finals.”

To stay alive, the Trail Blazers must shut down Magic Johnson, who had 22 points, nine assists and nine rebounds Sunday. Williams harassed Johnson in Game 2, leaving his man, forward Sam Perkins, to double-team Johnson as soon as he crossed half court. Although the strategy worked as Portland won, 109-98, Williams stopped double-teaming Johnson because he was criticized by Portland Coach Rick Adelman.

“Buck was criticized for doubling on Magic as he got across half court but yet it worked,” guard Danny Ainge said. “So now we’re more conservative and we wait and wait and (Johnson) gets in the paint and it’s too late to double-team him and Byron (Scott) is wide open for a jumper.

“We’ve got to play reckless but smart. But it just doesn’t seem to be that we’re together defensively or offensively. Terry (Porter), Clyde and Jerome (Kersey) went to the basket at will in Game 2, but in Games 3 and 4 it’s been much tougher. We just haven’t adjusted to the way they’re defending us.”

The Trail Blazers shot themselves out of the game as Porter missed six of 10 shots, Drexler missed 10 of 16 and forward Cliff Robinson missed six of seven shots. And it didn’t help that Duckworth, Williams and Robinson also got into foul trouble in the first half.

Duckworth, who made just two of 14 shots Friday, continued to struggle, making two of four shots as he scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes. He was called for traveling three times.

Duckworth refused comment on his performance, waving away reporters and TV sportscasters.

“When Duck and our big guys got in foul trouble it really limited our inside game,” Porter said. “I thought we came out really prepared for the game but if you take three guys out of the lineup because of foul trouble, it’s really going to hurt us.

“I can’t remember the last time we played this badly. It wasn’t the final score, it was how the game came out. We just didn’t play well.”