Sabonis can play, but for how long?

Can Arvydas Sabonis play back-to-back games without pain in his foot, 
ankle or knee?

The Trail Blazers, limping along at 1-2 in the NBA exhibition season, 
might find out this weekend in the GTE Shootout in the Great Western 
Forum.

"Sooner or later, we've got to address it," Portland coach P.J. 
Carlesimo said.

Call the GTE Shootout a poor man's McDonald's Open. While the NBA 
champion Houston Rockets take on Real Madrid and other European 
heavyweights at London, Portland joins the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas 
Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves in the Forum.

It's rebuilding Portland against Dallas at 5 p.m. Friday, with the 
Lakers taking on the Timberwolves and new point guard Terry Porter in 
the nightcap.

Three of these teams could end up in the lottery.

Dallas coach Dick Motta might laugh at that, but in three exhibition 
games the Mavericks have lost to Indiana by 19, Miami by 17, and the 
Los Angeles Clippers by 21.

"We need work on defense," Motta said.

Friday's winners and losers meet Saturday (for the coveted GTE trophy?)

and yes, there are plenty of good seats available.

Sabonis, who played for Real Madrid last year, was practically a 
highlight film in the second quarter of Wednesday night's 99-95 loss 
to the Timberwolves.

He seemed to be the only player who brought a smile to team owner 
Paul Allen's face during a glitch-filled evening in the Rose Garden.

"It's hard not to like him," said Blazers coach P.J. Carlesimo, 
acknowledging the roars of approval Sabonis heard from the crowd of 
21,393.

The Rose Garden needs work and so do the Blazers, but Sabonis is going

to be worth a $68.50 ticket on a lot of cold winter nights when the 
Portland faithful are counting the days to the lottery. If he stays in 
one piece.

In just a few minutes against Minnesota, the 7-foot-3 Sabonis did the 
following:

*Marched in for a one-handed dunk after leaping to intercept a pass 
near the top of the key.

*Made an emphatic block on Sean Rooks at the other end.

*Worked a nice pick-and-roll play with Cliff Clifford Robinson.

*Made a no-look pass to Dontonio Wingfield for a bucket.basket.

*Smothered a shot by Ron Riley under the Timberwolves' basket.

There was also was the mid-air, reverse layup in the fourth quarter to

tie the score at 91-91, and a running one-hander to bring the Blazers 
within 94-93 with 25 seconds left.

You get the idea. A star was born in the Rose Garden.

"Arvydas is playing very well," said Carlesimo, who admits he's he is 
just as curious as everybody else as to how much, and how far, Sabonis 
can go.

Minnesota coach Bill Blair just shook his head.

"I don't know why a player like that didn't come into the league a long
time ago," Blair said. "I guess the difference is you can make all that
money playing 45 games instead of 82."

Vlade Divac, the Lakers' center, knows all about Sabonis.

Sabonis was playing for Lithuania and Divac for Yugoslavia in the 
European Championships final game this summer.

Yugoslavia won, but it was controversial.

At one point, Sabonis and his teammates left the floor to protest what
they thought were poor calls by the officials.

"They went over and sat on the side of the court for a couple of 
minutes," Divac said. "I came and talked with (Sabonis) and (Sarunas) 
Marciulionis, and they got back on the court."

Divac lights up when asked about Sabonis the player.

"He's now 30 years old, but I remember him when I played against him 
when he was 21 or 22," Divac said. "He was the best center I ever saw 
in my life. I can say easy he was a better player than Shaq, Ewing, 
Hakeem. . . . I'm telling you, he was the best center I ever saw in my 
life.

"He was passing the ball, dribbling, shooting three-pointers, jumping.
He did everything. Now he's lost his speed because of injury, but still
he's a smart player. He knows basketball."

If only Sabonis could run the floor like the Sabonis of old.

"That could cost him an NBA career," Divac admitted. said. "But 
everything else, he's got it."

NOTES: The Gary Trent grand opening, much like the Rose Garden opening,
had some problems. Portland's rookie muscleman played 25 minutes and 
totaled four points and one rebound. Trent had been out since the third 
day of training camp with an ankle sprain. "It was a tough situation 
for Gary," Carlesimo said. "You can't miss all the time he's missed and 
not feel it." Said Trent, "I was too anxious, I was trying too hard. I 
just didn't play Gary Trent basketball."