LANDOVER, Md. -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar admits he's not used to getting one of his shots blocked -- let alone three, as Washington Bullets rookie Manute Bol did in the first meeting between the pivotmen.
Bol, the 7-foot-6 former tribesman from the Sudan who is quickly becoming one of the NBA's top attractions, swatted 8 shots against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night. The one Abdul-Jabbar, who is 7-2, remembers most is a dunk attempt the rookie rejected.
'I felt sorry for myself,' the 17-year veteran said.
But Abdul-Jabbar, guarded straight up by Bol the entire way, scored 29 points, including 6 during a 14-4 run late in the game, in leading the Lakers to a 96-84 victory -- Los Angeles' fifth straight. It was the first time in 63 games Los Angeles has been held under 100 points.
Abdul-Jabbar, who said Bol forced him to alter several shots, including his patented sky hook, also had 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
'Bol really changed things -- we were very conscious of him all night,' Laker coach Pat Riley said. 'Kareem made a point that Bol doesn't lean on him like most guys, so he had to face a lot more than he normally does. Bol just needs more experience.'
The Bullets rookie was less impressed with his performance than were the defending champions.
'I didn't cause him any problems,' said Bol, who yielded 13-of-25 shooting by Abdul-Jabbar. 'No one can stop him.'
Bol didn't get a piece of any of the eight sky hooks Abdul-Jabbar sank and said he wasn't looking specifically to block the shot -- perhaps the most deadly in the NBA.
'When you say, 'Can you block his sky hook?' I wasn't worried about that. I just wanted to play good defense.'
Bol also grabbed 7 rebounds and scored 4 points. The rookie's lack of offense is his biggest weakness, Abdul-Jabbar says.
'It's going to hurt the team,' Abdul-Jabbar said. 'This is a game where you can't really be a specialist. He's not getting offensive boards and he doesn't shoot the ball well. I guess when (Jeff) Ruland comes back, they've got someone (Bol) they can put in for defense who's going to be a real stopper.'
Bol became the Bullets starting center when Ruland suffered a chip fracture and a severe sprain of his right ankle two weeks ago. In his four starts entering Sunday night's game with the New York Knicks, Bol has averaged a remarkable 8.25 blocks along with 8.75 rebounds and 9.0 points.
Asked to choose between being guarded by the burly Ruland or the towering Bol, Abdul-Jabbar responded: 'I don't know which is worse, getting my ribs and arms beat on (by Ruland) or getting my shots blocked like that.'
Bullets coach Gene Shue was satisfied with his decision to have Bol guard the NBA's scoring king.
'The main reason we did have a chance to win is because of Manute's isolation on Kareem,' Shue said. 'Manute played him straight up throughout the entire contest. Kareem just didn't have all those outlets to pass when he didn't have a shot. We took that away. I'm sure the Lakers aren't used to that.'
