Players learn that ‘free’ actually has a high price

All Lakers Coach Phil Jackson asked of his players at practice Monday was for them to make 75% of their free throws, pretty much what they have averaged as a team this season.

But twice the Lakers failed and Jackson sent them on military-style drills, with the players running along the outside of the court for more conditioning, more pain and anguish.

Then he would blow his whistle and force the last player in the pack to run to the front of the line. On and on it went with Jackson stalking them, a smile on his face.

Jackson even noted how Jordan Farmar took a shortcut around the court in the running drills.

“They had to struggle their way through that,” Jackson said. “They had a little bit of woe-is-me attitude this morning.”

Why?

“It was raining. They had to drive in the rain,” Jackson joked. “I don’t know why. It wasn’t a joyful group.”

Indeed, there was some grumbling.

“Sometimes that’s the type of stuff that brings you together,” Lamar Odom said.

The Lakers are making 75.9% of their free throws, 19th best in the NBA. Toronto (84.4%), Houston (82.1%), New Orleans (81.9%) and Chicago (80.6%) were the only teams making more than 80% of their free throws before Monday night’s games.

But Jackson lamented his team’s poor free-throw shooting in a close victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday, when the Lakers made only 21 of 35 (60%).

“Phil likes when we have tests,” Odom said. “Especially psychological. You can tell who’s confident, who’s thinking about it. He likes that.

“That’s what we’re striving for, perfection. We’re not perfect yet. So we have practices like that to get us better in game situations.”

In the Lakers’ nine-man rotation, three players are making more than 80% of their free throws: Derek Fisher (94.7%), Kobe Bryant (87.6%) and Sasha Vujacic (83.3%).

“There’s going to be games when you’re tired,” Odom said. “We’ve got a trip [coming up with] four games in five days. . . . I know where he’s coming from a lot of the times when he does that. I can understand it.”

Making changes

There was a time when the Lakers had the same starting lineup for 20 consecutive games. Now only the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers have had the same starting lineup for at least that many games this season.

Luke Walton replaced Vladimir Radmanovic as the starting small forward three games ago and is expected to start again tonight when the Lakers play host to the New York Knicks.

“I think we’re the only team in the NBA that started the same group of guys for 20 games,” Jackson said before being told otherwise. “So that’s remarkable in itself.”

Etc.

Walton was excused from practice Monday for personal reasons.

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broderick.turner@latimes.com

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Lakers tonight

VS. NEW YORK

Time: 7:30.

On the air: TV: Fox Sports West; Radio: 570, 1330.

Where: Staples Center.

Records: Lakers 20-3, Knicks 11-13.

Record vs. Knicks (2007-08): 2-0.

Update: The Lakers lead the NBA with an average of 108 points per game, so tonight’s game could be a high-scoring affair. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson noted that his team can play any style of basketball. The Knicks, under new Coach Mike D’Antoni, are third in the NBA in scoring at 105 points per game. D’Antoni, the former Suns coach, has taken his fast-paced, quick-shooting system to New York. The Knicks give up 106.8 points per game, the second most in the NBA. They also are embroiled in the drama involving exiled guard Stephon Marbury, who is not allowed to be around the team while they decide what to do with him -- trade him or buy out the remainder of his $20.8-million contract.

-- Broderick Turner