Van Exel, Harris at Peace for Now

Nick Van Exel and Coach Del Harris got beyond their most recent tiff, just as they have before and just as they will with the ones that are certain to come in the future.

“It’s in the past for me,” Van Exel said Sunday, after he played 42 minutes despite making four of 16 shots, although he did have nine assists.

Similar struggles Friday at Atlanta got him 25 minutes, only 11 of which came in the second half, after which he said with frustration, “You’re not supposed to give up on the quarterback.”

Said Harris on Sunday: “I would hope our starters have a great game every game. But no matter which starter it is, if he’s not having a good game you’ve got to give the bench a chance.

“On any given day, I believe the coach has the obligation to go with whoever is going well.”

In other words, it’s a complaint he’s heard before, so no big deal. The notion of whether a team captain should have spoken out in the first place, especially with the team starting to struggle emotionally, is another matter.

“I don’t feel that’s anything I should get into in the newspapers,” Harris said. “Those are locker room matters.”

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After playing only 1:23 in the previous three games, Kobe Bryant got 22 minutes against the Pacers. “I’m used to it, “ Bryant said of his inconsistent role. “I just want to get in the game and the most important thing is to let the game come to you.” He had 10 points on four-for-nine shooting.