Now It’s Time for a Little Practice

And . . . exhale.

The Lakers get their chance to regroup starting today, going from the stretch of six games in eight days that ended Thursday at Vancouver to having four days without a game. They have today completely off, without so much as a practice, before full workouts Saturday, Sunday and Monday that should include Robert Horry for the first time since he went out.

If the inconsistent schedule wasn’t so welcome, it would be strange.

“The gap gives us a chance to practice with Robert,” Coach Del Harris said. “And more of a chance than we would have had for any practices.”

Harris had originally hoped to have Horry accompany the team to Vancouver. But Horry remained behind.

“They said organized rehabbing is more important than getting into the flow,” Harris said.

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Eddie Jones was disappointed to sit out the last two games because he had hoped to finally have an injury-free season. The decision to hold him out Thursday came less than an hour before tipoff, after it had appeared he would play, and only after considerable work on the bruised left calf.

It did not come, however, because the Lakers figured they could get away with it because of the opponent.

“I don’t think it makes any difference,” Harris said. “If you can play, you play. If you can’t, you won’t. I don’t think we play much attention to who we play.”

Wednesday’s game against the Bucks was the first game that Jones has sat out. That leaves Nick Van Exel and Elden Campbell as the only Lakers to play in all 71.