Kersey Stands Out Replacing Horry

His days as the starting small forward are numbered, but only because Robert Horry is back. Not because of the way Jerome Kersey has played.

Whatever doubt had remained about the signing of Kersey at the league-veteran minimum has been erased with his contribution the second time around in the starting lineup. Once the Lakers were concerned about his age: 34. Now he averages a solid 6.6 points and seven rebounds and was shooting 44.6% in the 14 games before Friday.

And there are the intangibles.

“His defense, his energy, his will to win [are] unquestioned,” Coach Del Harris said. “If he makes 40% of his shots, he’s going to help you win games because he does so many other things.”

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No sign of the Shaquille O’Neal-George Karl peace talks.

O’Neal has the memory of being double-and triple-teamed in the 1994 all-star game, when Karl, coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, also coached the Western Conference. At the time a second-year player with the Orlando Magic, O’Neal still puts the blame partly, if not largely, on Karl.

Now comes the proofs being circulated on Karl’s as-yet-unreleased autobiography.

“He has not found the spirit to win a championship yet,” one passage says. “. . . He has got to learn it’s a game about heart as much as it is physical skill.”

And: O’Neal is “dangerous to both his opponent . . . and his own team.”