Memo to Bryant: Try Decaf

A season already noteworthy on several fronts--youngest starter in NBA history, youngest player in any role before Portland’s Jermaine O’Neal was activated, slam dunk champion, rookie all-star--has become a postseason with an even more encouraging start.

Kobe Bryant, his improvements obvious over the last several weeks, mostly in that he doesn’t force plays nearly as much, has been one of the most impressive Lakers during several days of scrimmages leading up to Game 1 tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers. He certainly has been the most excited.

“You can see it a little more than on the other guys,” Coach Del Harris.

Maybe because Bryant doesn’t even try to hide it.

“I’m so excited, I don’t know what to do with myself,” he said at the Forum. “I came out here and saw the [playoff] logo on the court. I’ve seen it on TV a lot. Now’s my chance to play and go through the whole thing. I can’t wait.

“It’s been a long season and I’ve learned so, so much. I’ve been lifting weights, so I feel strong. It has to do with a lot of excitement. These guys [the veterans] are ready to go, but I’m even more pumped. It’s basically old news to them, but it’s new to me.”

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Harris at one time had envisioned the possibility of playing four three-point threats at the same time, fanning them out and daring defenses to double-team Shaquille O’Neal. The Lakers can choose from Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Byron Scott and Bryant at guard and small forward and Robert Horry at power forward.

“You have to have that threat,” Harris said. “You have to be a little bit selective on when you use it, but Houston certainly showed how it could work in two of the last three years. And Seattle picked it up last year, that three-point weapons are so important in the playoffs.”

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What is home-court advantage worth to the Lakers?

They had it last season over the Rockets and lost in the first round. They didn’t have it two seasons ago against the Seattle SuperSonics and won in the first round.