Fisher Accepts Decreased Role

The rookie class of 1996-97 was reunited Sunday night at the Forum, with Kobe Bryant in his usual prominent role as a Laker and Travis Knight, having left as a free agent, playing a key part in the Boston Celtics’ upset victory. And Derek Fisher mostly sitting.

It has been that way for five games now, since Coach Del Harris, while proclaiming continued confidence in his backup point guard, began relying more heavily on starter Nick Van Exel. That Fisher played 11 minutes against the Celtics was actually an increase, which says everything about how his last week and a half has gone.

Fisher, averaging 16 minutes heading into the Dec. 19 contest at Atlanta, is at only nine a game since. Van Exel, meanwhile, has jumped from 32.6 before facing the Hawks to 40.2 in the last five games.

“Any time you’re playing behind an all-star, it’s tough,” Fisher said, projecting a title on Van Exel not yet awarded. “I feel that besides Gary Payton, Nick is playing better than any point guard in the Western Conference, like an all-star. But it’s tough. It came out of nowhere.

“I kind of understand it. We [he and Harris] had some brief conversations about it. He said it wasn’t a reflection on my play. . . . I’ve just got to keep working. Everybody gets their turn. Mine will come.”

*

Shaquille O’Neal, trying to follow through on his pledge to become a team leader this season, stopped practice Monday when he thought teammates did not properly execute a play. So he had the Lakers run it again.

“We’re playing soft,” he said. “I don’t take that stuff.”

Said Harris: “I think he will assert himself in a lot of ways when he gets back in the flow.”

TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West

Site--Forum.

Radio--KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 22-7, Kings 11-19.

Record vs. Kings--1-0.

Update--The loss of Corliss Williamson, suspended three games Monday for fighting, is another blow to a King front court already without two key members, the injured Michael Smith and Lawrence Funderburke. The Kings also recently changed centers, from Olden Polynice to Michael Stewart.