Horry Eases Some Worries

Del Harris was among the wondering.

“I thought about it,” the Laker coach said.

It was only natural, after all: would that off-season weightlifting regiment by Robert Horry, resulting in more bulk in the upper body, affect Horry’s three-point shooting? Could he still have a touch uncommon for a big man--or maybe regain the touch considering the poor 31.8% from behind the arc last season?

The first two exhibition games brought an encouraging response to the Lakers. Horry made both three-point shots last Friday against the Denver Nuggets, then was four of eight the next night at Phoenix, going a combined nine of 15 overall from the field in the process.

“I’m glad to see he’s been able to keep his stroke,” Harris said.

Horry, for one, was never worried.

“Everything we did with the lifting was all predicated around basketball,” he said. “We never did anything that would have hindered my shooting motions. And we always kept playing basketball to make sure I didn’t lose any of that flexibility.”

Horry, whose career best on three-point shooting is the 37.9% in the 1994-95 season, said 40% is his goal for this season and that the weight work will help because it also strengthened his legs.

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Harris was told some players had been complimenting his game attire.

“Now if they just thought I could coach, I’d be all right,” he said, laughing.