Reid Will Need Help on Boards

So it’s J.R. Reid at starting power forward now.

With Dennis Rodman, who started the last 11 games for which he showed up, released, Laker Coach Kurt Rambis is turning the position over to Reid, who has seen sparse action--and zero starts--since coming over in a trade from Charlotte in March.

But Rambis made it clear that he isn’t expecting Reid to fill the 11.2-a-game rebounding void left by Rodman’s departure. Travis Knight, who started 23 games earlier in the season, has been activated from the injured list and also should get significant time.

‘It’s everybody’s job,” Rambis said. “It’s a five-man job in order to rebound. There’s so many teams that we play that get all five guys rebounding. It’s not just the big guys’ responsibility.

“Our power forward, that’s part of their role, that they rebound the basketball, and they’re just going to have to step it up.”

TONIGHT vs. Utah, 5:30 PDT Channel 4

* Site--Delta Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570 AM).

* Records--Lakers 25-15; Jazz 30-8.

* 1999 Record vs. Jazz--1-2.

Update--On March 7, with Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell still on board, and producing, the Lakers upset the Jazz in Utah, 97-89, and afterward Dennis Rodman crowed that Utah would never win a championship. Jones, Campbell and Rodman are all gone from the Lakers, and Utah is driving toward a possible No. 1-seeding in the Western Conference. Since that game, Utah is 17-4. The Lakers are 12-8. Glen Rice, still suffering from tonsillitis, practiced lightly Friday and it will be a game-time decision whether he plays.