Harper Shrugs Off New Role as Starter

Derek Harper accepted his new role as the Laker starting point guard with barely a shrug, saying that he cares more about how former starter Derek Fisher handles it than anything else.

“Derek’s a young player, and I think with young players sometimes, they do try a little bit too hard,” said the 37-year-old Harper, who spent the first nine games as a heavily-used backup before getting the start Sunday against Seattle.

“But Fish is going to be fine. He’s a solid guy, No. 1, and I think the fact that he is will get him over this, whatever . . . the little tough times he’s going through.”

Said Fisher: “No big deal. I’m just going to do the same things--when I get out there, I’m going to try to make something happen for our team.”

Harris said that this won’t be a short-term switch.

“I don’t usually make one-day switches, unless it’s for injuries,” Harris said. “I think that Derek Harper is playing at such a high level, we want him in there at the beginning of games.”

Against Seattle, Harper played 31 minutes, scoring seven points with five assists and three rebounds. Fisher played 17 minutes, and had two points and three assists.

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Travis Knight, who missed Friday’s game because of a sprained left ankle, returned and started at power forward.

at Denver, 5

Channel 9, TBS

Site--McNichols Arena.

Radio--KLAC (570 AM).

Records--Lakers 6-4; Nuggets 1-8.

1999 Record vs. Nuggets--1-0.

Update--After Sunday’s loss, suddenly this becomes a crucial spot for the Lakers, who needed a late flurry from Kobe Bryant to put the Nuggets away two weeks ago, and still have to play in Vancouver on Tuesday.