Kupchak: It Has Been a Strain

General Manager Mitch Kupchak conceded Friday that the frenzied activity of the past week has put a strain on both the players and management--but said he believed the arrival of Dennis Rodman and hiring of interim coach Kurt Rambis will help calm things down.

“We knew the first thing to do was to get Dennis signed, and that lingered longer than we would’ve preferred it to linger,” Kupchak said. “And we knew it wasn’t good for the organization and happened to make Del [Harris’] job real difficult.

“Del’s release came quickly, and that was No. 2. There have been many rumors swirling around the organization involving trades . . . the short season . . . and, of course, the travel situation, all those things have hurt.

“That’s taken its toll.”

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The Laker players shook their heads and smiled when they saw that Rodman had been given a familiar locker--the one that used to belong to Nick Van Exel. “Nick had the same locker,” Kobe Bryant said. “I don’t know if that’s an indication of something.” . . . Bryant, who scored a season-low seven points and took only six shots Thursday, confirmed that he was experiencing back spasms before and after the game. “Couldn’t bend down, man,” said Bryant, who added that the spasms disappeared Friday. . . . According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 71-year-old Bill Bertka, who was the Lakers’ acting coach in Thursday’s victory over the Clippers, was the oldest man ever to coach an NBA game. Orlando Magic Coach Chuck Daly, 68, is now No. 2 on the list.

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Maurice Taylor and the Clippers received good news early Friday when the MRI exam on his right knee--injured in Thursday’s game against the Lakers--revealed no major problems. He is listed as day-to-day with a knee sprain.

“If I could play [tonight] I’ll play,” Taylor said, “but I’m not going to rush into it. It’s still early in the season and for me to risk long-term injury would really be stupid.”

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Keith Closs did not dress for Friday’s game because of conduct detrimental to the team, according to Clipper Coach Chris Ford, who exchanged words with Closs after he removed the backup center from the game in the first half Thursday night.

TONIGHT

Clippers vs. Atlanta, 7:30

Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 0-11; Hawks 7-5.

* Record vs. Hawks (1997-98)--0-2.

* Update--The Hawks have won eight in a row over the Clippers. Atlanta will be without Steve Smith, sidelined because of a knee sprain, and possibly Alan Henderson, who is listed as day-to-day because of back spasms.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.