Tough Six-Game Trip Could Be Revealing

Six games, starting tonight in Sacramento, against some of the best point guards in the NBA, including Terrell Brandon, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, Allen Iverson and Penny Hardaway.

Four games in the last five days, finally finishing a week from Monday in Dallas.

It’s the Lakers’ toughest trip of the short season, coming on the heels of their current 10-game winning streak and right after the big four-player trade.

“It’s going to be a fun trip,” said Shaquille O’Neal, averaging better than 27 points and almost 14 rebounds in his last five games.

“Philly’s going to be pumped up, No. 1 and No. 2 scorers [Iverson and O’Neal, respectively] . . . Orlando’s going to be pumped up. Sac’s going to be pumped up, ‘White Chocolate’ vs. Shaq.

“We do what we’ve got to do, we shouldn’t have any problems.”

Said point guard Derek Fisher, who could see increased action with starter Derek Harper listed as day-to-day because of a sprained left ankle: “We could do a lot for ourselves in this trip, just really finding out what we’re made of inside.

“Not stats, not points or whatever . . . but to be the type of basketball team that we want to be, we’ve got to be able to go on these types of trips and win basketball games.”

O’Neal said he wasn’t going to predict a 6-0 sweep.

“Six-and-oh won’t get us any rings,” O’Neal said. “One game at a time.”

Tonight

at Sacramento

6, Channel 9

* Site--Arco Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 16-6, Kings 9-12.

* Record vs. Kings (1997-98)--3-1.

* Update--The Kings, led by flashy rookie point guard Jason Williams and power forward Chris Webber (the league’s leading rebounder) were one of the hot stories of the season, until their current three-game losing skid, including a desultory performance last Thursday to hand the Clippers their first victory.