LAKERS REPORT

Other than answering reporters’ questions in his pregame news conference, Kurt Rambis has found the toughest aspect of coaching the Lakers to be finding enough playing time for everyone.

Sometimes, the decisions are not in his hands. Injuries, trades and Dennis Rodman’s recent absence have had a revolving-door effect and have complicated Rambis’ efforts to settle on a starting lineup and a rotation. He has had five starting lineups in 16 games since taking over for Del Harris and is contemplating some tinkering by choice, rather than necessity.

“There’s a couple of things we’re pushing around,” he said Wednesday when asked if he might change the rotation. He said prospective changes “could” involve the starting lineup, which for the last six games has been Kobe Bryant and Derek Harper at guard, Glen Rice and Travis Knight at forward and Shaquille O’Neal at center.

“We just got through a long trip and just got home and we’re kicking some ideas around,” said Rambis, who wouldn’t specify what those changes might be. “We may or may not do anything. That’s M-A-Y.”

He also wanted to emphasize the playing-time problems are pleasant problems because of the team’s depth.

“There’s absolutely nothing those guys have done wrong to not have a job,” he said of players such as J.R. Reid--who didn’t get off the bench at Dallas on Monday--and Robert Horry. “It’s just hard to find everybody enough minutes to satisfy them. We have a very talented ballclub and it’s hard to go 12 deep and hard to rotate everybody in.

“I beg them for their understanding and emphasize it’s nothing to do with them. I tell them to stay positive and keep themselves in the ballgame. It’s a tough situation. I know. I’ve been in it.”