Jackson Gives Team Two Days Off

Taking advantage of the long span between Monday’s overtime victory over Seattle and Friday’s game against Sacramento, Laker Coach Phil Jackson gave his players two days off--Tuesday and today--before resuming practice Thursday.

That gives Shaquille O’Neal extra time to rest his sore left ankle, and the Lakers, who went 1-1 without him, expect him to be ready for Friday’s game.

“You’ve got to understand, we’ve got a large lead here and it’s late in this long, long season,” veteran guard Ron Harper said.

“We know when we get Shaq back in, we’re going to be a good team. So whenever he feels like playing basketball again, there’s a suit there for him, I think. . . . I would love to have Shaq back, but on his own time.”

Jackson noted that, in addition to O’Neal, Derek Fisher has bone spurs in his ankle and Robert Horry has sore knees.

Horry said he would use the extra time to get himself ready for the playoffs.

“It’s time to go into the weight room and work on some things, especially legs and stuff, to try to get stronger,” Horry said. “We can use it as a time of strengthening and trying to get the knees feeling a little bit better.”

Harper assisted Jackson’s announcement Monday night by bellowing “and Wednesday!” when Jackson said the players could take Tuesday off.

“It’s great to have time off during this late run,” Harper said. “This is good for our team. there’s some guys who are hurting, some guys who need some days off. So enjoy them. I’m definitely going to enjoy my days off.”

*

After Monday’s game, Jackson said he was disappointed that Kobe Bryant turned the ball over late in the fourth quarter by spinning into the lane within reach of Gary Payton, who plucked the ball away.

During the next 20-second timeout, Jackson walked a few steps to meet Bryant on the court, made several very loud points, and kept Bryant from walking to the bench, while Bryant nodded his head and repeated one line.

“I just said, ‘Phil, I only had one the whole game--that’s below average,’ ” Bryant later recounted with a light grin.

Has he gotten used to Jackson’s in-your-face teaching style?

“Stuff like that doesn’t bother me,” said Bryant, who had five points in the overtime. “I come back and make up for it.”