Early Playoff Test a Plus to Jackson

By TIM KAWAKAMI

April 20, 2000 12 AM PT

SAN ANTONIO —

So, it’s the Sacramento Kings, who did not finish the season well--they lost seven of their last eight games--at all but always found a way to take the Lakers to the limit.

This Sunday, the Lakers will start the playoffs against the high-octane, up-and-down Kings, which can be considered a good thing, according to Laker Coach Phil Jackson.

“You’re going to be tested at some level and sometimes it’s good to be tested in the first round,” Jackson said before Wednesday’s game.

“They tested Utah last year [in the first round], gave them a real test in their series. . . .

“Yeah, the idea that this is a team that’s played well against us, we’ll have to play better to beat them--that’s always a positive thing.”

The Lakers were 3-1 in the season series, but those victories were by seven, one and three points, and all three came after the Lakers trailed in the second half.

Sacramento averaged 103 points against Lakers, 11 more than the Laker opponents’ season average.

“I think that they’re going to be a team that’s hard to control, they’re a team of spurts,” Jackson said.

Jackson took some heat before the game for suggesting earlier this month that there should be an asterisk in the record book next to San Antonio’s 1999 NBA championship.

“I know it caused some flare here in town,” Jackson said. “But, you know, it’s what it is, that’s all. Don’t have to hammer it home.

“Everybody knows what kind of year it was here in the NBA last year--a 50-game [lockout-shortened] season.

“Roger Maris had an asterisk season and he played what, 162 instead of 154 [games]? Asterisk seasons are seasons that aren’t the same, that’s all.”

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Triple Plays / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL

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Wed. Season 22 Points 29.6 7 Rebounds 13.6 4 Assists 3.7

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BRYANT

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