New Home Office Still Not Ready

By TIM KAWAKAMI

Feb. 5, 2000 12 AM PT

Long delayed and much discussed, the Lakers’ new El Segundo practice site/team headquarters is expected to be ready some time around the All-Star break or quickly after that, though no one is guaranteeing anything.

Originally planned to be in operation by the start of this season, Laker employees are scheduled to start moving into the offices by mid-February and team practices there could start in late February, after the Lakers finish a long trip.

“You can’t count on something like this,” said Coach Phil Jackson, who has sent frequent barbs at the slow pace of construction. “We started counting on it in November, but we knew better.

“Actually, the floor has been sanded, I’ve heard. Now, it’s just up to the elves that put the finish on it. . . . I won’t go over there. I won’t give them any support until it’s done, and then I’m going to congratulate them.”

Before the game, Jackson said he wanted to use the team’s three home games before the All-Star break to reverse the recent losing trend and get ready for a long battle for first place with Portland.

“I told our guys they’ve done a great job of trying to get me out of the All-Star game,” said Jackson, who nonetheless clinched the Western Conference coaching job by having the best record on Jan. 30.

“Now that I have to go to the All-Star game, I’d hate to be in second place in the West [behind Portland] when I got there. . . . We’ve got an opportunity at least to finish out tied for first in the West.”

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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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Fri. Season 25 Points 27.7 6 Rebounds 14.2 2 Assists 3.4

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BRYANT

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Fri. Season 13 Points 22.3 4 Rebounds 6.1 9 Assists 4.1

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RICE