Jackson Keeps His Hand in the Campaign

By TIM KAWAKAMI

Feb. 23, 2000 12 AM PT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —

Coach Phil Jackson made it over to Harlem’s Apollo Theater on Monday to view Monday’s Democratic presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Jackson’s good friend Bill Bradley, and then serve as a post-debate Bradley spin-meister.

“I did compare Gore to kind of like Allen Iverson,” Jackson said before Tuesday’s victory over the New Jersey Nets, “who was dancing around the three-point line, going behind his back and between his legs, and not getting any scoring done.”

And his spin on Bradley’s performance?

“He was just holding the lane,” Jackson said, “being real solid.”

Jackson, who said he gave Bradley a pep talk before the debate, said he wanted to bring Gore-supporter Shaquille O’Neal along with him.

“I asked Shaq if he wanted to go along and find out who Gore really was, but he had another obligation,” Jackson said. “It was a Boys and Girls club, so I thought it was a better venture.”

Forward Glen Rice, who didn’t speak to the media for the fourth consecutive game, registered another solid game, scoring 15 points on five-of-13 shooting and grabbing six rebounds.

“I think he’s playing really well,” Jackson said. “And I was surprised, I looked at the stat sheet. . . . I felt like he did a better job than that. . . .

‘He’s playing very well, did a good job on the boards. His legs are better. And he’s more confident. He knows what he’s going to get and he’s doing a better job of it.”

Kobe Bryant, who sprained his right index finger against Orlando on Friday, appeared to favor it again on Tuesday, and said it hurts him most when he tries to catch the ball.

“It’s pretty sore,” Bryant said.

TONIGHT

at Cleveland Cavaliers

4:30 PST (Ch. 9, 6)

* Site--Gund Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 42-11; Cavaliers 22-31.

* Record vs. Cavaliers--1-0.

* Update--The Cavaliers, slogging through a tough season, do have an 18-9 home record, and have won nine of their last 10 at Gund. Shawn Kemp is averaging 18.6 points and 9.2 rebounds, but shooting only 40.6% from the field and has committed 3.8 turnovers a game.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

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

*--*

Tue. Season 35 Points 28.1 13 Rebounds 14.3 4 Assists 3.6

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Tue. Season 21 Points 22.2 4 Rebounds 5.9 4 Assists 4.4

*--*

RICE