It’s Time for Rice, Jackson to Talk

While her husband is known for his jump shot, Christina Fernandez Rice is known for her fastball.

Her husband’s smoothness has long been backed by her fight.

Christina Fernandez Rice is the one who took her husband to an Elian Gonzalez protest demonstration on the eve of the playoffs.

She is also the one who scolded him last season about a lack of focus, and convinced him last summer to keep quiet about the trade talk and just play.

On Monday, a day after Glen Rice was benched during many important moments of the Lakers’ Game 3 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals, she angrily took up another cause.

Phil Jackson.

“Jackson has never wanted Glen, he’s always wanted somebody like Scottie Pippen, and this is his way of getting back at management for not letting him make a trade,” she said in a phone conversation. “This is Jackson’s way of showing the people on top of him who is in control. It’s crazy.”

While Jackson’s judgment has been mostly impeccable during a season in which he further established himself as the game’s best coach, many thought his treatment of Rice on Sunday was at least puzzling.

With Kobe Bryant’s ankle sprain leaving Rice as the only legitimate scorer other than Shaquille O’Neal, Rice nonetheless played only 27 minutes despite having no fouls.

He made a three-point shot at the end of the first half but played only 11 of 24 minutes after that.

He was on the bench in the fourth quarter for all but the final 1:29.

The Lakers lost, 100-91, as Rice scored seven points.

It was a different world from Friday at Staples Center, when Rice made four of five three-pointers after Bryant was injured in the first quarter to help the Lakers to a 111-104 victory in Game 2.

“Glen shined, so Jackson had to put him back in the dark again,” his wife said. “It’s all a mind game. It’s all about control. Jackson did not get his way with the general manager or the owner about trading Glen, so who pays for it? Glen does.”

Fernandez Rice claimed that the Laker upper management has always been supportive of her husband, even sending messages during the season.

“We have heard from plenty of people on the Lakers that Glen should just keep his head up, they let Glen know he is wanted here,” she said. “Jackson is just the opposite. He doesn’t want Glen, he’s never wanted Glen, and he’s showing management he doesn’t want him.”

While it has been no secret that Jackson has long wanted to trade for a forward who fits better into the triangle offense--and that Rice would be the likely one traded--Jackson has certainly given him chances.

After all, Jackson called plays for Rice in Portland during Rice’s brilliant third quarter in Game 4. And when he’s been hot, he has usually stayed in the game.

“But Sunday you have Kobe out, it was Glen’s one chance to step up and contribute to the team, and Jackson wouldn’t let him do it,” Fernandez Rice said.

Jackson was unavailable for comment, but earlier in the day had explained his reasons for benching Rice.

“The team was looking for him,” he said. “[But] some of the things he did . . . didn’t go for him.”

Jackson said he soured on Rice during a third quarter that started with Rice missing a pass, then clanging a jumper.

“Glen had a real struggle that third quarter . . . I just went to Rick Fox because we needed some defense and change of venue, and with that group out there on the floor we got back in the game,” he said. “So you stay with who plays.”

Jackson was responding to questions from national media members who had surrounded Rice as he complained for a second consecutive day.

“I didn’t come here to be an assistant coach,” said Rice, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. “If we are losing and I don’t get the opportunity to do what I can do, then I am upset.”

As if that weren’t enough, Shaquille O’Neal even offered his two giant cents, saying, “I was disappointed a little bit that our best shooter was on the bench.”

The biggest disappointment, of course, is that this is happening at all.

The Lakers are already having a difficult time coping on the court without Bryant. They don’t need to be bumping into each other in the locker room too.

Jackson has dealt with plenty of this playoff prickliness in the past, or did you forget that he once had a star who would not go into a game in the final seconds in the Eastern Conference semifinals?

But in the past, he has always been blessed with veteran teams and leaders who could work it out among themselves.

Jackson never scolded Pippen for refusing to enter that big game, instead letting the veteran Chicago Bulls deal with him.

But as Jackson surely realizes by now, this team is not that team.

This team is still growing, still figuring it out.

This team needed a meeting Monday morning.

One room. Jackson and Rice.

Before they faced reporters, the two men needed to get their stories straight.

Maybe Jackson could have reminded Rice that it’s about more than just scoring, that it’s also about defense and ball handling.

Maybe Rice could have aired his grievances then.

It all could have been handled so much better.

While the Pacers are still more soiled, it is the Lakers’ dainties that are flapping above the backyard for everyone to see.

The Pacers trail in the series, but lead in the stress department.

Although the Pacers have more free agents, it is the Lakers who will finish this series and the season with one starter already elsewhere.

“If the situation doesn’t change, I don’t see how we can stay here, and it doesn’t matter about the money,” Fernandez Rice said. “It’s not worth it. It’s just not worth it.”

She said she has counseled Rice to keep quiet about the situation until she thought it was hurting the team.

“How many players would have stayed as quiet for as long as Glen has? But finally, when the team is affected, you have to say something,” she said. “Now if it was me, I would have already been Latrell Sprewell II.”

The answer to all of this, as it has been often throughout the playoffs, is of course one word.

Kobe.

If he comes back strong Wednesday, the Lakers win both remaining games in Indianapolis, win the NBA championship, Rice leaves, Jackson stays, all is forgotten.

But if Bryant doesn’t come back strong, and the Lakers still need more scoring--not to mention better free-throw shooting--to eke out two more victories . . .

A meeting, gentlemen.

The schoolteacher and the shooter.

Anywhere but the bench.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.