Nice Start Comes Even Without Injured Bryant

The “Phil Jackson Era” got underway with a lot of fanfare, but without Kobe Bryant, who missed all of November because of a broken hand. Most predicted the Lakers would struggle around .500 without Bryant, but the Lakers, with a glimpse of things to come, fooled all the so-called experts and ended the month with an 11-4 record. The Lakers even managed to win a game without Bryant and O’Neal. After O’Neal was ejected in the second quarter because of a fight with Charles Barkley, Rice stepped up to score 24 points in an 89-88 victory over Houston on Nov. 10.

Game of the month: On Nov. 30, the Lakers traveled to Seattle to take on the SuperSonics, who were undefeated at home and expected to battle the Lakers, along with Portland, for first place in the Pacific Division. Seattle was 11-3, the Lakers were 10-4. But the game wasn’t close. O’Neal scored 27 points, Glen Rice had 19 and the Lakers won in a rout, 101-77.

Who’s hot: Shaquille O’Neal served notice he was ready to win his first most valuable player award. He averaged 28.7 points and 14 rebounds a game in November. As Horace Grant of Seattle put it: “The big guy has gotten so much better. It’s unbelievable. He’s got a hook shot now, he passes out of the double-teams better and even makes a few free throws.”

Who’s not: Forward Robert Horry shot only 34.9% from the field, averaged 3.5 points and was thoroughly outplayed by the aging A.C. Green. The fact that the Lakers could fare so well with no contribution from Bryant and barely any from Horry foreshadowed just how well the team had come together.

Record in month: 11-4.

Quotebook: “I wasn’t going to stay around and watch that kind of ball game. I think the fans probably understand because they left about the same time I did.” Jackson, after he was ejected in the third quarter of Lakers’ 97-81 loss to Houston on Nov. 12.

Pacific Division standings:

1. Sacramento: 10-2, .833

2. Portland: 13-3, .813

3. Lakers: 11-4, .733

3. Seattle: 11-4, .733

5. Phoenix: 10-4, .714

6. Clippers: 4-10, .286

7. Golden State: 2-11, .154.

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Best record in NBA:

1. Sacramento: 10-2, .833

2. Portland: 13-3, .813

2. San Antonio: 13-3, .813

4. Miami: 11-3, .786

5. Lakers: 11-4, .733

5. Seattle: 11-4, .733.

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NBA scoring leaders:

1. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers: 30.8

2. Shaquille O’Neal, Lakers: 28.7

3. Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons: 26.9

4. Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 25.2

5. Stephon Marbury, New Jersey Nets: 24.5

GAME BY GAME

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Date Score Leading Scorer Record 2 at Utah, W, 91-84 Rice, 28 1-0 3 Vancouver, W, 103-88 O’Neal, 28 2-0 6 at Portland, W, 97-82 O’Neal, 21 2-1 7 Dallas, W, 105-97 O’Neal, 30 3-1 9 at Dallas, W, 123-101 O’Neal, 27 4-1 10 at Houston, W, 89-88 Rice, 24 5-1 12 Houston, L, 97-81 Rice, 11 5-2 14 Atlanta, W, 93-88 O’Neal, 23 6-2 15 at Phoenix, W, 91-82 O’Neal, 34 7-2 18 at Denver, L, 93-82 O’Neal, 36 7-3 19 Chicago, W, 103-95 O’Neal, 41 8-3 21 Toronto, L, 111-102 O’Neal, 37 8-4 24 Utah, W, 90-82 O’Neal, 39 9-4 26 New Jersey, W, 103-80 O’Neal, 30 10-4 30 at Seattle, W, 101-77 O’Neal, 27 11-4

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