Bryant Turns Negative Into Positive

By TIM KAWAKAMI

March 18, 2000 12 AM PT

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. —

You are 21 years old, playing on the hottest team in the NBA, and you just had the worst offensive performance at least of this season, perhaps of your professional career.

So where does Kobe Bryant go from Thursday night’s struggle against Mitch Richmond and the Washington Wizards?

On Friday, he had a talk with assistant Tex Winter, then focused on taking mid-range jumpers and strafed the Detroit Pistons for 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes of action.

“You learn from it,” Bryant said of the seven-point effort against Washington. “I had a nice little session with Tex today--kind of looking at things, the rhythm of the game, how to adjust to it. . . . You just learn from it.

“There’s so many games in the NBA, you can’t just labor on one game. . . .

“You probably noticed I was taking a lot of pull-up jumpers, because the defense was moving and collapsing--kind of like a knot in there, you know? Just catching and shooting, taking the available shots, making things a lot easier.”

Just as in Thursday’s game, Bryant was in early foul trouble, but this time, he picked up three in the first half and then never was deeper in trouble throughout the second half.

Bryant said that Seattle guard Gary Payton has advised him not to back off on his defense even when he gets into foul trouble, and he continued to be aggressive in the third and fourth quarters--but did not pick up another whistle.

“He struggled in places in the game,” Coach Phil Jackson said, “but he got it going and he felt comfortable. By the end of the game, he was on fire, and I took him out.”

Former Piston John Salley, who won titles with the team in 1989 and 1990, received a loud ovation when he checked into the game with six minutes to play.

“I knew [Jackson] was going to play me tonight,” said Salley, who finished with six points, all on free throws. “He didn’t play me last night.

“I said, ‘We’ve got to win. I’m not losing in Detroit. Naw, that’s not going to happen.’

“Yeah, I did some good things here. Good people. I miss this place. I love L.A., though.”

Shaquille O’Neal said his right hamstring is still bothering him a little, but said he doesn’t expect any more serious trouble.

“He’s moving pretty well,” Jackson said before the game. “I think he knows where to take a little less energy in the game and when to use his offensive thrust for the game and defense”

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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

*--*

Fri. Season 35 Points 28.8 11 Rebounds 14.2 3 Assists 3.8

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Fri. Season 25 Points 22.4 8 Rebound 5.9 6 Assists 4.6

*--*

RICE