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Jackson Not Concerned With 70 Wins

If the Lakers sweep their remaining 11 regular-season games--hardly an impossibility--they will become only the second team in NBA history to hit the 70-victory plateau, right behind the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won 72 under Phil Jackson.

“Go perfect the rest of the season? Well, that’s a heck of a challenge for any basketball club,” Jackson said after Tuesday’s practice.

To get within striking distance of 70, the Lakers have gone 25-1 since losing at San Antonio on Feb. 1 and have opened a 7 1/2-game lead over Portland in the Pacific Division.

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Since they have basically sewn up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, Jackson said he values rest time for his stalwarts, Shaquille O’Neal especially, over pressing hard for a specific victory total.

“It’s something I think I wouldn’t even set out as a goal, because I don’t think it’s worth driving for,” Jackson said. “It’s a great number and I’d like them to have as many wins as possible as a team and for our organization.

“But at this point, it might be diminishing returns for an effort that might not be worth it.”

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Jackson noted that he was ready to accept a defeat in Sacramento on Sunday, but was impressed when his team stormed back in the fourth quarter to win.

“As a coach, it’s always the idea that it might not be such a bad thing to lose, on national TV, and, well, maybe get them a little humbler about themselves,” Jackson said.

“They’re pretty damn cocky right now. . . . As long as you wear it on your sleeve but you don’t carry it in your mouth or demean people, I feel that it’s OK to carry that air. Because that’s really what it’s all about--having that poise and confidence.”

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*

Forward A.C. Green will extend his NBA record for consecutive games played to 1,100 tonight.

TONIGHT

at Vancouver

7, Channel 9

* Site--GM Place.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 59-12; Grizzlies 19-50.

* Record vs. Grizzlies--3-0.

* Update--Forward Glen Rice left practice early on Tuesday suffering from stomach flu. Rice did not accompany the team on its flight to Vancouver, but the team said he might fly up today. Devean George, who missed the last game with flu, is back with the team.

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