Lighter Fox Finally Gets a Lift From His Game

The Lakers asked Rick Fox to shed 25 pounds between June and September.

Ever dutiful, he did.

His cheeks sunk in, but his step quickened. His strength waned, but his legs lightened.

As Phil Jackson deftly noted: “He lost that booty that was running around behind him. He doesn’t have a trailer anymore.”

In nearly three weeks of basketball, Fox had greater concerns.

His shot wasn’t falling, though his minutes were.

“This is what I was asked to do,” Fox said. “I don’t know if it’s enough time [to judge]. I haven’t played a lot this year since Kobe [Bryant] moved to the small forward position. I back up the small forward. There’s not a lot of minutes there.”

Jackson started Fox for six games, didn’t for five, then started him again Wednesday against Golden State. Finally, Fox had his finest game of the season. He made three of five shots, scored eight points, took five rebounds and had two assists. The Lakers won, 111-91, in a game whose tone was set in a breakneck first quarter in which they outscored the Warriors, 35-19, in part because Fox played so well.

“I thought it was good for us,” Jackson said. “[Golden State] is a big rebounding team. I wanted to have some more solid box-out lane work in there. [Chris] Mills is a big small forward as far as that is concerned. We’re going to be playing without [Ron] Harper on Friday, so I thought it was a good rotation for us to cover.”

Jackson would not discuss the long-term plan except to say that, “Nothing is permanent.”

*

Mark Madsen noticed the phenomenon a couple of home games ago, as he stood some 25 feet from the rim, measuring his offense, preparing to pass.

Fans shrieked for him to shoot.

Asked about it, the Laker rookie laughed and guessed they have mistaken him for someone else.

“Maybe,” he said, “m-a-a-a-ybe I’ll put one up if we’re up 20 with a minute to go.”

*

Laker Isaiah Rider was ejected in the fourth quarter Wednesday after being called for two quick technical fouls when he complained about a non-call. The Lakers again argued that Rider was unfairly targeted.

Brian Shaw said Rider simply asked about the call, which led to the first technical. “J.R. said, ‘You going to give me a technical for that?’ ” Shaw recalled. “The ref said, ‘You’re out of here.’ ”

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 8-4, Timberwolves 7-4.

* Record vs. Timberwolves (1999-2000)--4-0.

* Update--Minnesota has won five in a row, one of them against San Antonio a week ago.