Relaxed Harper Is Not the Least Bit Worried

Ron Harper played minutes nine through 26 of the exhibition season Tuesday night at the Arrowhead Pond, where the Lakers waded through another game of so-so execution and spotty defense.

Harper, Phil Jackson’s personal point guard, spends a lot of exhibition game time watching other people play basketball, a veteran art form he perfects in practice almost every day.

As he likes to say, “I’m on paid vacation.”

He has a knack for the triangle offense, though, for having the other four guys end up where they ought to be, and for convincing everyone that all that isn’t there will be soon.

So it was that he sat plucking fruit from a plastic plate Tuesday night, not the least concerned with the so-so offense and the spotty defense, plain deficiencies in another loss, 86-78, to the Phoenix Suns in front of 16,512. The Lakers are 0-3, not having looked so mortal since last exhibition season.

“The only thing I need them to do,” Harper said with a wry smile, “is turn on the lights.

“Somewhere down the line we’ll be a good basketball team.”

Asked if the Lakers could actually be better than last season, he cocked his head and said, “How could we be better? We played into June. We’re going to play until June again, I think. That’s all I care about.”

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Forward Robert Horry, who suffers from chronic knee pain, did not dress against Phoenix because of a sore right knee. He said the recent discomfort, which began in Monday’s practice, was unrelated to previous problems.

“I just tried to stop too quick,” he said.

Horry couldn’t say when he might play again.

Meanwhile, Isaiah Rider sprained his right ankle Monday, practiced Tuesday morning and played 24 minutes against the Suns.

Contrary to his first two games, Rider was demonstrative and very aggressive, though he limped to and from the bench during timeouts. Shaquille O’Neal even tried to talk Rider out of playing.

“He played the kind of game he can play,” Jackson said. “He ignited us.”

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The Lakers cut forward Andy Panko and guard Shawn Respert, trimming their roster to 17.

The difficult cuts are still to come, especially at guard, where Tyronn Lue, Mike Penberthy and Emanual Davis are playing for roster spots.

Though he practiced Monday, Lue suffered a mild setback of his sprained ankle and was unavailable Tuesday night. He said before the game that he will practice today.

Davis played 12 effective minutes.

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The loudest cheers were for rookie Mark Madsen, who in the second quarter rejected a shot attempt by Sun rookie Jake Tsakalidis, raced down the court and shook free for a driving layup.

He received a standing ovation in the third quarter, when he fought--almost literally--for a loose ball under the basket. Madsen wound up on his back, tearing at the ball as two Sun players stood over him.

Madsen fouled out in the fourth quarter after playing 22 minutes.

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Tom Gugliotta, Penny Hardaway, Corie Blount, Tony Delk and Rex Chapman--all recovering from injuries--did not make the trip with the Suns. . . . Horace Grant is having a hard time finding his way in the offense. He took one shot and had two rebounds in 22 minutes and has made two field goals in three games.