Rider Goes on Injured List

The thing about Isaiah “J.R.” Rider, no one didn’t like him. He did not disrupt the Lakers. He had no impact on the court, but neither did he foul the locker room.

In seven months he simply . . . was.

On Tuesday, four games from the postseason, Rider went to the injured list because of a sudden bout with back spasms. Unless something dramatic occurs--Kobe Bryant or Ron Harper being unable to play--it appears Rider will be left off the Laker playoff roster when it is due in the league office April 19.

So close on several occasions to becoming a regular in Coach Phil Jackson’s rotation, Rider sat on the end of the bench, and stood on the edge of the huddles.

The Lakers nearly cut him Monday afternoon, but agreed to have him stay, on a few of the usual conditions. He’ll be their playoff insurance in the backcourt, assuming he sticks around that long.

“One thing I will say is Isaiah’s attitude has been good,” Jackson said. “Even though he’s disappointed sometimes in the way he plays or his minutes or whatever, he has never been confrontational. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been positive with his teammates. And he’s been supportive. So, from that standpoint we feel confident about it.”

It’s simply that they needed someone on whom they could rely. Jackson has asked Rider for the usual things over the next week and a half.

“Attentiveness,” he said. “Responsibility. Those things that just keep him tied in and attached to what he wants to be a part of, and that’s this team.

“I thought he had a little slip here on this four-game road trip. Some things didn’t go right for him. He pleaded his case for ‘honest mistake,’ but those are the things that have led to missing games, being late to ballgames.”

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Jackson said Harper would be on the playoff roster if he is practicing by early next week. . . . Forward Slava Medvedenko came off the injured list in Rider’s place.