Pippen Ribs Bryant About His Injury

Kobe Bryant has said a lot of nice things about Scottie Pippen lately, about Pippen’s play, and his leadership and, most of all, his vast championship experience.

So, it must have come as quite a shock to Bryant when Pippen accused him of faking Sunday’s rib injury in order to draw Michael Jordan comparisons and appear more valiant later in the game.

What is it with all these former Chicago Bulls and their insinuations of sabotage?

Bryant left practice before speaking to reporters, but Rick Fox stayed behind and laughed at Pippen’s comments.

“We’re all trying to be like Mike,” Fox said, smiling. “Who doesn’t want to be like Mike? Scottie may have tried to get Kobe going. I’d leave Kobe alone if I were Scottie. But, that’s Scottie’s choice.”

Coach Phil Jackson, once quoted as saying Bryant “sabotaged” high school games so he could come back and save them, said he believed Pippen was joking.

“He’s trying to be like Mike,” Pippen had said Monday. “He wants to have a heroic performance. They said he had bruised ribs. Come on. It didn’t look like he had bruised ribs. He didn’t find a shot he didn’t like.”

Jordan led the Bulls to their last title, three years ago, playing despite stomach flu.

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In the meantime, Bryant’s bruises were better, according to Jackson.

“I don’t think he had the shortness of breath today,” he said. “But he was still a little sore.”

Bryant is not expected to be hindered by the injury Thursday in Game 2.

Also, Fox said his left hamstring, tweaked during Sunday’s game, was better.

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Shaquille O’Neal emerged from the locker room Tuesday wearing his coolest shades, the clunky blue ones with the Superman logo emblazoned on the lenses. He nodded knowingly at the chuckles.

The self-described “baddest big man ever” said he was not interested in the recent balloting for defensive player of the year, in which he received two votes, 46 fewer than Dikembe Mutombo and two fewer than Theo Ratliff, who hardly played.

“I’m not really known in this game for my defense,” said O’Neal, who was on the All-NBA defensive second team last season. “However, I can block some shots, I can get some defensive rebounds. Because of the way the game is called, I’ve always been reluctant to play aggressive defense. So, it doesn’t matter to me.”

But . . .

“I guarantee I’ll score at will on any defensive player they vote,” he said. “At will. I’ll give them 10 moves each on each block. No matter who they vote, whether it’s [Alonzo] Mourning, Dikembe, they can’t stop me. So, if they can’t stop me, how’s that make them a great defensive player?”

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Tyronn Lue played three minutes Sunday, long enough to get off a shot and commit a foul.

Not much, really. But Lue said he would savor every second of playing time.

Also, he has next season to think about. Earlier this season, the Lakers did not exercise next year’s option on Lue’s contract.

“I have a chance to be a part of it,” Lue said. “And, hopefully, I’ll play well enough to get a new contract for next year, so I can still be in the league.”