Fisher Makes Plea for Defense

It’s fair to assume, after 70 games, the Lakers are what they are, a high-scoring team with a passing interest in defense, and with a massive task ahead in the playoffs.

Derek Fisher has helped some in that regard. On Sunday afternoon, with the Sacramento Kings appearing to pull away, he went to the bench, heaved a towel into the bench and shouted to no one in particular, “Play defense!”

Then the Kings scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, missing 15 consecutive shots at one point. The Lakers won, 84-72. It’s usually not as simple as that.

“I can’t guarantee any changes,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “We’ve played our worst games against teams that are non-playoff teams. We’ve lost so many games against non-playoff teams. Our effort [is there] against teams that draw our attention.”

Asked if he blamed himself for failing to have the players motivated for such opponents, Jackson blanched.

“We’re all to blame for it at some level,” he said. “But I certainly don’t blame myself. That’s the last person I’d blame. If I could shoot a shot or play, be out there doing it, I would certainly blame myself. But the coach only tries to put players into position to succeed. We haven’t been successful at that.”

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When Jackson declared the Milwaukee Bucks non-contenders last week, you didn’t really think Buck Coach George Karl would let that slide, particularly since the Bucks went ahead and whipped the Lakers about an hour later.

“I just let him be the Zen Master or God,” Karl said. “He does some strange things as a coach. I know he has six rings, and I’m sure he’ll be talked about for hundreds and hundreds of years. But I still don’t think there’s a lot of genius to coaching. It’s a lot of psychology and motivation. Winning basketball games [does not] make you better than someone else.”

If you’re keeping track, that’s the second person to call Jackson God this season. Glen Rice made the first reference in January.

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Shaquille O’Neal, who struggled for three quarters, rode his teammates for as long as they’d allow.

“He just kept telling us, ‘Keep it close, keep it close, I’m going to wake up and I’ll be with you,’ ” said Brian Shaw, who had 14 points and nine rebounds.

at Phoenix

TONIGHT

6 PST, Channel 9

* Site--America West Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 47-23, Phoenix 41-27.

* Record vs. Suns--2-0.

* Update--Kobe Bryant’s sore ankles are a nice development for the Suns. Bryant scored 38 points in a 115-78 win on Dec. 28, then scored 32 in an 85-83 win Feb. 7 at Staples Center. In the latter, Bryant scored the game-winning points on a late jumper over Shawn Marion. The Suns have won three in a row. Jason Kidd went three consecutive games last week with at least 31 points and nine assists. Cliff Robinson averages 17.5 points. Marion averages 17.1 and 11.1 rebounds. Kidd averages 16.0. The Lakers have won seven in a row in the series, including four in a row at America West.