No Need for Zen Defense

Phil Jackson kept his comments toward San Antonio respectful, which might have thrown off the Lakers, who occasionally find themselves playing to defend Jackson’s jabs and jokes.

After practice Tuesday, Rick Fox joked that it seemed the week had hardly begun.

“All in all, we’re waiting for Phil to come down with one of his attacks on the opponent so we can get going,” he said, laughing. “He’s holding us up here, man. The series [doesn’t start] until he lays down the gauntlet.”

Jackson saved his real message for the referees, concerning San Antonio’s vaunted defense, next season’s rule change lifting most defensive requirements and how simple the transition would be for the Spurs.

“Danny Ainge said it the other night on TNT, San Antonio won’t have to change their defense next year,” Jackson said. “They’re playing a zone anyway. They’re playing a 1-2-2 zone. They’ve gotten away with it all year. The officials never call it and they’re in great shape. Next year they’ll be able to step right in and play the same defense.”

In the absence of Derek Anderson, who separated his shoulder early in the Spurs’ second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, the chore of guarding Kobe Bryant probably falls to Antonio Daniels, who will give up three inches in the matchup.

When he has a size advantage, as he did against Sacramento’s Bobby Jackson, Bryant often goes to the low post, then shoots turn-around jumpers. It might not be as easy against Daniels, but not necessarily because of Daniels.

“With the zone they play, it’s very difficult to post up,” Jackson said. “We tried to do that last year with Glen Rice and they rotated immediately from their nearest big guy. They’re real good at that. They don’t let you beat them inside. If Kobe’s going to beat them, it’s going to have to be through penetration.”

Most often guarded by Anderson, Bryant averaged 37.7 points against the Spurs this season. Anderson could return later in the series.

In the sixth installment of the NBA’s Japan Games and the first in two years, the Lakers and Golden State Warriors will play a two-game exhibition series at the Tokyo Dome, Oct. 13-14.

The Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves played two games in November 1999 at the Tokyo Dome, both before crowds of more than 32,000.

The Lakers will hold part of their training camp in Hawaii.

The previous two NBA champions have not met in the conference finals since 1985, when Boston and Philadelphia played for the right to play the Lakers in the NBA finals. The Celtics beat the 76ers, then lost to the Lakers in six games. . . . After a difficult weekend, Bryant said his wife, Vanessa, was “fine.” . . . The Lakers are not scheduled to practice today. They’ll return to the court Thursday and Friday, then fly to San Antonio on Friday afternoon.