Anderson Says He Will Play

Unless the Southern California fault lines become active today, the San Antonio Spurs will welcome the return of shooting guard Derek Anderson.

That’s because Anderson, who has been sidelined for much of the NBA playoffs because of a right shoulder injury, said before the Spurs’ practice Thursday at Staples Center that the only thing that could keep him out of tonight’s Game 3 would be an earthquake.

“I feel 100% right now,” he said. “I don’t have any pain or swelling. I can do everything, but you still have to see how I respond to game situation when everything changes.

‘[But] if I am not playing a good amount of minutes, at least half a game, I don’t think I should even play. [San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich] understands. If I’m playing well and feeling good and helping the team, then I’ll play. But if I’m not really doing anything to help the team, [Popovich] will play with the guys who can.”

Anderson doesn’t care whether he returns to the starting lineup or has to come off the bench, even as a small forward. With his shooting guard replacement, Antonio Daniels, averaging 22 points and four assists in the series, the most important thing for Anderson is making a contribution to help the Spurs bounce back.

“I [played small forward] early in the season and averaged like 27 points,” Anderson said. “So hopefully [Popovich] will work me there if needs to.”

To say that San Antonio’s Malik Rose does not match up with the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal would be a major understatement. Rose is generously listed in the Spurs’ playoff guide as 6 feet 7, 250 pounds. O’Neal is 7-1, 325 pounds.

“I’m kind of it,” said Rose, who normally is asked to defend O’Neal when starting center David Robinson goes to the bench. “It kind of uses up my energy, but I am basically playing the same. . . . It’s not like we’re playing one-on-one. If we were playing one-on-one, he would absolutely murder me.”