Walker Steps Forward

The thing about Samaki Walker, he’s so eager.

He smiles a lot, studies hard, nods when the coaches speak, sets his shoulders when it’s time to play defense.

It’s just that sometimes, when everybody is running one way, he’s sliding the other. By the time he catches up, they’re all going somewhere else.

He admitted he has had days of terrible frustration, but that he’s starting to get it. He says these things and people tend to believe him, because his eyes are deep and earnest, and because he’s so athletic.

The man came off the San Antonio Spurs’ bench to join a team with two consecutive championships and two superstars and a coach going on 11 NBA titles, and all they asked him to do was start at power forward, as soon as possible, today, if he could.

So he studies Robert Horry and Rick Fox and reads Tex Winter’s book and hopes it seeps in, because there’s less than a week before opening night, and it’s gaining.

“The last week was really beneficial to me, playing a lot of [power forward],” he said. “I think I’m in the right place.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself to learn. I watch Rick and Rob, because they run through it so fluidly. They whole thing is to become like that. It’s going to come, but over time. One day it’ll just happen. I’ll just be doing it. I’m waiting for that glory time.”

Walker can fill a lane and finish the break, but the Lakers are concerned about half-court offense and defense.

“He’s got an upbeat temperament,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “He hasn’t shown a down-and-dirty, surly, nasty side of him he’s going to have to play with to wrestle those alligators down in the lane, which is what he’s going to have to do.”

The Lakers cut forward/center Dickey Simpkins and guard Isaac Fontaine, leaving 15 players in camp.

Shaquille O’Neal hoped they would retain the 6-foot-9 Simpkins, who has played a lot of center in the triangle. “It would have been nice to have a real backup center for a change,” he said.

The club probably will start the season with 14 players, one fewer than allowed, meaning the final roster decision likely will be between guards Mike Penberthy and Joe Crispin.

Chased for two days by Jackson’s unflattering references to his free-throw proficiency, O’Neal said he was through thinking about it.

“I’m not upset with him,” he said. “I don’t react to foolishness anymore.”

O’Neal made nine of 25 free throws and scored 31 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Lakers’ 109-107 victory at Staples Center.