They Can Still Hit the Big 5-0

Fifty wins is out there, they think.

It might not get the Lakers home-court advantage in the second round. Or, for that matter, in the first.

But having started their season with 13 losses in 20 games, and standing this morning at 9-13, they’ll have little choice but to leave the big, impressive regular-season records to the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, if it is to be.

“I told [the team] they have to win 50 games,” Coach Phil Jackson said Sunday night. “That’s basically the parameters of the league. Or 60, or whatever you can win.”

Sixty appears out of reach.

After a light practice Saturday that followed Friday night’s improbable victory over Dallas, Jackson said he assumed, or hoped, there would be a carry-over, and the Lakers rolled from a 44-15 fourth quarter into a 34-21 first against Utah.

“Some nights, against the best teams in the league, if you have an emotional win like that it can lead to an emotional lift,” Jackson said. “[But] that’s not going to get us by in January.”

*

Kobe Bryant, who strained the right side of his groin Friday night and nearly didn’t make it to the end against Dallas, said he was better by Sunday, and should be better still by Tuesday’s game at Golden State.

“I couldn’t really put it in full fourth or fifth gear,” he said, “but it was well enough to play well.”

*

Jackson’s preferred first five -- Shaquille O’Neal, Samaki Walker, Rick Fox, Derek Fisher and Bryant -- started together for the first time this season.

Jackson also tightened his rotation -- Robert Horry, Brian Shaw and Devean George had the big minutes off the bench -- and Slava Medvedenko and Mark Madsen did not play.