A Tough Bunch to Read

Judging by the reaction to his latest book giveaway, Phil Jackson ought to save his money next year.

Jackson hands out books on the first extended trip of each season, and this year’s Lakers received theirs on Saturday’s flight to Toronto.

By Tuesday night, most of the players could not name the title or author of their book, and many had no intention of reading them anyway. Ah, the price of education.

A few remembered, or at last had the books handy in their duffel bags:

To Mark Madsen, Jackson gave “Reservation Road,” by John Burnham Schwartz.

To Rick Fox, he gave “John Henry Days,” by Colson Whitehead.

To Slava Medvedenko, “The Tao of Sports,” by Bob Mitchell.

To Shaquille O’Neal, “Steppenwolf,” by Hermann Hesse.

To Jelani McCoy, “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court.”

To Mitch Richmond, “More Than a Game,” by Charlie Rosen and Phil Jackson. You can assume the coach got a cut on the last one.

O’Neal said he probably wouldn’t read his but that Jackson should not take that personally.

“If it ain’t a law-enforcement book or a Federal Bureau of Investigation book, I’m not at liberty to read it right now,” he said.

But, in the spirit of giveaways, O’Neal said he had something for Jackson.

“‘Shaq Talks Back,”’ he said, laughing.

*

It would not be at all surprising if O’Neal sat out a game or two, or even went to the injured list, in the days leading to the All-Star game, which will be played Feb. 10 in Philadelphia.

Asked Tuesday if he assumed he would play in that game, he said, “I don’t assume anything.”

The league frowns on players who are healthy enough to play in the games leading to All-Star weekend, and then refuse to participate, as Bryant considered last season.

*

Robert Horry, who has a tender right hamstring, played 12 minutes against Detroit. Fox lost both stitches from his upper lip prematurely, and played 22 minutes anyway.

TONIGHT

At Indianapolis

4 PST (5:30, Ch. 9)

Site--Conseco Fieldhouse

Radio--KLAC (570)

Records--Lakers 25-6, Pacers 20-15.

Record vs. Pacers (2000-01)--1-1.

Update--The Pacers start Jermaine O’Neal and Jalen Rose at forwards, Jeff Foster at center and Reggie Miller and Jamaal Tinsley at guards. Tinsley, the first-round pick from Iowa State, is the favorite for rookie of the year. He averages 9.9 points and 9.1 assists, and has made Travis Best expendable. The Pacers have won six of eight games, including a 10-point win in San Antonio on Friday and a two-point win the next night in Houston. O’Neal averages 19 points and 10.4 rebounds. Miller is shooting 44.8% from the three-point line and averages 16.5 points.