After Friday Fight, a Saturday Off

Some eyebrows were raised when the Lakers, coming off a long and successful trip, were required to practice Thursday, their first day back home.

A team that wins four of five games, as did the Lakers, normally gets rewarded. A team that travels to five cities in eight days, as did the Lakers, normally gets a break.

The Lakers got neither.

Their coach, Phil Jackson, had informed them he doesn’t feel they are ready for the playoffs. And until he thinks they are, they won’t get a day off.

Asked before Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers if he had changed his mind, Jackson said, “I don’t see that focus yet.”

After the game, however, Jackson had a change of heart. He gave his players Saturday off.

Was it because the Lakers had suddenly found focus in their 96-84 victory over the Pacers?

No, it was because they had found trouble. Kobe Bryant’s postgame punch thrown at Reggie Miller resulted in players from both teams flailing away while trying to intervene.

A Laker practice Saturday would have resulted in a media mob surging around the players, trying to get the inside story. Hardly the atmosphere for honing team focus.

So the Lakers can thank Bryant for getting them that long-desired day off. The price, however, was steep since it will cost Bryant a game off, if not more.

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Be assured there would have been practice if not for Bryant. Despite hanging on for the victory, the Lakers again showed the lapses and shortcomings that are concerning Jackson. The team had 20 turnovers and was outrebounded, 50-42.

But the most glaring deficiency was on the offensive boards. The Lakers had one offensive rebound, pulled down by Robert Horry.

That’s not a misprint. One offensive rebound in the entire game.

“That is why Samaki [Walker, out because of a hyperextended right elbow] needs to hurry up and get back,” Horry said, “so we can get some rebounds.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Houston, 6:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 40-17, Rockets 21-36.

Record vs. Rockets--3-0.

Update--The Lakers have won four consecutive against the Rockets at Staples Center. If, as expected, Bryant is suspended, Jackson can start Derek Fisher in the backcourt alongside Lindsey Hunter. If he wants to continue to utilize Fisher’s offensive boost off the bench, Jackson can start Brian Shaw or Mitch Richmond.

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Steve Springer