Richmond, Shaw Still Trying to Fit In

While most of the Lakers would not admit to the importance of end-to-end home-court advantage--they swept the San Antonio Spurs without it last season--Brian Shaw has become an ardent proponent of winning the Pacific Division and the Western Conference titles.

The NBA has a system of financial bonuses for such regular-season feats, and Shaw lost as much as $1.3 million in salary in an early-season roster transaction. “I’m trying to make up some money,” he said, laughing, after the Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Shaw, for a change, could have some say in it, depending on the backcourt rotation in the next 31/2 weeks. Shaw played 12 minutes and Mitch Richmond played none against the Pistons.

So, 14 games from the postseason, where player rotations tighten anyway, Phil Jackson has not found a consistent substitution pattern involving Richmond or Shaw.

While Richmond, the off-guard, has played more recently and appears to be finding his shooting stroke, he is averaging 11.2 minutes and shooting 28.6% on three-point attempts. He has taken the majority of the minutes left over at off-guard, those that might also be given to Shaw.

Shaw, who averages less than 10 minutes despite his nice touch with the triangle offense, had 16 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of blowout time Wednesday in San Antonio, and had two points and two rebounds Friday. His gift is that he plays well despite sitting for long periods, which makes it easier for Jackson to play Richmond.

“It is good about him,” Jackson said, grinning. “But, that’s why he makes that fabulous salary. That was cut in half.”

Shaw was waived and re-signed for about half his original salary in the first week of the regular season, a move designed to keep the Lakers beneath the luxury-tax ceiling. It appears now there will be no luxury tax.

Without Ron Harper, Shaw is as close as the Lakers have to a bench player with a calming influence on the offense. “It’s not the same thing, but he does give us a certain skill out there on the floor,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if [more minutes] is what’s important for Brian. I’d like to do it, but I think he’s ready to play when called upon.”

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After overhearing a conversation recently about a local girls’ basketball player who idolizes him, Kobe Bryant volunteered to give her a pair of his shoes, autographed.

Sade Wiley-Gatewood, a sophomore guard for a Lynwood High team that today in Sacramento will play for the Division I final, was on her way to practice when she heard the shoes were on their way. “The other girls aren’t going to know why I’m smiling so hard,” she said.

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Tim Brown