Patterson Duel Isn’t Personal for Bryant

The short history is that Ruben Patterson does not seem to like Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant is pretty sure he remembers who Ruben Patterson is. Something like that.

After Portland’s six-point victory over the Lakers last month, Patterson made clear that when he and Bryant were both young and Lakers, Patterson was needy too.

Bryant’s slights, perceived or otherwise, hurt him.

“Ever since that first training camp, Kobe has been very arrogant,” Patterson said. “You know Kobe. He talks a lot of trash. But he don’t talk directly to me now. He knows not to talk to me directly.”

To which Bryant raised an eyebrow.

“He’s a really good defender,” Bryant said that day. “But five on five is different. If we bang into each other in the gym and I play him one on one, I will demolish him.”

That brings the two of them to Staples Center tonight, where they undoubtedly will see plenty of each other, if in a five-on-five element.

“Aw, I don’t want to get caught up in that, man,” Bryant said Thursday afternoon. “It’s not personal for me.”

No one seemed offended, although Coach Phil Jackson wondered if Patterson’s boasts and Kobe-stopping reputation “might have gotten him a contract with Portland, who knows?”

Said Derek Fisher: “On the way up, the arrogance Kobe showed was one of the things that made him so great. Now ... he’s too arrogant?”

The difference between the old, oh-what-a-disaster-how-long-before-Mo-Cheeks-is-canned Trail Blazers and the new, nobody-wants-to-play-them-anymore Trail Blazers?

“Scottie Pippen,” Jackson said. “It’s spelled S-C-O-T-T-I-E. Scottie’s taken on the offense, as far as directing it.”

Pippen has averaged 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in his last three games.

TONIGHT

vs. Portland

7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 50-21, Trail Blazers 44-27.

Record vs. Trail Blazers--1-1.

Update--After a horrid start, the Trail Blazers have won 18 of 21 games, including a 111-105 decision over the Lakers on Feb. 17 at Portland, and have become a very dangerous first-round draw as, probably, the fifth-seeded team. They have won nine of 11 road games, and are a league-best 19-4 since the All-Star break. The Lakers have lost three times in six games, all on the road, but have won nine in a row at Staples Center. Rasheed Wallace, who missed Monday’s game against Memphis and sat out most of Wednesday’s victory over San Antonio, is not expected to play because of back pain.

Tim Brown