George, Fisher Need to Improve

Small forward Devean George has become a key role player for the Lakers and even though against Sacramento he has missed several open shots that he’s capable of making, George understands where he helps his team the most.

“No matter what, if I’m making shots or missing shots, I still have to go down on the other end and play defense,” said George, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“Getting buckets and scoring is good, but my role is to play with energy and give the team defense. I also need to run the floor and [give the Lakers fresh legs] out there.”

Getting a few easy baskets in transition may help George’s shooting touch. Although his field-goal percentage of .462 (six for 13) in the first two games of the series is not bad, George knows that he can give the Lakers a boost if his shooting improves.

“All I can do is keep shooting until I find my rhythm,” George said. “Once I get that back, I’ll start making those shots again.”

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Point guard Derek Fisher stepped up in a big way with his three-point shooting in last season’s playoff run. But Fisher has had a difficult time getting similar shots this postseason.

In 10 playoff games, Fisher is shooting 32.6% from the field and has made only two of 10 three-point attempts against the Kings. Coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday that Fisher needs to let his offense come to him.

“I can knock down shots when they are there, but teams have made adjustments,” Fisher said. “They have seen the development in my game and they are not allowing me the same shots that I’ve gotten before.”

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Sacramento is unbeaten in four road playoff games, and the Kings have won 16 of their last 18 games away from Arco Arena. Jackson, who questioned the Kings’ ability to win on the road two months ago, gave Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman’s team credit for its recent play.

“They proved they can win on the road,” Jackson said. “They did it through some really good team play and some situations where they didn’t have some starters.”

Jackson was referring to Chris Webber, Bobby Jackson and Hedo Turkoglu, who missed some of the Kings’ regular-season road wins because of minor injuries.

The last time Sacramento lost on the road was against the Lakers, who defeated the Kings, 109-95, in the last game of the regular season. The Kings are 1-10 against the Lakers at Staples Center.

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Shaquille O’Neal, who did not talk to reporters Wednesday, looked fit in practice, showing little sign of the injuries that have nagged him throughout the playoffs. Jackson said the Laker center played his best basketball of the postseason in Game 2 but was not pleased with O’Neal’s missed free throws in the fourth quarter.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t get his free throws to go down,” Jackson said about O’Neal, who is shooting 52.9% from the line against the Kings and 62.5% in the playoffs.