Attention Is on Bryant

On the eve of the Lakers’ first extended trip of the season, the attention was more on Kobe Bryant’s numbers than Shaquille O’Neal’s toe.

When the Lakers play at Cleveland tonight, Bryant has a chance to do something no other Laker has done since Magic Johnson in 1987. He’ll be going for his third consecutive triple-double.

Johnson, who had consecutive triple-doubles in 1991, had four in succession from March 31 through April 5 of 1987. No one since has had even three.

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The Lakers had a light practice Monday morning before flying to Cleveland. After tonight’s game against the Cavaliers, they will be at Boston for a Thursday night TNT game, then will play Michael Jordan and the Wizards at Washington on Friday. That game will be televised by Channel 9 and ESPN.

O’Neal, who has targeted the Lakers’ next home game Nov. 12 against Atlanta as the his return date from toe surgery, practiced again Monday and looked good.

“He put in more time on the court, but it was less intense,” Coach Phil Jackson said.

That was because it was less intense for everyone. Jackson went easy on his players after Sunday night’s overtime game against Portland.

In fact, Bryant and Robert Horry didn’t scrimmage.

Bryant was given a rest after finishing with 33 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in 50 minutes in the 98-95 victory over the Trail Blazers.

Horry, who played 47 minutes, is nursing a bruised heel, but Jackson said he’s OK.

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Bryant posted his two triple-doubles after an ESPN.com column by Charley Rosen quoted assistant coach Tex Winter as saying Bryant was “selfish” and “uncoachable.”

Winter, in an interview with KLAC’s Larry Burnett, said he thought he was talking off the record while giving Rosen a ride to his hotel after the Lakers’ season opener, a loss to San Antonio in which Bryant missed 20 of 29 shots.

“I learned something,” Winter said. “After 56 years in basketball, I’m still learning things. Charley was a friend -- he’s still a friend -- and I was talking to him as a friend. I should have realized that he’s a reporter now.”

Winter said he and Bryant had no problem, and Jackson downplayed the whole thing.

“These things go on all the time with us,” he said. “Sometimes we use them as a sparkplug.”

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Besides Bryant, Devean George also had an outstanding game Sunday night. He had a career-high 25 points on nine-of-18 shooting, was five for seven from the free-throw line and had eight rebounds.

George’s scoring average of 13.8 is second on the team behind Bryant’s 29.5.

George has been starting in place of Rick Fox, serving a six-game suspension for fighting.

Fox’s suspension ends after Thursday’s game at Boston.

Might Jackson consider keeping George a starter?

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said. “Rick was forced out. Now if he comes back and doesn’t play well, then we might consider a change.”

TONIGHT

at Cleveland

4 (5:30, Ch. 9)

Radio -- KLAC (570)

Records -- Lakers 2-2, Cavaliers 1-2

Record vs. Cavaliers (2001-2002) -- 2-0.

Update -- This is the Cavaliers’ fourth game and all have been home openers. They opened the season at Sacramento, then played the Clippers in their home opener, then in Phoenix’s home opener. This game is the Cavaliers’ home opener. They were routed by the Kings, 94-67, then edged the Clippers, 98-86, before losing at Phoenix the next night, 78-74. Guard Ricky Davis was the Cavaliers’ leading scorer in all three games and is averaging 21 points a game. The Cavaliers’ starting center, 7-foot-3 Lithuanian Zydrunas Ilgauskas, should be a good test for Laker 7-footer Soumaila Samake.