Role Players Helping Out

That was Rick Fox, at the arc, making two three-point baskets that beat back the Clippers late Monday night. It was Derek Fisher, down the stretch, on the right wing, for two long jumpers.

Samaki Walker was taking down 15 rebounds, the second time in four games with at least that many, and Robert Horry was doing Robert Horry things, poking at the low-post dribbler, slapping at loose-ball rebounds, getting all gangly on people.

So, as the Lakers turn, and the results begin to look familiar, even if the game doesn’t always -- they’ve won six of their last seven games and eight of 10 -- there are signs that it’s not only Shaquille O’Neal’s footwork or Kobe Bryant’s end-to-end elegance.

Pushed into uncertainty because of O’Neal’s surgery and Bryant’s searing sense of offensive responsibility, pushed into corners by uncomplimentary observations and challenges by O’Neal and Bryant, the Laker role players have found their places again, if recent results are to be believed.

“We’re able to survive a bad game here and there with Kobe not having a good game,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “Both of our stars don’t have to have a great game.”

In the last month, Fisher has made half of his 114 shots, raising his shooting percentage from 39.5 to 42.7. He also has made 46.7% of his three-pointers, raising that percentage from 34.4 to 37.5.

While the offense has found some flow, so too has Fox’s stroke. Since his one-for-eight shooting on an emotional Christmas Day, he is 39 for 77 from the floor (50.6%), 15 for 35 from the arc (42.9%). And, since that loss to the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers are 8-2.

“It does start with those two guys,” Fox said of O’Neal and Bryant, “but then it’s the collective undertaking of doing things together. It kind of flows that way when we make it simple and do what we’re supposed to do.”

Horry, who at certain parts of the first two months took to reporting the body parts that weren’t being treated by trainer Gary Vitti, said the Lakers are better as a whole, both physically and spiritually.

“Everybody, overall, is feeling better,” he said.

*

Horry, of course, is the guy everyone has being traded, primarily because his contract expires at the end of the season, should General Manager Mitch Kupchak make that call. The Lakers have an option for next season.

Typically for Horry, he hardly concerns himself with the talk.

“I hear it,” he said. “I hear it all the time.”

And, it doesn’t bother him?

“No,” he said. “Some stuff does. But that doesn’t bother me.... People are always going to throw rumors out there.”

The only thing that would really annoy him, Horry said with a smile, would be a trade to New York.

“The taxes,” he said.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State, 7:30, FSN

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 19-21, Warriors 17-23.

Record vs. Warriors -- 1-1.

Update -- Not as easy as it looks: The Lakers needed overtime to win without O’Neal on Nov. 15 at Staples Center, then lost with O’Neal in Oakland on Dec. 10. Bryant scored 45 in the first game, O’Neal 36 in the second. The Lakers have won seven in a row and 16 of 17 against the Warriors in Los Angeles. Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Erick Dampier, Troy Murphy and Antawn Jamison have started every game for the Warriors. Bryant, slowed by tendinitis in his knee Monday night, sat out most of practice Tuesday, according to team officials.