Madsen Always a Fun One to Watch

Mark Madsen was talking with a reporter after practice at the Laker training facility in El Segundo on Saturday when assistant coach Kurt Rambis walked by.

“This guy is fun to watch, isn’t he?” said Rambis, who was a fan favorite during the Lakers’ “Showtime” era of the 1980s.

Rambis was a blue-collar player and a hard worker. So is Madsen. Although Rambis was a regular starting forward, Madsen has started only 14 games in his three seasons with the Lakers. But six of those starts have come this season, and two in the last two games.

And the Lakers, maybe not coincidentally, are 6-0 this season in games Madsen starts.

He had perhaps his best game so far this season Friday against Minnesota. Because Robert Horry picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter, Madsen ended up playing 31 minutes, one shy of his season high. He scored a season-high 10 points, had six rebounds and did not commit a foul while helping hold Kevin Garnett to 15 points.

“It was a team effort,” he said of the defensive job on Garnett. “It was a collective effort of this entire Laker team saying we’re going to help, we’re going to double team, we’re going to disrupt passing lanes. My job was to try and stay between Kevin and the basket. Kevin is such a phenomenal player, you’re never going to completely stop him.”

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Phil Jackson put his team through a light practice session Saturday because of the 12:30 start for today’s game against Philadelphia.... After practice, Jackson went to his doctor for X-rays to check the status of his kidney stones. He had two procedures 10 days apart to break up the stones so they would pass. The X-rays showed he has one small fragment left. He’ll have another X-ray on March 18.

Kobe Bryant said he feels fine, that the knees are getting better and his bout with flu is over. He called Shaquille O’Neal’s 40-point effort against the Timberwolves “reassuring to our team that he has that level that he can get to still, even with all the injuries.” ... The Lakers once again started the second half slowly Friday night. They led, 53-43, at halftime and the Timberwolves had a 55-53 lead before Bryant finally made a jump shot 4:34 into the third quarter.... Madsen said he didn’t know if he would start again today, that it would depend on the game plan. Horry is listed as the probable starter.

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TODAY

vs. Philadelphia, 12:30 p.m.

Channel 7

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330), KIRN (670).

Records -- Lakers 34-26, 76ers 36-25.

Record vs. 76ers -- 0-1.

Update -- The 76ers have won 11 of their last 12 games, including a 108-99 victory over Seattle on Friday night. Allen Iverson, who is averaging 27.5 points, had 40 against the SuperSonics. Thursday night, the 76ers beat Portland, 88-60. The 60 points are the fewest given up by a 76er team since the introduction of the shot clock. The Lakers played at Philadelphia on Dec. 20 and lost in overtime, 107-104. They had a chance to win, but Rick Fox and Robert Horry messed up on a back-door play in the closing seconds and the ball went out of bounds. After today’s game, the Lakers begin a four-game trip Tuesday at Chicago. Actually, it’s a six-game trip because a game against the Clippers at Staples Center on March 17 is technically a road game. The Lakers then play March 20 at Sacramento.