Not Beyond Comparing

Phil Jackson has hesitated comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan, even as Bryant has played well enough to at least initiate the arguments.

The reason, Jackson said Tuesday, was that he made the same error early in his first season in Los Angeles, and Bryant snapped at him. In the retelling, Jackson was as strong in his praise of Bryant as he has ever been.

“I made a slur with him in a heated confrontation, about, ‘Don’t try to be Michael Jordan out there on the court, just play team ball,’ or something like that,” Jackson said. “It didn’t go over well between us. I realized he’s very sensitive. He said he wasn’t Michael Jordan and he wasn’t trying to take over a game like Michael Jordan. Those things I’ll still dispute. But it’s just that in Kobe’s mannerisms a lot of times he looks like Michael Jordan.

“He is there and he’s a terrific player. Of all the players in the NBA, he’s the one who feels, to us, that he’s got that creativity and also that ability to do things in ballgame that create winning. His game’s right at the peak of where it should be.”

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Mitch Kupchak was back in his office in El Segundo on Tuesday after 12 days in Europe, traveling with assistant Ronnie Lester and international scout Adam Filippi through about a half-dozen countries.

“I’m OK,” Kupchak said with a laugh thick with jet lag, now on the business end of 16 flights and 11 hotel rooms and countless gyms in less than two weeks.

“As best I could I tried to stay on top of our team,” Kupchak said.

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Philadelphia 76er Coach Larry Brown and Allen Iverson were fined $7,500 by the league for their criticisms of referee Derrick Stafford after Sunday’s loss to the Lakers.

In a pivotal third-quarter moment, the 76ers were assessed three technical fouls, two by Stafford.

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TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30 PST

(5:30, Channel 9)

Site -- The Palace of Auburn Hills.

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

Records -- Lakers 35-27, Pistons 39-23.

Record vs. Pistons -- 1-0.

Update -- The Pistons have won two consecutive games since losing seven in a row, five on a Western trip, including a 95-85 loss to the Lakers at Staples Center. The Lakers have won nine consecutive games in Detroit, the Pistons’ longest home losing streak against any team. The Lakers are 11-2 at the Palace.