Payton Seeking More Floor Time

Practice concluded Tuesday afternoon and Gary Payton strode from the floor, the talkative guard pausing only to say that his left ankle felt “great,” before disappearing into the trainer’s room.

He played 27 minutes Monday night in Memphis, 28 Friday night in New Orleans, and it appeared to be eating at him by Tuesday.

Shaquille O’Neal said he expected Payton to have a talk about his playing time with Coach Phil Jackson.

“I know he wants to be out there a lot more,” O’Neal said. “He’s probably going to have a little discussion with Phil today. ... He’s like me; he doesn’t like to come out.”

Said Jackson: “He’ll be fine. We’re asking a guy that’s been here for five weeks, six weeks, to operate in a system that’s very complicated and under high duress.”

Through seven games, Payton is averaging 14 points and 7.9 assists. He is shooting 43.3% from the field, 23.5% from the three-point arc.

*

Rookie Brian Cook hopes to have the pin removed from his finger today. He had surgery to repair a fracture-dislocation of his left ring finger Oct. 14. ... Just as they were last year, the Lakers are among the worst teams in the league at defending the three-point shot. Opponents are shooting 40% from behind the arc. ... Jackson scheduled Thursday’s practice for later in the day so Kobe Bryant, who has a court hearing in Colorado that day, could make it.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Toronto, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 5-2, Raptors 4-3.

Record vs. Raptors (2002-03) -- 2-0.

Update -- An intriguing matchup of the league’s No. 29 offense (the Raptors average 76.3 points) against the league’s No. 27 defense (the Lakers give up 101 points).