Injuries Add to Volatility

Having flown well into early morning and slept well on their first Pacific Division title in three years, the Lakers began arriving at their El Segundo practice facility in the early afternoon Thursday.

Luke Walton and Rick Fox came to shoot, Karl Malone for more treatment on his sprained right ankle, Derek Fisher for the same on his strained groin.

Two days before the start of another playoff season, and the Lakers were recuperating, measuring Wednesday night’s injuries against a surprising Saturday night opener, against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. They began earnest preparations in early evening, when the full squad and coaching staff met to review tape of the Rockets.

“We feel like we did what we wanted to do during this very volatile time, the last two weeks of the season,” Coach Phil Jackson said.

“We came away with the best we could possibly come away [with] in this period of time. The penalty, or the cost, of playing full out and trying to win our division and get the best position we could in the playoffs I think will out itself the right way.”

In a 58th-minute victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Malone turned his ankle, Fisher suffered the groin injury and Devean George strained his calf. They are day to day, as is Fox, whose dislocated right thumb improved enough to give him a chance to play in Game 1. Also, Kareem Rush, still experiencing pain in his right foot, saw a specialist Thursday.

Rush is expected to play Saturday. Fox is catching and shooting the ball again, wearing a small splint. Of the three others, Jackson said Malone was the most likely to play. Malone was examined Thursday by his physician and has been advised he has a moderate sprain.

Fisher, still sore, said there had been some improvement. “Better than last night,” he said.

Asked whether he believed he would play in Game 1, he said, “Yes.”

Even if all or some were unable to play in the early games, Jackson said he expected recovery by the end of next week. Game 3, in Houston, will be played Friday.

“There’s some severity in all their situations,” he said. “But there’s nothing that should limit them from long-term participation at some level in these playoffs.”

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Unless one becomes wedged on his finger, as was the case earlier this season, Jackson rarely wears any of his championship rings except during the postseason.

Often, he chooses the ring that represents the previous season’s title, which can’t happen this year because, well, Gregg Popovich wouldn’t give his up.

“I’m thinking of wearing my CBA championship ring,” he said.

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The Lakers submitted their postseason roster, and there were no surprises. Horace Grant (hip injury) and Jamal Sampson (foot injury) were left off.... The team will select 27th and 56th in the draft June 24.