Malone Does as He’s Told

On the day before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers were 15 minutes late to their own practice at the Palace, but the sun came out, and for that alone they seemed thankful.

Karl Malone sat out practice because of the injury to his right knee, but he said he was optimistic about playing tonight, as well as he could. When reporters were asked to leave the gym Saturday afternoon, Gary Payton was not on the floor but receiving treatment from trainer Gary Vitti around his neck and left shoulder. Payton, who didn’t practice, also has upper-respiratory problems.

Asked if he felt any improvement in his knee, Malone said, “No.”

Asked if he was weary of people asking, Malone smiled and said, “With all due respect, yes.”

Because of Malone’s injury, Coach Phil Jackson said he would consider changes in the starting lineup or adjust playing time. That could mean a start for Slava Medvedenko or even Rick Fox, and Malone seemed OK with that.

“I’m not the coach, I’m the player,” he said. “I always have been. If I decided to coach one day, then I would make all those decisions. I don’t think I’d let an athlete make those decisions for me. Same situation here: Phil’s the coach, I’m the player, and we’ll go from there.”

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Shaquille O’Neal, whose wit and playfulness have made him the belle of media access on most days during the NBA Finals, refused to speak to reporters Saturday.

Because of his past cooperation, O’Neal was not fined.

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Malone, on the noise level at the Palace: “It’s loud, but so is my logging equipment and I don’t wear earplugs there, either. Just add some diesel fumes in here, that would be just right.”

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His transition from fourth in the league in three-point shooting at midseason to out of Jackson’s rotation by the playoffs has frustrated Bryon Russell, who seethed as he entered Game 3 in the final seconds. As he replaced Kobe Bryant, Russell angrily threw his warmup top to the floor.

“I didn’t want to go in with 45 seconds left. What can I do in 45 seconds?” he said with a sigh. “But I’m not here to bicker over minutes.”

O’Neal likes Russell enough to take up for his situation.

“He’s been in the league nine years,” O’Neal said. “Great shooter, pretty good defensive player, has been to the Finals twice. I don’t have an understanding of why he’s not in the game.”

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Laker assistant coach Jim Cleamons has had preliminary contact with Ohio State officials for the Buckeyes’ head coaching opening.