Opponents Know That Bryant’s Only Faking It

Phil Jackson has seen the pattern one too many times.

Stop the dribble. Pump-fake. Miss.

One of Kobe Bryant’s tools over the years has been to clear a defender by faking a shot, then shooting from what had been occupied space.

But Bryant, playing more at small forward this season than shooting guard, is finding bigger bodies along the baseline not falling for the fake. They stick to Bryant, who then gets stuck with an off-balance shot.

The pump-fake has become almost predictable, Jackson told Bryant during and after Sunday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

“I think everybody knows that’s part of the package,” Jackson said. “If you clear yourself and take a shot, that’s great. But if you pump-fake and then they close on you and the pump-fake works against you, then you’re shooting a shot with a body on you and that’s difficult.”

Bryant made only nine of 30 shots against the Bobcats, failing to make more than half of his shots for the 11th time in 12 games. He is shooting 41.6%, on pace for a career low. He shot 41.7% as a rookie in 1996-97.

Bryant, who said his legs felt heavy in recent games, is averaging 32.1 points, second in the league. He said he typically feels weighed down early in the season and manages to work through it.

Bryant did make amends in a shaky 99-98 victory over Charlotte by sinking 11 of 12 free throws, including two with 7.2 seconds to play.

“He is Kobe,” said Bobcat guard Brevin Knight, who missed two free throws that would have put the Lakers down three with 11.8 seconds left. “He will do whatever he can to score. He made a great move and got to the line and hit them both. He did his job.”

*

Some Lakers said they didn’t notice Shaquille O’Neal’s grand entrance as a courtside fan in the second quarter Sunday, but Andrew Bynum saw him. Then the 18-year-old rookie started thinking about the Dec. 25 game in Miami.

“I don’t want to go out there and get dominated, but it probably will happen anyway,” Bynum said. “I look forward to playing against him. It’s going to be a tough night.”

*

Devean George was back after a five-game layoff because of a sore left foot, but it didn’t stop the Laker bench from getting outscored by Charlotte’s reserves, 49-25. George had two points in seven minutes.... The Lakers are two games behind last season’s 9-7 record through 16 games.

*

TONIGHT

at Milwaukee, 5 PST, Channel 9

Site -- Bradley Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 7-9; Bucks 9-6.

Record vs. Bucks (2004-05) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Bucks have improved behind a rebuilt front line that includes All-Star center Jamaal Magloire, No. 1 draft pick Andrew Bogut and former Clipper Bobby Simmons. All-Star Michael Redd has anchored the backcourt, averaging 25.5 points. The Bucks are the first of five winning teams the Lakers face on a six-game trip. The Lakers have won their last eight against the Bucks, their last loss occurring in March 2001.