Experience of coaches is paying off

The star player was hobbled by off-season knee surgery and the coach was laid up after hip-replacement surgery, but the Lakers pressed on.

Their preseason preparation continued as scheduled, the necessary evidence supplied by an 8-3 start and first place in the Pacific Division.

“Lamar [Odom] did a lot when Kobe [Bryant] was out, and I also think a chunk of it had to do with the fact we had guys who played under the system last year, which helps a lot,” said assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who took over as head coach while Phil Jackson was sidelined.

“When it came to coaching the offense with Phil gone, you probably had the most experienced staff available in terms of years spent teaching the triangle. There’s some combination there of all of that, where you get this mass collective effort trying to get everybody on the same page.”

Rambis coached all eight exhibitions and was in daily contact with Jackson, laying out practice plans and comparing game observations. Jackson returned to coach the season opener, but Rambis was in charge for the team’s first road game, a victory over Golden State.

“I’m very biased -- I think it’s a great staff,” said team consultant Tex Winter, who has spent almost 60 years coaching college and pro basketball. “Jim Cleamons has been with Phil a long, long time, and so has Frank Hamblen. Kurt Rambis has had the experience of being a head coach, which I think helps him a great deal. Brian Shaw hasn’t been with them as long, but he’s really an up-and-comer who knows the game.”

The Lakers’ start can’t be ignored, but Rambis also mixed in a bit of caution. It is, after all, only November.

“The guys still have a long ways to go as a team, and there’s still individuals that need to expand their knowledge of the offense,” he said. “We’re not even close to being where this team will need to be at some point in time at the end of the season.”

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Two views after the Lakers’ 105-101 victory Tuesday over the Clippers.

From Bryant: “We’re going to enjoy our [Thanksgiving] turkey and then we’re going to lick our chops.”

From Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy: “Laker fans were happy, Clipper fans were sad.”

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com