Lakers’ Jordan Farmar is losing time

Reporting from Sacramento

Jordan Farmar has seen his playing time reduced significantly in the last two games against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.

And it has nothing to do with a sprained left pinkie.

It has more to do with Lakers Coach Phil Jackson trying to re-integrate Sasha Vujacic back into the swing of things after he missed eight games because of a sprained right shoulder.

Still, Farmar played just 2:54 against the Suns last Friday night and 8:18 against the Warriors on Monday night.

“Well, he has to live with it,” Jackson said. “That’s part of what the team is all about, getting the team ready for the playoffs and winning games in the process and trying to get everybody in the position where they can help us out. So, that’s really important.

“I know there are personal feelings and sometimes they have to subjugate for the team’s goals.”

Farmar was averaging 17.9 minutes and 7.3 points a game before Tuesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

He entered the game with 2:51 left in the first quarter and looked at the media sitting courtside and smiled.

Farmar was told that Jackson was asked before the game why he hasn’t played much lately.

“What did he say?” Farmar asked.

He was told that Jackson is trying to give more time to Vujacic.

“Why do I have to suffer?” Farmar said, smiling.

Farmar said his injury is not an issue.

“I’m fine,” Farmar said. “Phil just is not playing me. But I feel OK.”

Farmar had made six of 21 shots in his last five games before Tuesday night.

“Jordan has had some real good games for us,” Jackson said. “I can’t remember the last one, but for four or five games, he had real good games for us. I’m trying to get Sasha back in game shape again in the process. So there’re some minute situations that’s going on.”

Lakers have defenders

If NBA player polls translate to real life, the Lakers should never give up 100 points in a game.

In a Sports Illustrated poll of 173 players, Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant were selected the top two “toughest defenders” in the NBA.

Artest took 42% of the vote while Bryant took 13%, followed by Orlando center Dwight Howard (12%), Boston forward Kevin Garnett (6%) and Houston forward Shane Battier (4%).

So Jackson must be thrilled with the Lakers’ defense?

“It depends upon what time of the game you’re asking me,” he said dryly.

The Lakers are 10th in the league in overall defense, giving up 97 points a game coming into Tuesday’s game.

How much do NBA players really know about defense? Atlanta forward Josh Smith, the only player in the league with more than 100 steals and 100 blocked shots this season, did not receive a single vote in the poll.

Tournament time

All four Lakers coaches have a vested interest in the NCAA tournament: Jackson is from Montana and claims the Grizzlies as one of his teams, and his three assistants played at schools that received bids — Jim Cleamons ( Ohio State), Brian Shaw ( UC Santa Barbara) and Frank Hamblen (Syracuse).

UC Santa Barbara and Ohio State face each other in the first round.

“We meet for breakfast every morning as a staff, but if Ohio State wins, I’ll get [Cleamons] breakfast one morning,” Shaw said.

Ohio State is favored by 17 points over the Gauchos.

“We’re going to play them straight up,” Shaw said. “We’re not looking for a handout. We’ll just see how the chips fall.”

Times staff writer Mike Bresnahan contributed to this report.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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