Lakers open camp without Kobe and Shaq

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

With venerable assistant coach Tex Winter watching from the sidelines, third-year forward Devean George relays a pass from Mike Penberthy to Samaki Walker and cuts across the open lane to set a screen for Stanislav Medvedenko in the low post.

Shaquille O'Neal played the part of world's biggest ballboy as he sat out yesterday's Los Angels Lakers practice at the Stan Sheriff Center. O'Neal is recovering from toe surgery. Associated Press

Clang.

Welcome to Day 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers' three-peat campaign.

The defending national champions, renewing their on-again, off-again training camp romance with Hawai'i, held their first practice of the season yesterday at Stan Sheriff Center. They'll play exhibition games against the Golden State Warriors there Oct. 7 and 9.

The team was originally scheduled to play the Warriors in Japan Oct. 13 and 14, but that trip was canceled following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The Lakers have 20 players on their camp roster, but their two biggest stars did not participate in yesterday's practice.

Kobe Bryant, who earned second-team All-NBA honors last season, is on leave following the death of his maternal grandfather Friday. Bryant returned to his native Philadelphia after learning of the death four hours before the Lakers were to leave Los Angeles for Honolulu. He's expected to rejoin the team Thursday.

Meanwhile, Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal is out for at least another month as he recovers from Aug. 29 corrective surgery on his small left toe.

"It's O.K.," O'Neal said of the toe. "No problems. I'm getting evaluated again in 30 more days, so in those 30 days I'll just ride a treadmill and work out."

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said he wasn't concerned about the absences of O'Neal and Byrant.

"They'll make it up," he said. "I think camps are really not for those guys as much as it is for those players who are new to our system. We're not really concerned about those two guys."

Derek Fisher (foot surgery) and center Mark Madsen (wrist surgery) will also sit out this week's practices.

The coaching staff spent much of yesterday's morning session trying to acclimate 11 new faces to their triangle offense, a system designed by Winter that can be as difficult to master as it is to counter.

"It's been good so far, a lot of learning and a lot of teaching," said Lindsey Hunter, one of several key additions. " Everything is entirely new to me, so I'm just trying to come in, learn the ropes and get an understanding of what's expected."

Hunter's acquisition (via trade with Milwaukee for Greg Foster) was just part of a busy offseason.

Among the team's free agent pick-ups are guards Mitch Richmond, Joe Crispin, Isaac Fontaine and Penberthy (re-signed), forwards Samaki Walker, Dennis Scott, Dickey Simpkins, Paul Shirley and Peter Cornell, and center Jelani McCoy.

The signings reflect, in part, the anticipated impact of the NBA's new rules allowing limited zone defenses.

"With Shaq and Kobe, every team has been talking about how (the Lakers) are the main team they're going to concentrate on and try to use the the zone against," said Scott, who holds the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a season (267) and in a game (11). "I'm going to try to be a part of this team and help loosen up the defense for them."

Said O'Neal: "Phil and Mitch (Kupchak, general manager) have done a great job with surrounding me with shooters, so I'm not worried at all."

While O'Neal was limited to shooting free throws during yesterday's practice, he did provide the quote of the day. Responding to a television reporter's query about Michael Jordan's return to the NBA, O'Neal replied: "So?"