Even Walker Is Unsure of the Latest Phil-isms

Samaki Walker appreciates Phil Jackson as much as the next player, but the Laker forward can’t tell the truth from the tactics anymore.

So, when he read over the weekend of Jackson’s sense he could no longer drive the Lakers, Walker had his doubts.

“It could be another mind game,” Walker said Monday.

Few have the philosophical capacity or the energy to figure it out, and Walker wasn’t being a wise guy. Just, you know, he’s seen these things before from Jackson.

“I think what we want to do is play hard for Phil,” Walker said. “When it’s said and done, he’s been as fair of a coach as a player could imagine. So you want to play hard for Phil. When your link with that kind of a coach is broken, it makes you feel guilty as a player.”

That said, Walker added, “I watch Phil a lot. That he’s a coach is an understatement. He’s a mastermind at this, both on the court and off the court. Sometimes he’s getting you when you don’t know he’s getting you. He’s great at that.”

While no one can explain the Lakers’ sudden mediocrity, the players generally dismissed Jackson’s worries. It’s them, they said. Not him.

“He’s feeling the frustration ... of struggling,” forward Rick Fox said. “We’ve all looked in the mirror.

“To say he’s not getting through to us, maybe it’s because he’s looking for answers himself.”

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The Lakers had two days off and, by the time they reassembled in El Segundo, the Sacramento Kings had lost two in a row, the Houston Rockets had lost four in a row and the Utah Jazz had lost three in a row.

While the Lakers are in no position to benefit from the Kings’ occasional failures, perhaps it cheered a few of them to see the bottom of the Western Conference’s top eight come back to them some, particularly at the beginning of a daunting week that will conclude with games against Phoenix, the Kings and the Jazz.

By Monday night, the Lakers were still 4 1/2 games behind the Rockets and hadn’t played or practiced since Friday.

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Rookie Kareem Rush might be placed on the injured list because of a strained left hamstring that kept him from practicing Monday. The team will decide by Wednesday’s game at Phoenix, Jackson said.

After playing his way into Jackson’s rotation at shooting guard, Rush slipped on a damp spot on the floor Friday night and felt a tug in his hamstring. He received treatment through the weekend.

If Rush goes to the injured list, Jannero Pargo would be activated.

With opposing point guards Stephon Marbury, Mike Bibby and John Stockton coming, the Lakers can ill afford to be short-handed in the back court.

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As it turns out, Jackson will never drive away from Los Angeles or the Lakers in his Porsche. He sold it. When he leaves, it’ll be in his Mercedes.... Kobe Bryant, whose knee bothered him last week, practiced Monday, as did Shaquille O’Neal.

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*--* Long Road Back The team with the worst record to make Western Conference playoffs last season finished 44-38. How the Lakers need to finish the season to reach that record: WINS LOSSES TO REACH 44 38 CURRENT 19 23 MUST GO 25 15

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*--* BEHIND THE 8-BALL Race for final playoff spot in West (No. 8): No Team W L GB 8 Houston 24 19 -- 9 Golden State 20 23 4 10 LAKERS 19 23 4.5 10 Seattle 19 23 4.5

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