Jackson: Lakers under pressure to win



EL SEGUNDO -- When Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss got up to leave his extended sit-down interview with reporters Wednesday, he offhandedly added: “I wish I had more to tell you guys.”

What Buss did tell about contemplating trading Kobe Bryant caused plenty of stir, but Coach Phil Jackson said Saturday it was just Buss providing a frank recap of the offseason events in an annual gathering with selected reporters.

It is Buss’ way to be frank, Jackson said — as opposed to being calculated in publicizing behind-the-scenes proceedings regarding a possible Kobe Bryant trade.

“He’s going to be as honest as he could be, and that is Jerry Buss’ approach, as far as I know,” Jackson said.

“The cold, bare facts were kind of sobering. The reality of it is that his first statement stands most important: We don’t want to trade Kobe. If we win …”

Jackson then expounded on Buss’ belief that Los Angeles Lakers success in the near future could show Kobe Bryant he can win a championship with them again.

That would seem to place pressure the weight of Staples Center on the Los Angeles Lakers to start well this season, but Jackson doesn’t necessarily agree.

“I would say any team is under pressure to win, especially our team,” he said. “With a history as long as ours is in L.A. having success, it’s important to get off and win. It’s not any more pressure than it has been in the past.”

The Los Angeles Lakers started 26-13 last season despite Jackson missing much of training camp to recover from hip-replacement surgery and Kobe Bryant easing into the regular season after offseason knee surgery.

“They played with a lot of vigor last year, team spirit to start with,” Jackson said of his players.

Jackson noted that Kobe Bryant did well to “blend himself in” with the team then while he wasn’t physically capable of unleashing his full power.

Jackson also credited Lamar Odom for a strong start that keyed the team’s early success.

This time, Kobe Bryant and Jackson are available for camp, but Odom is not. Jackson is hopeful Odom, who is avoiding contact on his surgically repaired left shoulder, will get in at least one exhibition game.

Although shifting Kobe Bryant to an organizing role at guard on offense hasn’t produced immediate dividends, Jackson said if he pulls the plug on that plan the next option won’t be Odom moving back to a ball-handling guard spot.

“Right now, I’d say no,” Jackson said.

So if Jackson decides on Kobe Bryant and Odom as his starting forwards, that could open a starting guard spot for Sasha Vujacic or Maurice Evans.

For defensive purposes, the Lakers would be unlikely to start Jordan Farmar next to Derek Fisher at guard. More likely, though, Jordan Farmar, Vujacic and Evans are competing to be the No. 1 reserve guard.

All three have been impressive in training camp despite Evans’ hamstring injury. Vujacic is up to 210 pounds from 197 last season, at Jackson’s request.

“I think everything is open,” Vujacic said. “Starting lineup, coming off the bench, whatever.”

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