Bryant, Stackhouse Go Way Back to Philadelphia

When Kobe Bryant was a junior at Lower Merion High in Ardmore, Pa., he’d drive to Philadelphia to play, sometimes with NBA or fringe NBA players, and occasionally with Jerry “I got there once and Stackhouse was in there working out,” Bryant said. “They said, ‘OK, you guys can go at each other.’ I was like, ‘All right.’ ”

The 76ers would make Stackhouse, from North Carolina, the third pick of the 1995 draft. A year later, the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant with the 13th and traded him to the Lakers.

While Bryant said his afternoons in Philadelphia, most at the 76ers’ practice facility at St. Joseph’s, were valuable, his success there did not convince him to declare for the draft out of high school.

“But, it helped me when I went back for my senior year of high school,” Bryant said. “It helped me a lot because it improved my strength and my confidence.”

Today, Bryant and Stackhouse stand at the top of the NBA scoring leaders, Bryant averaging 29.4 points, Stackhouse averaging 28.1 with the Detroit Pistons.

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Isaiah Rider scored 16 points in 28 minutes in an otherwise forgettable loss to Seattle on Friday, when Bryant made eight of 25 shots and Shaquille O’Neal went 0-for-the-line.

While Rider was respectful of the loss, he couldn’t hide his pleasure with being back on the floor, back in the offense, contributing again after another uncomfortable episode.

In fact, when Robert Horry walked past and said, “That looked like the old you out there,” Rider grinned.

“That’s what I need to do,” said Rider, who made two of three three-point attempts and took four rebounds. “Just not go crazy. Just make these guys play me once again.

“I think if I want to be on the floor, I have to show energy.”

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The Lakers are 14-7. Last season, they lost their seventh game on Jan. 17, after 32 victories.

More evidence that the defense is to blame: O’Neal and Bryant rank one-two in the league in points plus rebounds plus assists, O’Neal with 856 and Bryant with 826.

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Another reason to keep an eye on Bryant and Stackhouse tonight--they’ll be taking a lot of shots.

With a quarter of the regular season gone, Bryant leads the league in field-goal attempts (480) and Stackhouse leads in field-goal attempts per game (23.1) and field-goal attempts per 48 minutes (29.3). Bryant ranks second in the latter two categories.

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit, 6:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center

* Radio--KLAC (570)

* Records--Lakers 14-7, Pistons 9-11 * Record vs. Pistons (1999-2000)--2-0.

* Update--The Lakers have won four in a row against the Pistons. Since their 5-9 start, the Pistons had won four of five before being routed Saturday night in Portland. Joe Smith has come off the bench in seven of eight games, averaging 9.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. Ben Wallace averages 11.4 rebounds.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849