Harper May Get His Wish but Perhaps Late in Season

While veteran guard Ron Harper continues to joke that the fewer minutes the better, right up until the playoffs begin, Coach Phil Jackson actually feels compelled to give Harper and his creaky knees more playing time.

The offense is short of players capable of initiating the attack, particularly in the absence of the injured Derek Fisher.

Jackson pointed out that while Harper became fatigued at the end of last regular season, he had a strong postseason. To that end, Harper could get a week or so off at the end of the season, depending on the team’s circumstances.

“His ability to recover and play at that level, that’s his professional experience and pride,” Jackson said Sunday. “It’ll be played off how the team plays, what the team needs to have out there. Without Fisher here, like I told [Harper] he may have to play more minutes earlier in the season than he thought, because we don’t have as many experienced players behind him.”

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If David Falk is still angry that the Lakers held out for a deal that benefited the Lakers instead of David Falk, well, owner Jerry Buss understands the grudge.

In fact, Buss said he wasn’t at all perturbed that Falk blasted the club in the days following the four-way deal that sent Falk client Glen Rice to New York.

“If I had been in his position, I would have said exactly what he said,” Buss said. “I’m sure if he were sitting here, he would have done exactly what I did. He was protecting his client. He did an absolutely remarkable, incredible job. Glen Rice really owes him a big applause.”

As for Falk’s contention the Lakers mistreated and misled Rice, Buss spread his arms and shrugged.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I can tell you this: Everyone was instructed not to make any promises.”

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For most of training camp Jackson opted for one long practice session over two-a-days, a decision that has gone over well for almost everyone but Jackson, who has to drag his bum knee, back and hip through 2 1/2 hours on a hard gym floor.

It has made for shorter days for all but Stanislav Medvedenko, who arrived in Los Angeles from his native Ukraine about four months ago. Medvedenko has daily three-hour English lessons after practice.

Medvedenko’s interpreter and companion is Alexander Volkov, who played two seasons for the Atlanta Hawks in the early ‘90s. While he sometimes needs translation of Jackson’s triangle instructions, Medvedenko said he gets most of it.

“It’s a new system, but it’s all part of basketball,” Medvedenko said through a translator he had before Volkov arrived. “If you understand basketball you will understand it in any language. This is what I’m happy about, that I understand just by--how you say--gesticulation.”

Notes

Jackson, on the sprained ankle Kobe Bryant suffered during the NBA finals and continues to treat: “Those things last for your lifetime. But you hope that it’s something you can re-strengthen.”. . . Jackson gave most of the team Sunday off. Practice resumes today. . . . The Lakers leave Tuesday for New Orleans, where they play Charlotte in an exhibition game Wednesday.