Lakers Realize Kidd Is Hurting

It was obvious to the Lakers that the Suns’ key player, point guard Jason Kidd, was banged up for Sunday’s Game 1 and that it will be much different later in the series if he begins to play at full strength.

“Their leader, their floor leader, their emotional leader, is a little hobbled right now,” Laker guard Derek Fisher said.

“He can’t come out and perform at the all-star level he’s capable of. He makes that team go.”

Fisher, who has a bone spur in his right ankle, said he couldn’t help but notice Kidd limping on the left ankle he broke several months ago.

“Early in the game I couldn’t tell, but as the game wore on, I could tell he wasn’t doing the things he’s capable of doing,” Fisher said.

“He can control a basketball game at both ends. I was kind of joking with him at the end of the game. We’re both out there hobbling on one foot and trying to do everything we can do to help our teams.

“He’s a competitor and he wants to be out there and he won’t make excuses. They’ll come out and give us a fight on Wednesday.”

*

One concern of the Laker coaches was the Suns’ ability to force Shaquille O’Neal to defend the three-point line by playing either Cliff Robinson or Rodney Rogers at center and keeping them on the perimeter.

But neither could find the range, especially Rogers, who made only three of his 13 attempts (0 for 5 from three-point distance) and continued his struggle against the Lakers this season, despite winning the award for sixth man of the year.

“I just thought Shaq ran him off the line,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said of Rogers’ shooting woes in Game 1. “I mean, we didn’t give him a lot of good looks.

“I thought most of them looked like they were pressed shots. I know if he starts hot, he can be a real difficult player to match with.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

LAKERS’ BIG 3

O’NEAL

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

37 Points 30.7 14 Rebounds 16.8 1 Assists 2.5

*--*

BRYANT

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

25 Points 27.3 6 Rebounds 4.7 1 Assists 3.2

*--*

RICE

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

7 Points 14.5 5 Rebounds 4.8 2 Assists 3.2

*--*

SUNS’ BIG 3

KIDD

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

3 Points 6.0 7 Rebounds 4.5 7 Assists 8.5

*--*

HARDAWAY

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

25 Points 20.2 4 Rebounds 6.0 4 Assists 5.4

*--*

ROGERS

Sun. Playoffs

*--*

7 Points 15.6 6 Rebounds 7.2 1 Assists 1.8

*--*