Knight Understands Rodman Factor

Travis Knight is an NBA version of the opening act for Jimi Hendrix these days, moderately appreciated for five or six minutes as the starting Laker power forward before the mind-blowing show begins.

Knight has gotten the starting call, ahead of Dennis Rodman, for all three games, heard fans scream for Rodman after a few minutes, subbed out midway through the first quarter, then returned only in the later quarters as Rodman cleans up the boards.

“That’s the way it is, man,” Knight said. “That’s L.A.”

But Knight emphasizes, especially after a pivotal team meeting last week in Vancouver, all the Lakers realize that no player is above the team’s welfare.

Right now, Knight and Robert Horry, last year’s starting power forward, are having to adjust the most to Rodman’s arrival.

“It’s all part of it--that’s what we’ve been talking about, everybody has a role on the team and whatever that role is to help the team win, that’s what you’ve got to do,” Knight said. “I have no problem with that. . . .

“We’ve got a lot of talented people on this team. It’s a tough job for Kurt [Rambis, the new coach] trying to divide the time.”

And when Rodman battles furiously against Charles Barkley or other muscle forwards, the players immediately know his value.

“Like you saw against Houston on Sunday, he was matched up against Barkley and defended him very well,” Knight said. “Barkley and [Karl] Malone, they’re the types of guys . . . they’re so strong, they give us a lot of problems.

“He brings that defensive intensity, taking charges, giving us extra possessions. He’s strong. man, he’s strong.”

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Backup center Elden Campbell, who missed Monday’s game because of flu, worked out briefly Tuesday and is expected to be available tonight.

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Sunday’s NBC telecast of the game against the Houston Rockets got a national rating of 7.0 and a 14 share, the highest-rated NBA regular-season telecast since March 8, 1998, when the Chicago Bulls played the New York Knicks.

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An L.A. municipal court judge granted Rodman a delay in an assault suit filed by a cocktail waitress until the district attorney’s office decides whether to pursue criminal charges.

Though no charges have been filed against Rodman--a district attorney’s spokeswoman said the case, stemming from an Oct. 3, 1998, incident, has been sent back to sheriff’s detectives for additional investigation--the judge ruled that depositions for the civil suit could jeopardize Rodman’s defense in a possible criminal case.

TONIGHT vs. Phoenix. 7:30

Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 10-6; Suns 8-6.

* Record vs. Suns--1-0.

* Update--Let’s see if the Suns can adjust. Phoenix outplayed the Lakers for much of Monday’s Laker victory, but fell apart when the Lakers stepped up their offense and Rodman took over on defense and on the boards.

* Tickets--Ticketmaster (213) 480-3232.