Once Again, They Ease Into Season

HONOLULU —  The Laker three-peat intentions have started slowly, not unlike their repeat ambitions, which began with an unfit Shaquille O’Neal, an injured Derek Fisher and an unforgotten NBA championship.

What this lacks, however, and so far, is the public deliberations about whether they have the interest or fortitude to play together. The Lakers seem particularly secure in that, October being the month for good NBA intentions.

What they proved less than four months ago was that a so-so regular season could evolve into a brilliant postseason, perhaps the best. So, the Lakers arrived at their first exhibition game Sunday afternoon on the University of Hawaii campus, carrying semi-interested expressions past the bomb-sniffing German Shepherds, past the taut-jawed police and into an eight-game preseason schedule.

They lost to the Golden State Warriors, 99-89, before 10,300 at Stan Sheriff Center, but that wasn’t important.

Samaki Walker played some power forward, a departure from his center-intensive first week with the Lakers. Kobe Bryant pushed his conditioning a little further and scored 30 points in 31 minutes. And the coaching staff, without Phil Jackson for at least another day and probably until Thursday, had its first in-game look at the competitions for the few available roster spots.

Walker and Rick Fox started in the front court, Dickey Simpkins at center and Brian Shaw and Bryant in the back court. Jim Cleamons, who assumed head-coaching duties, said it probably would be another game or two before they worked Bryant into small-forward minutes.

The rangy Walker prepared for his return to power forward by watching Robert Horry play it, and by falling asleep every night with the book, “The Triple-Post Offense,” by Laker assistant Tex Winter.

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O’Neal and the Lakers met for about 90 minutes Sunday with NBA referees, who detailed the league’s new defensive rules.

The session left O’Neal angrier than ever about the changes, at one point insisting he’d retire rather than wade through zones every night.

“When it ain’t fun, then I’m going to go do something else,” he said. “You get that? Quote me. I’ll be gone.”

O’Neal has five years and about $135 million left on his Laker contract.

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O’Neal, who has done little since the Aug. 29 surgery on his small left toe, said he would be examined Thursday by team physicians Phil Kwong and Steve Lombardo.

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Now that Mitch Richmond’s left knee is healthier, he is beginning to have problems with his left calf, which was kicked in a recent practice. After pregame treatment, Richmond played Sunday.

Laker coaches have been nicely surprised with Dennis Scott, whose jump shot has not left him after a season away from the game. He is still a longshot to make the team, however.