Team Hoping for a Bounce

The Lakers made a statement with their 97-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena on Sunday.

But will it translate into a dominating finish to the regular season that brings the two-time defending NBA champions home-court advantage in the playoffs?

“It can change the momentum of the season,” Kobe Bryant said at practice Monday in El Segundo.

Coach Phil Jackson took the cautious approach.

“I hope it springboards success for us for the remainder of the season, but I don’t want to read too much into it,” he said. “Because last year we went [to Sacramento] and had a great game in March and followed it with two losses to Phoenix and Sacramento at home.

“It took another two games before we really broke out and played the kind of ball we anticipated we can play.”

The Lakers trail the Kings by half a game with 13 to play in the race for the Pacific Division title and home-court advantage should the teams meet in the playoffs.

Bryant said he likes the Lakers’ position. “Obviously our schedule is a lot tougher than [Sacramento’s] coming down the stretch,” he said. “It’s a huge challenge for us, but we’re up to it.”

Said Shaquille O’Neal: “I think we’re supposed to shift into high gear now, and we will.”

Considering that the Lakers are 5-1 at Arco Arena over the last two seasons (including playoffs), Bryant said it doesn’t matter if they secure the home court for a possible playoff series with the Kings.

“We’re really not too concerned about it, whether it’s at home or on the road,” Bryant said. “All it boils down to is execution anyway. But I think it does send them a message that we’re not intimidated by Arco Arena at all.”

*

O’Neal, who fouled out Sunday for only the second time this season, criticized the Kings for their defensive tactics.

“I think they were intent on flopping, and the referees keep falling for it,” he said. “But the only way to beat us is to beat us, not cheat us.”

Jackson said O’Neal needs to be aware that teams will do whatever they can to get the Laker center into foul trouble.

“When you’re the visiting team, it’s real hard,” Jackson said. “[O’Neal] has to be very careful. He has to understand that some nights there are experienced referees who understand that [flopping is] the ploy that teams are using, and other nights he just has to back off and wait his turn and not play that physical game that might create [a foul] situation.

“That’s been [the Kings’] ploy all along, and they do a good job of it. It’s such a close call between a block and charge. It [varies] from night to night.”

*

O’Neal said he is still bothered by the arthritic toe on his right foot that has caused him to sit out 10 games this season.

“I’m not 100%, but I’m good enough to do what I do,” he said. “As long as everybody else does their job, we’re going to be fine down the stretch.”

*

TONIGHT

Cleveland, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 49-20, Cavaliers 25-45.

Record vs. Cavaliers--1-0.

Update--Bryant had one of his best games of the season in a 104-97 victory at Cleveland on Feb. 21, with 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, six rebounds and six

assists.