More importantly, it's interesting to watch what the other Lakers are up to, and we're watching. Not Shaq, who will put up numbers even if his teammates were Shawn Bradley and Bruno Sundov, but Glen Rice, Derek Fisher and Ron Harper. Rice because he stands to lose shots with the offense changing. Fisher and Harper figure to lose playing time and the joy of handling the ball as much.

Rice struggled in his first two Kobe games, shooting a combined eight-for-30 and hitting only one of 10 threes. On Sunday night he did better, hitting seven-of-13 shots and all eight free throws for 24 points in 30 minutes. Fisher, whose shot is very inconsistent, hit a few threes against the Magic but overall his game hasn't changed much. He wasn't a pure point guard to start with, only averaging four assists a game with some games getting eight and others merely one. Harper took a season-high 19 shots against the Blazers, which is strange since Kobe was around and took shots as well.

It's probably too early to tell how Fisher and Harper have been affected by Kobe's return, but Rice will find shots harder to find.

Who is this guy?
There was a "Jones" in the Mavericks boxscore on Sunday and he scored 18 points. Quick, who is it? There are five players with the name Jones on NBA rosters, but only one, the Hornets' Eddie, plays a lot. That is, until now.

Damon Jones, the CBA newcomer of last season and a major three-point threat, is on his fourth NBA team in two seasons. His Mavs debut was last Thursday, when he was signed as a desperation move just before tipoff and he scored 13 points. In his previous game, he nailed all six of his shots, including five threes, for the Warriors. Of course, P.J. Carlesimo promptly cut him the next day.

Don Nelson grabbed Jones because his injury-prone point guards (Steve Nash, Robert Pack) are hurt again, and Jones is producing. In Sunday's loss to the Bucks Jones hit three threes in the final period and led a comeback that fell just short. Jones finished with 18 points in only 26 minutes. The night before he played 10 minutes in a surprise win over the Wolves.

Jones averaged 21.7 points and 6.3 assists with Idaho in the CBA last season. The Mavs are his fourth NBA team, following New Jersey, Boston and Golden State. Could he be the Western version of Adrian Griffin?

	SHAQ'S LINE FOLLIES
	Shaq went five-for-11 in Sunday's win over the Magic. His season total is still closing in on 50 percent (90-for-215, .419). This week we will highlight other Bricklayers. Today's culprits are the three guys with at least two attempts per game with the worst percentages after Shaq. Radoslav Nesterovic: 18-for-36, .500 Will Perdue: 16-for-32, .500 Dickey Simpkins: 14-for-27

Hakeem who?
Maybe you've noticed, maybe you haven't, but there was a little bit more to the Scottie Pippen trade than a Hall of Famer being dealt for six stiffs. You probably can't tell from the Rockets' abysmal start, but now that Hakeem Olajuwon has gone under the knife for a hernia, Houston has a new man in the middle.

Kelvin Cato is no fluke. The Blazers liked the guy last season but couldn't find time for him. As for this season, well, they like Jermaine O'Neal better. So Cato went in the Pippen trade along with Stacey Augmon, Ed Gray, Carlos Rogers, Brian Shaw and Walt Williams. Now Cato and Williams start and the others are gone.

Cato led the NBA in blocks this preseason, up around five a game. Then Olajuwon got the big minutes in the Rudy Tomjanovich system when the season began. Cato played more than 20 minutes twice in the first month, getting a few points a few boards about two blocks and not one assist.

In the last four games without the Dream, Cato has scored 13, 13, 23 and 14 points, and topped 10 rebounds twice. He has 11 blocks in that span. He even has his first three assists of the season!

Cato's worth watching the next month.

Ouch, my knee
If you were wondering why Jimmy Jackson, fresh off arguably his two best games of the season, won't be in your fantasy lineup this week, it's not due to his play. Jackson played 17 games with painful tendinitis in his knees, often referring to it and telling the media he'd have a procedure that would keep him out of the lineup at some point. Well, some point is here.

Jackson is in Toronto to undergo a revolutionary procedure called "shock wave" therapy that may relieve his symptoms. Jackson, who scored 59 points on 23-of-35 shooting in the last two of the Hawks' four consecutive victories, might only miss a week.

"People in Atlanta haven't seen the real Jim Jackson, yet," Jackson said. "So, that's why I'm doing this. I've got an opportunity here to really play like I know I'm capable. (Coach) Lenny (Wilkens) has given me that chance, but if we're going to be the really good team I know we can be, I've got to get right."

By the way, the "shock wave" procedure has not been approved in the United States, but has been performed on numerous athletes in Europe and in Canada.

Look for Roshown McLeod to get a chance to step up. And look for Isaiah Rider to take about 40 shots on Wednesday night.

Quote of the Night
"I honestly believe we've got a shot to play for the last playoff spot in the West. We get wins like this to help our confidence, I believe we can do that. This is a good basketball team."
-- Nuggets coach Dan Issel after beating the Knicks on Sunday. Hey, Dan, ever thought of aiming a little higher than "a shot" at the No. 8 seed?

Quote of the Night, Part II
"I'm the Donna Summer of the NBA, I work hard for the money."
-- Shaquille O'Neal. No explanation needed.