Jackson: Kings Have Confidence

The Sacramento Kings bounced the Lakers in December, then, two weeks ago almost made it two for two, leading by 16 in the third quarter at Staples Center before a combined Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant onslaught saved the day for the Lakers.

That makes today’s game at Arco Arena a fairly important prelude for a possible first-round No. 1-vs.-No. 8 playoff meeting, according to Laker Coach Phil Jackson.

“I think Sacramento, in the back of their mind, thinks they can beat the Lakers,� Jackson said Saturday after a workout at the team’s practice site.

“They think they have the answer to what we are as a basketball team--they have a mobile center [Vlade Divac] and they can take [O’Neal] outside, he can hit shots, he can drive on him. They’ve got this kind of fast-flowing game. And I think they feel very confident about us.

“I think we have to show them that, if it does come down to a series, they’ve got [to think] long and hard about if they really want to play us or not.�

The Lakers have lost three of their last five games to the Kings (and their last two at Arco) over the last two seasons, and have faced major difficulty defending Divac, power forward Chris Webber, and several of the King role players off the bench.

But Jackson suggested that the key to slowing Sacramento is forcing up-and-down point guard Jason Williams out of his frenetic rhythm.

“He could be a very, very difficult pain for any team,� Jackson said. “His spontaneity brings a real joy to the game, a real kind of invincibility to the Kings.�

TODAY

at Sacramento

3:30 p.m., Channel 4

* Site--Arco Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 58-12, Kings 40-28.

* Record vs. Kings--1-1.

* Update--The high-scoring Kings currently own the No. 7 playoff spot in the Western Conference, but are only half a game ahead of No. 8 Seattle. The Lakers have played, and won, on five consecutive Sundays.