Going Above 21 Wouldn’t Be a Bust

PORTLAND, Ore. â€”  Since his Chicago Bulls lost in the second round of the 1995 playoffs, Phil Jackson has won 21 consecutive playoff series, the latest a three-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers.

His postseason record since then is 78-22, beginning with the 1996 Bulls, and after Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic finished off Jackson and Co. the season before.

That’s five championship seasons, plus three games.

“It says something about the remarkable teams I’ve been able to coach,� Jackson said Sunday. “And the successive years that I was fortunate to pick up a team that was on the verge of winning, to help them win a championship right away in L.A.

“Other than that, it’s been about players being able to focus, make adjustments, have some poise and see the final prize, yet keep their minds on what the present goals are.�

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Samaki Walker has a sore left knee that has bothered him slightly for the last two weeks. He said Sunday he will be examined today in Los Angeles, and that he expected to undergo an MRI exam.

Walker did not play after coming out early in the third quarter, though he said he was available.

“Normally that time of game we go to Robert [Horry] anyway,� Walker said.

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Kobe Bryant, at 23, has continued to find places to lead, even for a veteran team already manned by O’Neal, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher.

Bryant often seeks out teammates to be sure they are clear on concepts and strategies.

“He’s doing a lot of encouragement, direction, picking up the responsibility on the court to help players wend their way through their videotape mistakes ... and telling them how to get through this thing in the best order,� Jackson said. “It’s markedly different than last season, and an acceleration of what he did in the regular season.�

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If reports that Chris Mullin is soon to become general manager of the Golden State Warriors prove true, don’t be surprised if Mitch Richmond finishes his career there.

Richmond and Mullin, two-thirds of the memorable Run TMC era in Golden State, remain close. Richmond, who came to Los Angeles last summer with the intention of winning a title, probably will leave after the season, when he becomes a free agent.

By all appearances, the Warriors could use some veteran direction, and the symmetry of Richmond returning to Golden State would generate positive publicity for an organization that could use it.

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The Lakers have won 27 of 28 first-round series after taking a two-games-to-none lead.... Sign in the crowd, held by a 60-ish woman with short, curly hair: “Shaq is fat.�