It Doesn’t Get Easier for Horry

Robert Horry will be making a defensive switch from league MVP Tim Duncan to Sacramento MVP Chris Webber.

There are, Horry said, only shades of differences between the two.

“They’re basically the same player,” he said. “They do the same thing. They both shoot the [mid-range] jumper, they both face up in the post.”

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In the absence of Peja Stojakovic, the Lakers expect to see a lot of Hedo Turkoglu, less experienced than the elder Stojakovic but similarly skilled.

Turkoglu’s jump shot and floor sense helped the Kings finish off the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

Rick Fox’s greatest postseason contribution to the Lakers last season was his defense on the clever Stojakovic in the second round. Although he hardly seemed relieved at getting Turkoglu instead, Fox smiled and said, “Fresh meat. New challenge.”

He laughed.

“They are similar players in the sense that they’re very effective as small forwards in this league,” Fox said. “Turkoglu might be a slightly better rebounder. Maybe more of a finisher at the basket. So, same approach, same principle. It’s my job to control that position on the floor defensively, and help out in other areas, regardless of who’s there.”

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Kobe Bryant sent the sneakers he wore in Tuesday night’s victory over the Spurs to Steve Tyson, whom Bryant met over dinner in San Antonio on Saturday. Bryant signed them first. Tyson’s father, Steve, said his son, stricken with cystic fibrosis, could hardly wait to get them.

“It’s a blessing to be put in a position where you can have such an impact on someone,” Bryant said.

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Assuming the Kings engulf Shaquille O’Neal with their sagging, zone-like defense, and assuming Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard can fall down enough to get the attention of the officials, Bryant’s scoring and playmaking should go a long way to deciding the series.

He carried much of the offense in the last series, particularly in the third and fourth quarters.

“It depends upon what his shooting’s like,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “If he shoots well from the outside, yes, he’s going to have successful games against them. But it’s not necessary as much as it is necessary for him to penetrate and find his teammates, for them to get the shots he can provide them. He can provide shots for his teammates. He doesn’t have to do the scoring.”

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Derek Fisher sat for much of the fourth quarter of Game 5, primarily because his jump shot was not falling, so Jackson went to the quicker Lindsey Hunter on defense.

Jackson said while Fisher’s misses--he was one for nine from the arc, five for 19 overall in the final two games against San Antonio--concerned him, he pointed out that other Lakers missed a lot of open jump shots in the series.

“We need everybody to shoot the ball well,” he said.