PLAYER NOTES

--F Pau Gasol was the butt of a Phil Jackson joke about how Gasol won't overexert himself by "playing hard" in the All-Star Game. But Gasol has actually been highly productive in All-Star Games, even with limited playing time. In his All-Star debut in 2006, Gasol had a game-high 12 rebounds in a team-low 14 minutes for the Western Conference.

--F Matt Barnes is hoping to start doing some practicing after the All-Star break. Barnes is coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. His playing time initially went to Luke Walton, but now Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant have been picking up extra minutes.

--F Lamar Odom accepted the blame for not boxing out San Antonio's Antonio McDyess on the last play of the Lakers' loss to the Spurs on Thursday. Odom said he was watching Tim Duncan shoot when McDyess gained position before his winning tip-in.

MEDICAL WATCH

--F Matt Barnes (torn cartilage in right knee) is expected to be out until March.

--C Andrew Bynum (bone bruise in left knee) is playing with a protective sleeve.

--C Theo Ratliff (torn cartilage in left knee) hasn't played since Nov. 9, and he had arthroscopic surgery Nov. 16. He has resumed team practice.

ROTATION

Starters:

--Point guard Derek Fisher

--Shooting guard Kobe Bryant

--Small forward Ron Artest

--Power forward Pau Gasol

--Center Andrew Bynum

Bench:

--Forward Lamar Odom

--Guard Steve Blake

--Guard Shannon Brown

--Forward Luke Walton

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.