EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Here are five observations of the Los Angeles Lakers from training camp:

	The Lakers play two games against Portland early, both without Shaquille O'Neal.

1. It undoubtedly helps the Lakers that Mike Bibby's foot gave, lessening the possibility that Sacramento will jump to an early edge in the race for No. 1 in the West. At least you'd think it would help. "They weren't going to run out on us anyway," Kobe Bryant declared. "We're not going anywhere. Last year, you had stretches where everybody felt like they were running away from us. At the end of the season we were right there, breathing down your neck, even when people think we're playing terrible." More than once, though, Phil Jackson has mentioned the possibility of an 0-7 start without Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers open with a challenging back-to-back (home to Spurs, away to Blazers) before playing four of the next five on the road: Clippers, Cleveland, Boston, Washington. The only home game during that span is a rematch with the Blazers.

2. Jackson is more concerned about size than the schedule. He's hoping owner Jerry Buss can be convinced to authorize at least a 13-man roster to create a spot for Soumaila Samake, and Shaq hasn't been shy about reminding folks that he's "better with rest." Said Jackson: "Ever since I've been here we've been missing big bodies. Without Shaquille, we certainly go from an intimidating team to a non-intimidating team entirely." Without Samake, minutes behind O'Neal fall to Samaki Walker or Mark Madsen (hobbled by a bad hamstring) or Slava Medvedenko, the Ukranian who hasn't yet shown signs of making the leap to contributor. Without Samake? "Our backup center is a power forward at best," Jackson admits.

3. Kareem Rush is a big guard and Jackson loves big guards, and that's why Rush (besides the handy first name) has a nice Laker future. But he needs at least a season to learn the system (also known as gaining Phil's trust) and probably won't play much. Jannero Pargo is the camp long shot who would have to beat out Samake and Buss' tight budget to make the team but who could help a team short on guards -- especially guards to chase after little, quick ones. One possibility: L.A. will keep Samake and Pargo to start the season and decide, between now and January when make-good contracts become guaranteed, whether to keep them longer. Even if Samake sticks, Walker is the more likely candidate to start at center in Shaq's place on opening night. That would line up Robert Horry -- after his own quietly productive summer of working out -- to start at power forward. Reluctantly.

4. It's difficult to know exactly how much weight Shaq has lost, but the difference compared to last October is significant. Those privy to seeing a shirtless Shaq report that some definition has been restored in his upper body. What we do know for certain: Shaq's teammates don't hassle him about those relaxing summers. "You pretty much have to let him do his thing," Derek Fisher said. "For us to try to be in his ear a lot would only push him the other way. He's a smart guy. He understands how important he is to us."

5. David Stern said Wednesday that he'll definitely attend the Lakers' ring ceremony on opening night against San Antonio. The commissioner missed it last season to attend openers in New York and New Jersey in the wake of Sept. 11. The Lakers also have a Chick Hearn tribute planned, impossible as it still is to consider that greatest NBA voice of all-time won't be there. There will be more rings down the road, certainly, but never another Francis Dale Hearn. Miss you so much, Chick.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. E-mail him at marc.stein@espn3.com.