BIGGER KOBE IS READY TO LEAD BRYANT HOPES TO KEEP LAKERS AFLOAT WHILE SHAQ HEALS.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - So the three-time NBA champs are without their Big Toe, the brazen boys from Sacramento are talking 70 victories and the Lakers' own coach is tossing out gloomy predictions.

Kobe Bryant shrugged at all of it Monday. And what an impressive shrug it was.

A big, hulking shrug. About 15 pounds more shrug than before.

It was a bulked-up and grown-up-looking Bryant who emerged for the Lakers' annual media day gathering. A summer workout regimen added 15 pounds of muscle to Bryant's body and prepared him for more heavy lifting - say, carrying his team in November while Shaquille O'Neal rehabs his toe.

As for that more maturish look, chalk it up to fatherhood: Bryant, 24, and wife Vanessa are expecting their first child, a girl, in February.

So the dad-to-be and seasoned veteran of seven NBA seasons wasn't ruffled by much - not O'Neal's untimely toe surgery, or the Kings' rapid-fire chatter, or coach Phil Jackson's musing last week that the Lakers, sans Shaq, might start the season 0-7.

(``If Shaq doesn't come back, we could go 0-82,'' joked Rick Fox.)

The new, sturdier Bryant is built to handle it all. The Lakers are gunning to become the first team since the 1960s Boston Celtics to win four consecutive titles; and with O'Neal hobbled (again), Bryant will bear the brunt of a rough early schedule.

So that added padding might be useful.

``This is my job,'' Bryant said, ``and I take it very seriously. I don't play around with it. I come in here and I work and I do what I do best.

``I look forward to getting the best out of my teammates, to making everybody else better. That's what I'm really looking forward to.''

It was an all-around busy summer for Bryant. He dumped Adidas as his shoe sponsor, played streetball in New York's famed Rucker League and left the Lakers on edge about his future.

Eligible for a three-year contract extension, Bryant (whose deal expires in 2005), left the Lakers' offer on the table, for now at least. While the shoe companies woo him, Bryant wore a pair of vintage Magic Johnson Converses to Monday's session.

But his focus now, like everyone else's, is all about four-sight.

Some players said they would dedicate the four-peat quest to the memory of longtime Lakers voice Chick Hearn, who died in August. A black band adorns the left shoulder of every Lakers uniform.

``This season's really for him,'' Bryant said.

The Kings, of course, would argue this season is for them.

Sacramento added a versatile big man, the 6-foot-11 Keon Clark, to an already deep roster. Jackson said his team simply must improve from within, and the early results are promising.

Bryant, Fox, Derek Fisher and Devean George logged long hours in the gym this summer. Samaki Walker - O'Neal's likely stand-in to start the season - recovered from a bum knee that slowed him in the playoffs and added five pounds of muscle. Robert Horry, prone to more leisurely vacations, played pickup games with NBA veterans at Houston's Westside Athletic Club.

``I think our personal desire to stand alone as a team in this era, to do something that's remarkable, winning four in a row, is what's going to drive us this year,'' Fox said. ``Not the Kings, not anyone else.''

Jackson was a no-show Monday (he needed emergency dental surgery), but his players were more than eager to swat away his early pessimism.

``It doesn't concern me, because I know what he's doing,'' said O'Neal, whose timetable for playing is unclear. ``Guys like Kobe and Rick are going to hear that, and they're going to step up for me. They're going to play well 'til I get back. Because when I get back, there's going to be trouble, I can tell you that right now.''

O'Neal had to be prodded a bit on the topic of the audacious Kings, who pushed the Lakers to a seventh game in last season's conference finals. But finally, he could hold his tongue no longer.

``They've got a lot of talkers. They always talk the talk, but they never walk the walk,'' he said. ``They had us right where they wanted us. But in Game 7, Doug (Christie) couldn't make shots, Chris (Webber) didn't want to shoot, Vlade (Divac) fouled out on purpose. Scot Pollard can't play, anyway. I think the older they get, the wearier they get.''

From the Shaq Daddy to the new daddy, the sentiment was the same.

``We ain't going nowhere,'' Bryant said. ``We're right here. They know where they can find us. Come holler at us.''

LAKERS AT A GLANCE

How the Lakers shape up as they open training camp today in El Segundo. The Lakers' quest for a fourth consecutive title begins Oct. 29 against the San Antonio Spurs.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP:

C - Shaquille O'Neal-Recovering from toe surgery, could start season on IL.

PF - Samaki Walker-Now healthy, should reclaim job he lost in playoffs.

SF - Rick Fox-Mr. Solid will continue to cede minutes to promising George.

SG - Kobe Bryant-Bulked up and ready to carry team until Shaq is back.

PG - Derek Fisher-Healthy in October for first time in three years.

TOP RESERVES:

PF - Robert Horry-Probably will anchor second unit, per Jackson's preference.

SF - Devean George-Needs to deliver big-time after signing $18.45 mil deal.

G - Brian Shaw-35-year-old will be counted on for major minutes.

LOOKING FOR A ROLE:

C/F - Slava Medvedenko-Team needs him to deliver on potential, now.

G - Kareem Rush-Sweet perimeter shooter, but needs work.

SF - Tracy Murray-Ace shooter competing for minutes behind Fox, George.

C/F - Mark Madsen: Third-year vet hasn't show much progress.

THIRTEENTH MAN:

The 12 players above have guaranteed contracts. The Lakers probably won't carry more than 13. The following are competing for, at most, one available roster spot:

G - A.J. Guyton, Jannero Pargo

F/C - Nick Sheppard, Jefferson Sobral, Guy Rucker, Soumaila Samake

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) ``I look forward to getting the best out of my teammates,'' said Kobe Bryant, who takes his leadership role with the Lakers seriously.

(2) Shaquille O'Neal will be missing for much of November, meaning other players will have to pick up the slack.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

LAKERS AT A GLANCE (see text)