CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: STOPPING BRYANT THE TOP PRIORITY.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff writer

LOS ANGELES -- The story line when the Clippers meet the Lakers typically begins with two words: Kobe Bryant.

Bryant has been dominant against the Clippers, and in his seven previous games before Saturday's meeting, the Laker star had averaged 40.1 points against them.

The Clippers' game plan against him did not change Saturday. Coach Mike Dunleavy said the plan was to contest his shot, force him to make difficult shots and if necessary ``double team him, triple team him and throw the kitchen sink at him.''

There was just one thing the coach wished he could add to his team's defense, but couldn't.

``The difference when I played and what happens today is, back then, they didn't have things like flagrant fouls, or whatever,'' Dunleavy said. ``So when a guy got that hot, typically you'd run through him and start make him thinking about where the next hit was coming from.''

Bryant has repeatedly shown that he can make shots, regardless of the defense. Even in the Clippers' previous meeting, a 105-101 loss to the Lakers on Nov. 21, he scored 40 points on 12-of-23 shooting, and Dunleavy said he thought the Clippers' defense did well on him.

Kaman returns: Chris Kaman, who had been out for the previous four games with a sprained left ankle, went through a relatively normal pregame routine, showed some pep and was activated for the game.

Dunleavy said the target date for Kaman's return had been Tuesday against Miami, but the center insisted on coming back early.

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CLIPPERS vs. ORLANDO

- Joe Stevens