FEELING LIKE CHAMPIONS PUZZLE PIECES APPEAR AT MEDIA DAY.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Some of the familiar scenery was missing - the moody sharpshooter, the grizzled veteran with that funny green teddy bear, the cantankerous executive vice president - but when the NBA's defending champions reassembled Monday, for the first time since the victory parade in June, the fundamental elements were very much in evidence.

The confidence. The glow. The gleaming gold balls in the executive suites above the court. And most of all, the overpowering center and the dazzling young guard and the wise old coach.

The Lakers gathered for their annual media day still high from that electric evening three months ago, looking primed for another title run behind the core talents of Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson.

But they have been clearly changed as well by a short and dizzying summer that saw the retirement of executive Jerry West, the trade of Glen Rice and the release of A.C. Green. They have a new starter in Horace Grant, a new scorer in Isaiah Rider, several other new faces and, as training camp opens today, a starting lineup very much in flux.

It's an unusual look for a defending champion.

``It does feel kind of odd,'' Bryant said. ``But bringing Horace here,Horace has championships obviously. I think the acquisition of Isaiah is going to do nothing but help our team. But it does feel kind of weird,because you have kind of a whole different team.''

And today Jackson will begin piecing it together. Bryant or Rick Fox could replace Rice at small forward. Grant will replace Green at power forward. Ron Harper will probably remain a starter, but with shorter minutes. Rider will play a prominent role and could crack the starting five. Greg Foster will occupy significant minutes at backup center and forward.

Brian Shaw is an unsigned free agent. Derek Fisher, a key reserve, is out for the season after foot surgery. Tyronn Lue and newcomer Emanual Davis get a shot at replacing him in the rotation.

All that change, and the rings haven't even arrived yet.

But it's nothing new to Jackson, who has presided over seven NBA championships, and two sets of back-to-back-to-back titles.

``It's a challenge for us to acclimate these type of players we've gotto our system and to each other, and to build a chemistry back again and a community back again,'' Jackson said. ``However, with Greg Foster and Horace Grant having played for me in this offensive system (in Chicago), that makes the job a lot easier. Emanual Davis and J.R. Rider are a different story. They are guys that are gonna have to be acclimated to our team. We're gonna have to find our what they can do for us in a learning situation, which is always difficult.

``But we feel like we're ahead of the curve this year, because almost everybody knows what we're doing. We're on our home court (at their El Segundo headquarters), we're working here in a building that's basically our home. And we have our training facility here at our disposal, which makes it a lot easier.''

There were other, very evident signals of progress over Jackson's first campaign. For one, O'Neal showed up in shape, at about 325 pounds, 15 to 20 pounds below his reporting weight a year ago.

``I think he looks great,'' said Jackson, who was disappointed at O'Neal's weight last year. ``I mean, I can actually see some ribs. So I felt pretty good about that.''

Fox, who is seeking longer minutes, also returned with a slimmed-down physique.

But the biggest change of all is the Lakers are no longer just an overhyped NBA marketing tool. They have at last earned their fame, and now will deal with the consequences - a wide-awake field of opponents, and some, like the Portland Trail Blazers, who bulked up with a specific goal of stopping O'Neal and Co.

Harper, a veteran of three straight championships in Chicago, knows the road to repeating is a brutal one.

``It's tough, it's tough,'' he said. ``It's not easy. Even though we had a great year, that don't mean anything. This is a new start, some teams out there added some guys and we're gonna need to improve our game.''

So Harper gave unrestrained approval to the Lakers' modest overhaul.

``Youve got to add, you must add on,'' he said. ``You can't wait and see what other teams do. Just because you were good that year doesn't mean you'll be good again. We had to add on, and I think we did improve some.''

--Notes: Robert Horry was the only player missing Monday, having stayed home in Houston to attend to personal business. The team considered it an unexcused absence, and will fine him an undisclosed sum. . . . The Lakers' training camp roster increased to 17 players (not counting Fisher) with the signing of Mike Penberthy, a 6-3 guard and 1997 graduate of The Master's College.

LAKERS AT A GLANCE

Here's a look at the Lakers' roster as they open training camp today. The season opens Oct. 31.

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP:

C - Shaquille O'Neal: The Big Nickname looks for new alias, tries to improve on MVP year.

PF - Horace Grant: First legit starting PF for Lakers since Shaq arrived in '96.

SF - Rick Fox: Starter in 1997-98 has chance to reclaim job vacated by Rice.

SG - Kobe Bryant: All-NBA and All-Defense at age 21. Next up: Wrest MVP from Shaq.

PG - Ron Harper: Slowing down but effective in small doses, invaluable as floor leader.

TOP RESERVES:

G - Isaiah Rider: Could earn starting job or pink slip. Might be used as sorely needed high-scoring sixth man.

F/C - Greg Foster: Finally, someone to spell Shaq for 10 minutes. Will play power forward, too, meaning less need for Horry.

F - Robert Horry: Valiantly sacrificed himself vs. bigger PFs for three years, now can move back to SF and shoot 3-pointers.

LOOKING FOR A ROLE:

F - Mark Madsen: Undersized PF for NBA, but coaches like his tenacity, smarts.

G/F - Devean George: Second-year swingman has athleticism, shooting stroke to earn minutes.

ON THE BUBBLE:

G - Tyronn Lue, Emanual Davis: Lakers need Lue's quickness to defend smaller guards, but he could lose roster spot to 6-5 Davis.

SEE THE FUTURE:

F - Stanislav Medvedenko: 6-10 Ukrainian import needs work, shows promise.

G - Cory Hightower: Athletic rookie needs to bulk up, won't contribute right away.

Both rookies should end up stashed on injured list.

IN THE WINGS:

G - Brian Shaw: Lakers want free agent back, should be signed soon.

F - Joe Smith: If Minn. contract is voided, Lakers will make a play with $2.25 million slot.

INJURED LIST:

G - Derek Fisher: Out until April after foot surgery.

- Howard Beck

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: Although it doesn't appear as such, Lakers' center Shaquille O'Neal is all business about the upcoming NBA season. He has reported for training camp in shape.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box: LAKERS AT A GLANCE (see text)