LAKERS NOTEBOOK: `THERE'S MORE' TO KOBE-REGGIE BOUT.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

Kobe Bryant is sorry he let down his team, sorry hi two-game suspension has temporarily robbed the Lakers of their most dynamic player. But ultimately, as Bryant dealt with the penalty Sunday for throwing a punch at Indiana's Reggie Miller, he expressed no regret over his actions.

The NBA handed down the suspension, and a $12,500 fine, Sunday morning. Miller also received a two-game suspension and $10,000 fine for retaliating.

Bryant declined to speak to reporters after the morning shootaround. But he spent some time explaining himself to teammates and coaches and offered no apology for responding to Miller's trash talk with a swing.

``I don't think he was apologetic, to be honest,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``I think he (expressed an) 'I did what I had to do' type of attitude. ... His tone was more explanatory than it was apologetic.''

Bryant missed Sunday night's game against Houston and will also sit out Tuesday's home game against New Jersey.

While teammates did their best to defend Bryant, Jackson was unequivocal in his disapproval. Bryant not only started the fight, he did so after the final buzzer, at a time when he should have been retreating to the locker room.

``I think in regard to the team, it was perhaps a selfish thing to do,'' Jackson said, ``because it jeopardizes our team at a time when we're trying to get ourselves on track at the end of the season here. But you never know what personally goes on out there on that court unless you're there.''

That much remains a mystery. Only Miller and Bryant apparently know what was said.

Miller remained mum, except to issue a written statement that said, ``Kobe has other issues he has to deal with. This had nothing to do with me or the basketball game played on Friday evening.''

Jackson seemed to confirm as much, saying, ``There's more to it.'' He did not elaborate.

It is well known among the Lakers that Bryant has been coping with a variety of personal issues the last two seasons, but how that might have contributed to Friday's events is unclear.

Jackson said he was not surprised at Bryant's violent response.

``Given his present state, no I'm not,'' he said. ``He's been very aggressive and I think he's been wanting us as a team to be more aggressive as a basketball team.''

The two-game suspension, the second of Bryant's six-year career, will cost him $250,000 in salary. Bryant received a one-game suspension two years ago for retaliating against New York's Chris Childs.

NBA punishment czar Stu Jackson said the length of the suspensions was based on not only the fight but the fact the game was over and the players should have left the court. That the melee spilled over into the scorer's table, where others could have been injured, also was of concern.

``When you confront one another after the game is over, certainly you run the risk that an altercation will happen,'' Jackson said. ``Both players are at fault.''

Shaquille O'Neal, who served a three-game suspension for fighting in January, avoided reporters before the game. That left the Lakers' third co-captain, Rick Fox, to make Bryant's case.

``I think Kobe made it quite clear he didn't condone his action or his decision actually at the time,'' Fox said, ``but a lot of times in life when you reassess some of the things you do, you're not altogether proud of some moments. But spur of the moment, he reacted based on what he felt he needed to do to stand up for himself.

``He never apologized for his reaction to the situation. What he's saying is that he's going to react accordingly, based on how someone approaches him or how he's respected or disrespected. And I can understand that, in terms of your manhood and your professionalism.''

Fox said officials also bore some responsibility for not recognizing the building tension throughout the game. Phil Jackson pointed the finger at himself - for not pulling Bryant and others in the final minutes of a 12-point victory.

``In retrospect, I might have taken out guys at the end of the game if we'd had just a two-point larger margin,'' he said.

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