LAKERS NOTEBOOK: ATKINS BLASTS MEDIA OVER KOBE COMMENTS.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - After weeks of telling reporters to ``write what you see'' going on with the Lakers, point guard Chucky Atkins wasn't too happy with how his comments Sunday about Kobe Bryant acting as the team's general manager came out in print.

Atkins addressed the subject with his teammates Monday at practice, saying his words were taken out of context, then accused the writers who cover the team of doing so deliberately.

``They wrote the wrong things and they know what's up,'' Atkins said. ``What's sad is that a lot of the media wants to take shots at Kobe Bryant and they want to use us as his teammates for the scapegoat.''

Before Sunday's 96-89 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Atkins was asked what he would do as general manager to remake the Lakers in the offseason. He angrily answered: ``I ain't no GM. Ask Kobe. He's the GM. It's his team. Go ask him.''

Bryant said he and Atkins had no differences to resolve. Atkins has had a career year - averaging 13.9 points per game and nearing the Lakers' single-season record for 3-pointers - playing alongside Bryant, something he even acknowledged Monday.

``The guy's gotten me a lot of wide-open shots, opportunities,'' Atkins said. ``I'm having the best season that I've had in my career. I'm not saying that I'm (attributing) everything to him but he's been a good part of that.''

Bryant said of Atkins: ``That's my dog, that's my road dog, and everybody here, we all stick together. Maybe people are trying to divide us and pull us apart but we're not going to let that happen.''

Bryant also dismissed the claim that he is calling the shots for the Lakers, saying he trusted the track record of owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak, then adding that all he wanted to do was have a good time with his teammates.

``People, because it's a good story, they want to take it and run with it and create headlines,'' Bryant said. ``But there's no headlines to create.''

The Lakers explained away Atkins' comments by saying he has grown frustrated both by the team's eight-game losing streak and his own recent struggles. Atkins has shot 38 percent during the skid and was 4 for 14 against Philadelphia on Sunday.

``Guys have been taking shots at Kobe Bryant all year,'' said Atkins, who has hung out with Bryant and Caron Butler on the road this season, ``and he hasn't broken and he ain't going to (break).

``My teammates, they know me. If I want to say something to them, I won't go through the media and say it. I'll go to them as a man. I don't hold my tongue for anybody.''

Atkins reaffirmed that he would like to return to the Lakers next season. He is due $4.5 million and will be in the final year of his contract.

``Why would I want to leave?'' Atkins said. ``We're in a bad situation right now. We know that. But I promise you, it won't be like this forever. We've got some good talent here. We just got to mesh it together and get some cohesiveness and we'll be fine.''

Interim coach Frank Hamblen said he was surprised to learn what Atkins said, then added that it felt like a throwback to the days of Bryant's feuds with Shaquille O'Neal.

``Even when we won championships, we've had situations like this,'' Hamblen said. ``So maybe it's a good thing.''

--Phil Jackson sighting: Just when you thought things couldn't get any crazier, former coach Phil Jackson was spotted getting into his sedan in the practice facility parking lot. Jackson stopped by to have lunch with girlfriend and Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss.

Jackson did not talk to reporters but drove away to roars from the autograph-seekers waiting outside the facility's gates.

--Odom still out: Lamar Odom (injured left shoulder) said he likely would miss tonight's game against New York as doctors still have not cleared him to play.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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- Ross Siler