LAKERS NOTEBOOK: BRYANT ON 72 WINS: ``... WE CAN DO IT'.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - They are veterans of the near-perfect postseason and a winning streak that inspired thoughts of 33 in a row, so outlandish expectations are nothing new to the Lakers.

The winning streak two years ago stopped at 19, well short of the record. The postseason perfection last spring ended after 11 victories, but still wound up a record at 15-1. And now, 18 games into a so-far splendid season, they are inspiring visions of a run at 72-10 - the record set by the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96. And they're embracing it.

``I think we can do it. I know we can do it,'' Kobe Bryant said Friday, before the Lakers played the Sacramento Kings. ``It's just a matter of going out and doing it. ... I don't think there's any question we have the talent to do so. ... We just have the best talent that plays in the team concept.''

The Lakers headed into Friday's game with a 16-1 mark, meaning they could lose only nine times in the remaining 65 games. So there's plenty of room for error left, plenty of time to think about records later and plenty else to think about in the meantime.

``If we have the opportunity to get to about 60-something wins with a good amount of games left, then yeah, we'll use it as motivation,'' Bryant said. ``If that doesn't happen, the ultimate goal is to win the championship, regardless.''

--Whatever: The locals haven't forgotten Shaquille O'Neal's proclamation of last May, when he said the Kings would lose free agent Chris Webber and ``return to expansionism.'' Webber returned but has yet to play, and still the Kings are among the league's winningest teams.

``Taking Shaq seriously is like taking Charles Barkley's comments seriously. You have to be brain dead to do that,'' Kings executive Jerry Reynolds said, laughing. ``Shaq probably didn't appreciate how good the overall talent on this team is. If Chris didn't come back, it would be no different than if Kobe were not playing for the Lakers. They wouldn't be champions, but they still would be plenty good.''

--Ouch report: Bryant, who had been suffering from a sinus infection, said he got a good night's sleep for the first time all week and was feeling much better.

``This,'' Bryant said, referring to Arco Arena, ``is where I cure most of my illnesses.''

Lindsey Hunter, however, clearly is still suffering from a sore right shoulder. He missed his first four field-goal attempts Friday.

``The shoulder bothers him a little bit,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``He's not really in top shooting form.''

Meanwhile, O'Neal said he's going to have to deal with his sore left little toe and arthritic big right toe all season.

``That's what Dr. (Steve) Lombardo told me. I just have to suck it up,'' O'Neal said.

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Kobe Bryant believes his Lakers have a shot at overtaking the 72-10 standard set by Chicago in 1995-96. ``I don't think there's any question we have the talent to do so,'' he said.