LAKERS NOTEBOOK: FILL-IN SHAW IMPRESSES AS HE GETS COMFORTABLE.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

He is supposed to be this little fill-in, this temporary replacement to help stop the unexpected bleeding.

When Kobe Bryant broke his right hand in the exhibition opener, the Lakers signed the well-traveled Brian Shaw. Now Shaw is struggling to make a case for a full-time gig.

With Bryant not expected back until the end of the month, the 6-foot-6 Shaw is earning a good look from Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

In the home opener at the Staples Center on Wednesday, Shaw looked like a veteran beginning to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. He scored 10 points and had four assists in 20 minutes.

``Brian has a knack of doing things on the move with the basketball,'' Jackson said. ``He's kind of a driver, penetrator. He's able to shoot his shot with surprising accuracy at times - he's streaky.

``Right now, we anticipated going into a big-guard format at certain times, particularly against a team like (Portland). At some point he has to be valuable as a lead (point) guard. At this point he's not quite comfortable enough to do that. But for a guy who's only been here two weeks, he's doing a good job.''

Shaw has spent most of his 10 years in the NBA at the point. Last season he was picked up by Portland but spent the season on the injured list. He is all for getting more opportunity at the point, now the domain of Derek Fisher and Tyronn Lue.

``Having played point guard most of my career, it's almost easier playing the bigger guards,'' he said. ``The point guard has the ball all the time and it's usually some little quick guy. If he makes a move and gets by you on the floor, you're kind of exposed, but with a bigger guard I feel like I have the advantage because I'm used to playing shorter, quicker guards.''

Nothing, though, is guaranteed for Shaw.

``We'll see how it goes,'' Jackson said. ``It's an interesting match for our team.''

About that idle threat: Jackson has managed to keep Dennis Rodman's name alive as the Lakers have struggled to match up in the West at power forward, but Rodman and wife Carmen Electra's arrest in Florida this week for fighting cannot have helped a cause few others around the Lakers are excited about. Said Jackson: ``He said it was just one of those things. What things are those? I've never had one of those things.''

Also: The Blazers tried to rest center Arvydas Sabonis by starting Rasheed Wallace at center Friday against the Bulls, but Wallace strained his left groin and sat out Saturday's game. . . . Jackson said the Lakers would try to run their offense through ex-Bull Scottie Pippen, well versed in the triangle, instead of going around him. In the first half, Pippen had 17 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist in 20 minutes.

LAKERS vs. DALLAS

Time: 6:30 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; KLAC-AM (570).

Lakers (2-0) update: After playing against the ballyhooed Blazers on Saturday night, the Lakers come back tonight to play host to the Mavs. It offers a possible early-warning sign: The Lakers made a habit of playing down to their opponents last year. It's the first of two consecutive meetings, the Lakers traveling to Dallas on Tuesday.

Dallas (1-1) update: Dallas went 19-31 last season, losing all three games it played against the Lakers, who have won the last 15 meetings. The Lakers haven't lost to the Mavs at home since Dec. 12, 1990.

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BOX: Lakers vs. Dallas (see text)