LAKERS NOTEBOOK: LAKERS HOPE FUROR WANES.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - New parameters for the Lakers' season have been imposed, with judicial certainty replacing weeks of speculation and wonder. In the next year, Kobe Bryant will indeed stand trial for sexual assault, and until then, Bryant and his teammates will live and play under that shadow.

That much became certain with Monday's ruling in Colorado. The best the Lakers can hope for now is that, with most of the early legal proceedings over, and opening night a week away, the frenzy surrounding Bryant's case will begin to fade.

``That'd be nice,'' veteran Rick Fox said. ``I think it will rear up here and there, from city to city, probably more for road games than anything. But yeah, I think it's going to take a back seat now to basketball, at least from us in this arena here and at Staples Center.''

The season will open Tuesday night, when the revamped Dallas Mavericks, a rival for Western Conference supremacy, come to Staples Center. There will be no shortage of intrigue on the court, as the Lakers unleash a power-packed lineup newly infused with All-Stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who join Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

Basketball, and the Lakers' quest for a fourth championship in five years, should be the focus again.

Bryant, aware that reporters at Tuesday's practice probably would ask about the judge's decision to send him to trial, did not make himself available to the media.

The number of TV cameras flooding the Lakers' practice facility has increased after every major event in the case. But Bryant might have only one more court appearance to make before trial, on Nov. 10. The gap between that date and the trial could serve to calm the waters.

``I just have to say that we want this thing to go as quickly as possible and disappear into thin air, ... and have a season that's unfettered,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``We have no feel at all (about when the trial will occur). We just know that Nov. 10 is the day that's sitting there in front of us.''

--Fabulous: The Fab Four spent all 2 1/2 hours of Tuesday's practice on the court together. It was their longest stint yet as a unit, and Jackson was encouraged by the results.

``I'm sure it was fun to play, and they kind of felt themselves out a little bit as they went down the court and played,'' he said. ``I think they showed some signs of brilliance out there and some signs of what we can do.''

Payton and Malone have been working together since camp opened three weeks ago. O'Neal just rejoined them Sunday, after an 11-day absence because of a bruised heel. Bryant, still regaining his conditioning, joined the group Monday.

``They're executing better than we anticipated for the first time on the floor,'' Jackson said. ``The reality of what I've visualized and what they're doing is still a long ways off. But I'm starting to see some hope, that they're starting to recognize what each one of them has as a real strength to offer this team.''

Bryant's progress the past few days has been ``really quick'' and Jackson said he probably could play ``two or three eight-minute segments'' in Thursday's exhibition against the Clippers in Anaheim.

--Lucid: Horace Grant was headache-free and back on the court, a week after suffering a moderate concussion, and he is probable for Thursday's exhibition game.

``He's not wobbling around into walls,'' Jackson said.

Grant said he felt fine, aside from experiencing some mild disorientation when he found himself playing small forward in a frontcourt with Malone and O'Neal. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound veteran was forced into that odd spot during parts of a scrimmage, though it's not a lineup Jackson plans on using.

``Never say never with Phil,'' Grant said, laughing. ``I learned that. I'll never say never. Me, I can't see my guarding a small forward. You can quote me on that, too.''

Grant and Derek Fisher alternated as the fifth wheel on a team featuring the Fab Four, giving them an idea of what life will be like trying to find shots among four perennial All-Stars.

``With this team, if you're looking for the basketball, you're in trouble,'' Grant said.

Howard Beck, [phone]

howard.beck(at)dailynews.com

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HORACE GRANT

One week after suffering a moderate concussion, he is probable for Thursday's game.