LAKERS NOTEBOOK: REST IS WORTH THE WAIT.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

If ever there were a time for the Lakers to relax, to heal and to generally get their game in order, this is it. The schedule won't get any easier than it is in January.

The Lakers play just 12 games this month - seven at home - after playing 16 apiece in November and December.

The first two months included just one three-day break between games. This month, the Lakers will enjoy a trio of three-day breaks and one four- day respite.

In the 12-day span from Dec. 31 to Jan. 11, the Lakers play just two games, both at home.

The slowdown is welcome. There are sore limbs to heal and sore games to refine.

``At this particular time of the season, I think it's good for us,'' Kobe Bryant said. ``Have a chance to get a consistent schedule, (weight)lifting-wise, get everybody back in gear.''

Coach Phil Jackson gave his players the past two days off but the Lakers will practice today in preparation for Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz. The balance of off-days will also be split between workouts and rest.

``We've gotten a little more practice time (recently), it's helped our game,'' Jackson said. ``We want to do some things to change some of our defensive structure and stance, do some things that will give us different options.''

Time off hasn't always been the Lakers' best ally, though. The slow pace has at times dulled their edges.

``The five years I've been here, I would say the more we play on a consistent basis, three-four games a week, we start to find ourselves finding a rhythm of some type and being able to run off a few games in a row,'' Derek Fisher said.

But, he noted, ``I think maybe in the past that has (come from) the fact we were in a nice rhythm. And right now we really don't have a rhythm. So the (light) schedule won't necessarily slow us down, because we're barely moving.''

--Waiting game: Isaiah Rider has been looking forward to January as his time to shine. According to Rider, Jackson told him that he should be comfortable with the offense by now and would therefore play more minutes.

But Jackson cautioned that won't necessarily be the case.

``The big key with J.R. is he's got to be earning the minutes like everybody else,'' Jackson said. ``I keep reaching out to see him earn those minutes and play well enough to maintain a role out there. And he hasn't been consistent - I don't mean in his scoring, but just in his play - so you know what you can count on and rely on.

``So there's a chance that we may put some more minutes into the games that he plays, and see how he's adapting to longer minutes and more responsibility, but right now he hasn't shown that he's earned it.''

--Compare, contrast: Although the Lakers' 22-10 record pales next to the 27-5 mark they had after 32 games last season, Jackson said, ``We're ahead of last year, because we know more . . . We have a better knowledge of what we want to do, and we have a better idea of how to get things accomplished on the court, and players are playing like Kobe's playing, an absolutely incredible year.

``Rick Fox is playing very, very well for us. And Robert Horry's still a big contributor, and without Fisher we've had a few guys like Brian Shaw and (Mike) Penberthy pitch in and help out.''