A really big lineup?

LAS VEGAS -- Here's my early edition story off Thursday's 98-92 exhibition victory over the Sacto Kings, the one that you won't find on the Website or in the late print editions:

There are big lineups, bigger lineups and biggest lineups.

Then there's the possibility of a Lakers' lineup of Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. If you're scoring at home, that's a 6-foot-6 man playing with a 6-8 guy, a 6-10 dude and two 7-footers.

Now, that's a really, really big lineup.

The question is whether Lakers coach Phil Jackson would actually use it at any time in a game this season. He didn't employ it during the Lakers' exhibition Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"Oh, I wouldn't waste it in the preseason," Jackson said, smiling.

Obviously, the Lakers would hold a huge size advantage over some teams, but it could also leave them vulnerable to small teams with a fleet of quick players. After all, they have had trouble corralling speedy guards with a small lineup in the past.

"I think they're very capable of playing like that," Jackson said of playing an extremely big lineup. "I don't think defense is going to be a problem in a half-court set. But in transition if you have those young burners who can race the ball up the court, that would be something we'd have to work on."

Jackson had the option of playing Odom, Gasol and Bynum together last season, but after a good deal of talk during the lead-up to training camp and during the exhibition schedule, it never materialized. They were never on the court at the same time.

Jackson also could have played Bryant, Odom, Gasol and Bynum with Trevor Ariza last season, but that never happened either. What's changed, aside from Ariza's departure for the Houston Rockets as a free agent last summer?

Well, the addition of Artest, for one thing.

Artest, who signed as a free agent from Houston, means Jackson has a capable big man who also can be a facilitator. Ariza is not as accomplished playing at the top of the floor, as a point guard would in the Lakers' triangle offense.

"(Adding Artest) gives us the possibility of really doing that," Jackson said.

Even if it does come to pass, even if Jackson plays with five big guys, it doesn't mean he would use it to the exclusion of his standard starting five of Bryant, Artest, Gasol and Bynum with point guard Derek Fisher. It would simply be another option.

"I do like little guards," Jackson said. "They're toys. You just use them. I like a big lineup. I like big guards who can handle the ball because it puts tremendous pressure on a team. But we've had tremendous success with Fisher in the lineup."