Farmar’s appearance that night at the team facility might have been coincidental — he played it down when asked about it — but, just the same, he had an active off-season in the gym and has been called the biggest surprise of the Lakers’ training camp by some observers. Coach Phil Jackson, never one to give a rookie too much praise, was kind toward the second-year guard. “He’s playing really well,” he said. “I think his decisions are better. I think his shooting’s better right now too.” Farmar did not shoot well while starting all five Lakers playoff games after Parker’s meltdown became complete, as he averaged 6.4 points and 1.6 assists, and made only 20% of his three-point attempts against Phoenix. Farmar’s numbers were negligible compared to the Suns’ perennial All-Star point guard, Steve Nash, who averaged 16 points and 14 assists in the series.

Farmar, never one to be called insecure, was in over his head against Nash. “He exuded confidence, but he wasn’t making any shots, so there was something there going on that wasn’t quite right,” Jackson said. “If you have confidence when things are going right, then it’s rewarded confidence, but he had nothing to be confident about, so this is a little better. He does believe in himself. That’s good.” A year later, with a season’s worth of the triangle offense stored up, the former UCLA standout appears to be more settled. “I don’t need to impress the coaching staff,” Farmar said. “I’m not trying to make every shot so that they see I can shoot. I’m not trying to show them what I can do, really. My game’s just speaking for itself. I’m comfortable. I can rest easier at night. I don’t have so much to worry about.” Forward Ronny Turiaf has a sore right knee and will have an MRI exam today. . . . Jackson has never been a fan of exhibition games. Thus, his response to what he hopes to see Tuesday and Thursday against Golden State: “Quick games, no overtimes and a limited amount of timeouts.”