LOS ANGELES – They call him a total package, probably the best one-on-one player in the game today. They’ll throw small forwards, shooting guards, point guards at him. Yup, the Nets are going to face Kobe Bryant.

How tough is the task ahead? Mr. Complete Package One-On-One King isn’t even their major concern as they embark upon the NBA Finals for the first time ever.

“Let’s be real. Let’s not focus on Kobe,” said outspoken rookie Richard Jefferson. “Kobe’s not the best player on this team. He is one of the best players in the NBA, but our focus is not to go out there and stop Kobe. We know he’s a great player. He’s going to get his. But Shaq is, without a doubt, the whole nucleus of that team.

“He’s good, very good,” Jefferson continued, “You don’t have the luxury of having the best player in the NBA on your team. So we won’t find out how good Kobe is until he’s not on Shaq’s side.”

Unfortunately for the Nets, Shaq and Kobe will be side by side for the next four to seven games starting tomorrow night at the Staples Center here. They realize that nothing short of felonious assault will stop the pair, one of the greatest combinations of power and grace the game ever has seen. They have to shut down the others, the Nets know. If Shaq gets 35 and Kobe gets 30, that’s 65. The key is not letting the Robert Horrys and Rick Foxes and Derek Fishers get off for 18 and 16.

“That’s what we tried to do last series. We knew Antoine [Walker] and Paul [Pierce] were going to get theirs, but we tried to limit everybody else,” said Kenyon Martin. “We have to limit everybody else, and not give up the big shot.”

Shaq is a mountain inside. He can’t be budged, can’t be moved.

“An impossible guard,” Hall of Famer Willis Reed assessed.

But Bryant has the ball in his hands most of the time. And there is virtually nothing he can’t do.

“He’s the kind of guy who can score so many different ways. He can score in transition, he can score in the open court, he can score in the halfcourt, in the one-on-one isolation situations. He can score off the pick and roll and attack the big guys and score in the paint,” said Kerry Kittles, providing a laundry list of strengths that have helped Bryant average 26.6 in the playoffs, up from his 25.2 in the regular season. “That’s what makes it so hard to guard him.”

Figure the Nets will zone a lot but when they’re straight up, who gets Kobe?

“I’ll get him a lot,” predicted Martin.

“Well, at some point, yeah, [I will] over 48 minutes,” said Jason Kidd. “I’ll probably pick him up in transition.”

Kittles will likely start on Bryant. And then Lucious Harris and Jefferson will also get their turns as well. Too bad Byron Scott can’t suit up. Hey, Scott knows Bryant, the league’s sixth-leading scorer this season, as well as anyone. After the Lakers knocked off the Kings to advance to the Finals for the third straight year, Bryant paid tribute to Scott, calling him a mentor when Scott did his second tour of duty there.

“I felt very moved by what Kobe said. Kobe and I have a very good relationship,” Scott said. “We had it my last year when I played in Los Angeles and he was a rookie, and we’ve had it ever since. I admire that kid.”

TALE OF THE TAPE

JASON KIDD vs. KOBE BRYANT

Height

6-4 / 6-7

Weight

212 / 210

Age

29 / 23

College

California / None

Wife

Joumana Kidd / Vanessa Laine

Kids

Son, T.J. (3), twin newborn girls Miah and Jazelle, son, Jason (7) / None.

Strengths

Uncanny court vision, leadership ability, one-man fast break. /Fierce competitor, perfect body, great skills

Weaknesses

Inconsistent, low-percentage outside shooter / Can be spotty 3-point shooter.

2002 Playoff averages (points, rebounds, assists)

19.3, 8.4, 8.9 / 26.6, 5.9, 4.4

Greatest moment

Shut up mouthy Boston crowd with heroics in Game 4 of Eastern finals. / With Shaquille O’Neal fouled out, scores eight points in OT in decisive game of 2000 NBA Finals.

Worst moment

Charges of spousal abuse led to ouster from Phoenix/Four airballs down stretch in OT loss to Utah in 1997 Western finals.

Best quote

“If you believe in yourself and your teammates, goods things will happen.” / “We kept our composure [vs. Sacramento] and that’s why championship experience shows through.”

Plays like

Smaller version of Magic Johnson/ Younger version of Michael Jordan.