O’Neil Doesn’t Disappoint in Opener

For all the TV minicams, still photographers, writers and broadcasters who were at the Special Events Arena in Honolulu on Thursday night, cramming the baseline as if the game meant something, one medium was noticeably absent. This was like coming attractions, but there was no movie company in sight.

Here was Shaquille O’Neal, his back to the basket, being guarded by Denver’s 6-foot-7 Dale Ellis on the left baseline, choosing not to power inside and instead spinning free from a defender who’s supposed to have more agility than a 7-foot, 320-pounder. Layup.

Here’s O’Neal charging downcourt, getting the ball on the run at the free-throw line, whirling around Ervin Johnson and continuing down the lane. Layup.

Western Conference, this is your future.

“Before, it was like you didn’t ever know which [Vlade] Divac would show up,” Johnson, the Nugget center, said after the Lakers had opened exhibition play with a 111-101 victory over Denver. O’Neal had 25 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes. “You know Shaq is going to show every night. As long as [the Lakers] are going to be unselfish, they’re going to be in good shape.”

Said Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak, “I look at Jerry [West], I look at Dr. [Jerry] Buss and I wonder if they’re thinking the same thing I’m thinking: It’s hard to believe he’s in a Laker uniform.”

O’Neal made 11 of 13 shots and, exhibition or not, impressed in most every way, save the six turnovers. But he even turned that into a positive, noting his appreciation of the opportunity to handle the ball much more on the perimeter instead of working primarily from the low post as in Orlando.

“I love it,” he said. “I’m just glad Coach Del Harris is somebody who knows the game.”

A compliment for Harris, but also another thinly veiled dig at his former coach, Brian Hill. Then again, maybe not so thinly veiled. O’Neal punctuated the statement with two playful elbow nudges to a reporter’s stomach, as in, “Get it? Get it?”