O’Neal’s Status Remains Uncertain

Facing the possibility that he may also be forced to withdraw from the All-Star game, Shaquille O’Neal, his sprained knee ligament having already resulted in sitting out one contest, will be examined after shootaround today before his status for tonight’s showdown with the Chicago Bulls is determined.

If O’Neal is cleared to face the Bulls and plays without anything beyond the minor pain he anticipates, he should likewise be all right to remain the backup to Hakeem Olajuwon on Sunday in Cleveland. But the parties involved have already discussed the possibility of the center skipping his first appearance as a Western Conference all-star as a precaution if he has not yet completely healed.

The bottom line is precaution. Big game or not, revenge meeting or not, the Lakers won’t risk a more serious injury for the sake of tonight, even if it is No. 1 in the East against No. 1 in the West. The same thinking goes for the All-Star game.

“We’re in it for the long run with Shaquille,” Coach Del Harris said. “So you always have to do the right thing.

“I’ve been led to believe it’s not something we should be worried about for the long run.”

“I don’t sense any panic,” the coach added. “And yet, there’s concern.”

Byron Scott, meanwhile, also sat out against the Clippers and remains day-to-day because of a bruised right knee suffered when he slipped at home and fell. Scott was on the bench in street clothes at the Pond of Anaheim, but O’Neal remained at home in an attempt to stay off the leg as much as possible.

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Jeff Van Gundy, George Karl. . . . and Harris?

No.

Restraint prevailed where mind games once ruled, when the Laker coach, given the chance to follow comments by colleagues that became motivational material for Michael Jordan, passed. In a big way.

“I’m not going to knock Michael,” Harris said Tuesday, laughing. “Or any of his products.”

Just to be on the safe side.

“I’m going to eat Wheaties tomorrow. I might even wear Hanes and have McDonald’s on the way [to the game].”