Jackson Has Energy Plan for O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal played 43 consecutive minutes in Friday night’s victory over Chicago, Coach Phil Jackson said Saturday, to get the Laker center mentally prepared for long minutes in the long term.

“My thought is to make him have to think about carrying that idea of a 40-minute kind of plan, where to use his energy, where not to expend energy and save himself at certain times,” Jackson said.

“So that offensively he doesn’t have to go every time he catches the ball, he can make the passes, let somebody else do the work, and on defense be able to stop and plug like he did.

“I thought he carried that concept really quite well last night. . . . I wanted him to start and finish and if it was a game that he had to go the whole distance, he’d feel good about playing the whole game on a back-to-back night.

“I just wanted him to know that he was capable of doing it, strengthwise, mentally and psychologically, to carry that whole concept.”

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After 11 games in 18 days to start the season, the Laker schedule will be less hectic--their next seven games (six at home) come over a 15-day span.

That, Jackson said, will allow more practice time, and give the veterans a chance to catch a breath.

“Now we have a little bit of a break, a couple of two-day spells [without a game],” Jackson said. “One of the things I told them, they don’t get a chance to practice because you’re playing so many games, your game falls apart, your shooting falls apart, your precision, your passing, the execution of your offense.

“Those are some of the things we can get back with some practices.”

TONIGHT

vs. Toronto

6:30, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 8-3, Raptors 6-3.

* Record vs. Raptors (1999)--Did not play.

* Update--This will be the Lakers’ first look at explosive swingman Vince Carter. Last season’s rookie of the year is averaging 22.1 points this season, and probably will start the game being defended by Glen Rice. Even with Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis and Kevin Willis, the Raptors are the league’s 17th-ranked rebounding team.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.