West Anoints Shaq as MVP

Jerry West, Laker executive vice president, bubbled with optimism--and offered one big prediction--in a meeting with reporters at training camp.

West said he has enjoyed watching Coach Phil Jackson implement the basics of his triangle offense, and has especially liked the way the Laker players have responded to the challenge.

West, though, was most direct when offering his expectations for Shaquille O’Neal.

“You know, I’m going to make a prediction regarding him: I think he’s going to be the most valuable player in the league this year,” West said during the morning practice at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

“You see someone who’s always been an extremely hard worker really buy into it, and you can see it by his actions. . . . I see a tremendous enthusiasm on his part.

“He’s as happy as I’ve seen him since he’s been here in Los Angeles.”

O’Neal said he was glad to hear West’s prediction, but said his only goal was to win a championship.

“I’m not really focusing on getting MVP,” O’Neal said. “As long as my team does well, I’m happy. If my team does well, obviously, I’m doing well. And if you guys like me and vote me in, then I’ll get it.”

His most important individual focus, O’Neal says, has been on improving his defense.

“Phil’s been stressing to me defense, defense, defense,” O’Neal said. “I used to be a good defensive player. Man, I’m the leading shot-blocker in LSU history, in two years.

“I used to be a great defensive player. . . . The past couple years I’ve been trying to stay in the game [by not picking up fouls]. . . . But Phil says don’t even worry about it, just play defense.”

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According to Jackson, a first-team unit featuring O’Neal, A.C. Green, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Glen Rice and Rick Fox (subbing for Rice) was the highlight of Friday night’s five-on-five scrimmage games.

Rice played a game-and-a-half, then had to sit because of some further knee soreness. He returned to practice Saturday.

The first unit, matched against one team made up of the veteran backups and another made up mostly of rookies, won three games in a row.

“The team I was on, we worked the triangle pretty well,” O’Neal said. “We took our time and had fun. Everybody got their shots. Everybody played defense. . . .

“A.C.’s a great role player. He knows where to be. He catches my passes. Kobe was playing good. Derek Fisher was playing good defense, shooting the ball very well. That was a nice five.”

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Though the Lakers still want to sign Ron Harper, West said the team needs to know “very, very soon” whether Harper will join the team. . . . After keeping the doors closed to the public and media for the first five days of camp, the Lakers will hold a public scrimmage tonight at the Thunderdome on campus. They will break camp Monday and head to Little Rock, Ark., for an exhibition game Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.