It Looks Like Home to Them

Shaquille O’Neal was wondering . . .

The Lakers have back-to-back games against the Clippers on Tuesday and Wednesday, both at Staples Center, but the first one is designated a Clipper home game and the second a Laker home game. It’s the first Laker “road” game at Staples.

“My question is,” O’Neal said, “when we’re away, do we have to sit on the other end?”

O’Neal was informed that yes, in addition to wearing road jerseys and playing on the Clippers’ floor in front of Clippers’ ticket-holders, the Lakers would have to switch up and sit on the visiting (north-side) bench for the Tuesday game.

“Awww, that’s messed up,” O’Neal said. “For real? We have to go sit down there on the other end? Come on, they’re messing up my ritual.”

But O’Neal was at least partially soothed when he learned that, home or road, the Lakers would dress both games in their palatial locker room. Or as Kobe Bryant described the way the Lakers are viewing the back-to-back: “Two home games.”

Either way, O’Neal said he expected more from the Clippers than their Dec. 14 disaster against the Lakers.

“We set a couple records on them, so I’m sure they’re going to bring a lot of anger,” O’Neal said. “We have to be ready. We can’t think these guys are going to lie down for us.”

O’Neal said he wasn’t aware that Maurice Taylor recently had criticized the efforts of his Clipper teammates, especially center Michael Olowokandi, but O’Neal said he knew that wouldn’t be a help for the Lakers.

“Actually, that’s the worst type of team to play, a team that has turmoil,” O’Neal said. “Then they just come out [angry], hitting shots, playing good.”