A 16-1 Work in Progress

Thursday came clear and warm to El Segundo, where Lakers drifted in, carried by silver Mercedes and black SUVs, Shaquille O’Neal actually in a gray, unmarked sedan, accompanied by two law enforcement officers, also somewhat gray and unmarked.

He signed a picture of himself and a couple pairs of snowshoe-sized sneakers, and he waved and they said, “See you this weekend,” when his criminal-thumping training would continue.

These are serene days for the Lakers, two-time defending champions, holders of a 16-1 record, the world talking 73 victories, a four-point win the night before, and tonight the Sacramento Kings, fabulously obsessed with them.

“They probably are,” O’Neal said.

As the rest of the NBA burns, the Lakers win with ease on some nights, with just enough effort on others and, just so, O’Neal admitted that Wednesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks was entirely his fault.

Between casual free throws Thursday afternoon, O’Neal divulged that his 46-point jag against the Mavericks was no fluke, and that it actually was a disappointment. “I kind of messed that game up,” he said.

He had his heart set on 62, one more than the career high he scored two seasons ago against the Clippers, he said, “because I like to shut people up.”

So, what’s the occasional personal agenda among teammates? The Lakers fed O’Neal the basketball, he made almost 80% of his shots, Maverick owner Mark Cuban huffed, and everybody stuck around for the fourth quarter for a change.

On the eve of the Lakers’ second game of the season against Sacramento, Laker Coach Phil Jackson insisted it wasn’t that simple, that something had to be done to right a team whose offense has gone awry.

It is unknown if Chris Webber or Doug Christie will play for the Kings tonight, though both practiced Thursday. Webber, the All-NBA power forward, sprained his right ankle in the preseason and hasn’t played since. Christie cut his right hand in a game against Dallas on Sunday, needed seven stitches beside his index finger, and did not play in Tuesday’s win against Philadelphia.

They play, they don’t play, it’s incidental to the Lakers, who gathered to put a little rhythm in their offense, a little more edge to their season in time to fly north.

“You know, I’m not very pleased with the way we’re playing basketball,” Jackson said with a sigh. “We’re not functioning as a five-man organization very well. Sometimes it takes a team a loss or two to straighten them out. I think we were a little slap-happy or flippant with the way we were playing basketball. We just short-changed everything. As a consequence, we got out of whack [against the Mavericks].... So, while things are going well for us, we’re not going to win with this kind of exhibition.”

The Kings have won without Webber. At 14-5, they arguably are the second-best team in the league, assuming you believe the Kings, swept by the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, are better than the San Antonio Spurs, swept by the Lakers in the conference finals. The Kings beat the Spurs twice this season.

The Sacramento view is that Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu are better than they were, Mike Bibby is better than Jason Williams, and Scot Pollard has managed a worse look than last season.

“When they get Chris Webber back, it’ll probably be a bit of an adjustment for the rest of the team and then there’ll be an upswing in their game,” Jackson said.

“They’re always going to be around if we let them hang around or play mediocre basketball so that they can be within striking distance.”

TONIGHT

at Sacramento, 7 Channel 9

Site: Arco Arena

Radio: KLAC (570)

Records: Lakers 16-1, Kings 14-5.

Record vs. Kings: 1-0.

Update: Devean George, who suffered a bruised back Wednesday against Dallas, is expected to play. X-rays taken Thursday were negative.... The Lakers beat the Kings, 93-85, Nov. 18 at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Shaquille O’Neal scored 28.... The Kings are 8-1 at home, the one loss in overtime Sunday against Dallas.