Bryant, O’Neal Set to Go Distance

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal each professed a strong desire to play the entire game against the Clippers tonight at Staples Center, assuming the game requires them, which would go a long way toward a 17th consecutive Laker victory in the series, though that no longer is such a sure thing.

The Clippers seem to have the Lakers’ attention, as neither Laker star was around at the end of the Lakers’ overtime victory Dec. 30. Bryant was ejected after two technical fouls, did not play the final 19 minutes, and still was irritated when he left the building an hour later.

O’Neal took his sixth foul before the end of regulation, setting up those surreal Robert Horry moments and the 116-114 Laker win.

“We still won the ballgames,” Bryant said. “That’s the most important thing, being that they had so much momentum and still lost.”

So, in case the Clippers have become undaunted by the Lakers, given two close losses in three games this season, Bryant smiled.

“You know,” he said, “they’re getting way too much confidence.”

He can just tell?

“By the way they play,” he said. “They think that they can win.”

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This is the final meeting of the season between the teams, much to the delight of Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry.

“I couldn’t be happier, believe me,” he said Saturday after the team’s workout at L.A. Southwest College. “I think we will be playing better later in the year, but so will they. I think [Laker Coach] Phil [Jackson] is brilliant where it comes to when to push buttons.

“He knows when to get on his team and when to let things ride. When March and April roll around, especially April, you will see that they will be playing great basketball. You don’t get seven rings playing a bunch of veteran guys and knowing when to push certain buttons unless you are a darn good coach.”

In the three previous games against the Lakers, the Clippers had chances to win two of them but didn’t make the plays.

In the overtime game, Lamar Odom took an ill-advised shot late and had his final attempt blocked by Horry.

“I wish I could have the last two minutes back,” Odom said. “My shot selection was not good. But I will approach [tonight]’s game the same. Hopefully, I will play a little better.”

Although the Clippers would love to end their losing streak against the Lakers, they do not want to put too much emphasis on the game.

“If we play well and beat them, it only counts as one game,” said Gentry, whose team has lost two in a row. “They do not give us 10 games to get us close to .500 for beating the Lakers. If they beat us, it still counts as one game. . . . Obviously, we want to beat those guys but not because they are here in the same town as we are but because they are world champs.”

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The Lakers just answered that 4-5 period with eight wins in nine games, and it appears they did it by flexing their defense.

They allowed 102.7 points a game during the first nine-game run, then 91.7 points in the second nine.

“In big games, it’s better,” Bryant said. “This is a good time to step it up.”

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After Saturday’s practice, O’Neal settled in for a long session with free-throw coach Ed Palubinskas. According to witnesses, O’Neal becomes so comfortable in those sessions that he’ll sometimes make 75% to 80% of his free throws.

“We’re seeing a form,” Jackson said. “He’s getting a form. Before, his form would shift from half to half, from quarter to quarter, from attempt to attempt, almost.”

O’Neal has made 44% of his free throws in the last five games. It’s not great. But that’s up from 37.3% over the season’s first two months.

“Last February was when he stepped up to the line and started shooting the ball well,” Jackson said. “That hasn’t happened yet. But, I expect it will happen at some time during the season. He’ll start shooting the way we’ve seen him shoot in his career. When that happens we’re going to get on a roll.”

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Brian Shaw returned to the Lakers Saturday. His 1-year-old son, Brian Jr., had been ill, but has recovered. . . . Laker guard Ron Harper missed practice to tend to personal matters. He is expected to play tonight.

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Clipper forward Brian Skinner changed his look before Friday’s game against Charlotte. After growing dreadlocks for three years, Skinner shaved his head bald because he felt he needed a change.

Since opening the season as the replacement for Maurice Taylor at power forward, Skinner has had an up-and-down season. After spending time on the injured list because of a severe ankle sprain, Skinner has lost his starting position to rookie Darius Miles.

“I basically felt I was ready for something different,” Skinner said. “I’m just doing what I need to do. I think I am playing hard. I am being more offensively aggressive. I don’t see anything wrong with my defense. I am just going to keep playing and wait until my time comes.”

Skinner’s biggest challenge was introducing his new look to his wife, Rebecca, and daughter, Avery Ann.

“My wife was the first one lined up with scissors,” said Skinner, who saved his hair in a bag. “When we first got married, I didn’t have the hair, but she got used to it over time.

“When [Avery Ann] first looked at me, she just laughed at me for 10 minutes. She’s never seen me without hair. It was dramatic for her.”

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The Clippers may have a depleted roster again tonight because swingman Corey Maggette and rookie point guard Keyon Dooling are still not 100% after sitting out the loss to Charlotte because of illness. Maggette, who has an upper respiratory infection, did not attend Saturday’s practice and is questionable. Dooling, who has a gastrointestinal infection, could see some minutes after going through some drills Saturday.