Success Is All Relative for O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal’s mother, Lucille, attended Game 1. His father, Philip, attended Game 2.

The result: 87 points, 41 rebounds, 10 blocked shots and a 2-0 lead over the Sacramento Kings in the best-of-seven series.

He frequently made eye contact with his mother, who sat directly across from the Laker bench Sunday afternoon, and he pointed at his dad. He said their presence often helps his game.

“Especially with my father,” he said. “If I don’t put together a good game, I’ll have to hear it.”

He doesn’t expect any family members in Sacramento, however.

“My father would be in the stands fighting if he went to away games,” O’Neal said, smiling.

In a game in Orlando this season, Philip created a stir when he was spotted yelling at Kobe Bryant to pass the ball.

O’Neal said thoughts of another championship gripped him within days of last season’s title and that he hardly enjoyed his summer as a result.

“It tells me I have a competitive nature,” he said. “I just want more and more. For example, I don’t know why I bought this Ferrari, but I bought a Ferrari the other day. Now I want another one. It’s crazy, stupid stuff like that.”

O’Neal meant to shave his fuzzy head in time for Sunday’s Game 1 but didn’t have time. Then he ran out of time between games. Now, superstition forbids a change so dramatic.

“No way,” he said.

Bryant, who bounced all over the floor defensively Tuesday night and found enough shots around O’Neal to score 27 points, slowly is reclaiming his body. The time between series helped, and O’Neal’s powerful play in the first two series has kept Bryant from getting pounded inside.

“I feel like I’m ready to jump over somebody,” he said.

Bryant has scored 56 points in the series, 30--on 10-of-14 shooting--in the third quarter. During both halftimes, Phil Jackson said, the coaching staff urged Bryant to get more involved in the scoring part of the offense.

The Lakers used Wednesday as a recovery day, allowing the starters to rest, watch tape and take therapy on anything that nagged them. The reserves, including Ron Harper, played three-on-three afterward.

Harper played five minutes Tuesday night, most of them guarding Peja Stojakovic. He missed his only shot.

Jackson was to leave the team today to attend his son’s graduation. Ben Jackson will graduate from the University of Colorado on Friday. Jackson will miss today’s practice and Friday’s shoot-around before returning in time for Game 3. . . . Greg Foster received treatment but did not practice. He is doubtful for Game 3.