Shaq: MVP Voters’ Opinions Mean Little

Composed but largely humorless, Shaquille O’Neal said Thursday afternoon that finishing a distant third in the NBA’s MVP voting didn’t bother him in the least, then insulted those who’d cast the ballots.

He also stood by a passage in his just-released book, “Shaq Talks Back,” in which he talks about San Antonio’s David Robinson and his “Goody Two Shoes image,” which hardly qualifies as inflammatory, and a long-ago, joking reference to the Spurs as “a WNBA team.”

When the Western Conference finals are just about basketball, which it appears they will be, this is what passes for controversy. Meantime, O’Neal has been a bit grumpy, which has led most to the conclusion that the MVP vote, the one in which he finished behind Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, is the cause.

“It really doesn’t bother me, because most of you suits don’t know what you’re talking about anyway,” O’Neal said, causing two TV guys to flush. “So, that doesn’t bother me.”

The Spurs probably won’t be combing O’Neal’s book for slights, anyway. But, in case they do, O’Neal told them to bring their wallets--$23.95 a copy.

“I’m the type when I say something, I shouldn’t have to repeat myself,” he said. “I said what I said. If you didn’t read it or hear me say it, then go buy the book. . . . It’s a bestseller.”

Publicly, the Lakers frown and wonder how O’Neal could be so disrespected by the voting media. Then they rub their hands in glee at how O’Neal might respond to Duncan’s receiving 11 more first-place votes than he did.

“I don’t think he’s spoken to anybody,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “He’s been relatively compliant in practice, but he’s got a certain sense of determination about him. He’s not the happy-go-lucky guy that you normally see. If he wants to have a mood and go through it, that’s fine. I just hope he’s preparing himself for the inevitable down in San Antonio.”

Said Derek Fisher: “He’s been quiet. For me, that’s a good sign. That means he’s probably going to be more focused.”

Robert Horry, a shooter who could draw the Spurs out of their reputed zone defense, made seven of eight three-point shots in games this season at the Alamodome. He missed all three of his attempts at Staples Center against the Spurs.

Didn’t surprise Horry at all. He made 31.9% of his threes at home, and 36.9% of them on the road.

It is possible the best thing to happen to the Laker perimeter game was the elimination of the L.A. Kings.

“When the floor is cold, I can feel it coming up through my legs,” Horry said. “It’s just different. I love arenas that don’t have a hockey team.”

Mayor Richard Riordan, dressed in breezy over-sized shorts and T-shirt, was filmed playing basketball against Fox and Mark Madsen. The footage is for a larger project to be shown at one of Riordan’s farewell affairs.

Asked to name the tougher of foes, Peja Stojakovic or Riordan, Fox laughed and said, “Riordan holds more.”

Jim Hahn’s got next.

On Tuesday, Jackson accused the Spurs of playing a 1-2-2 zone. On Wednesday, Spur Coach Gregg Popovich smirked and said it actually was a 1-1-3.

So, it came to Thursday.

Said Jackson, “There’s a referee in there too. So maybe it’s a 2-2-2.”

Saturday’s game will be shown at Staples Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 14. Proceeds will be donated to charities.