No Limits for O’Neal

There once was a concern about Shaquille O’Neal’s playing time, on a big toe three months removed from surgery, on legs that haven’t been conditioned, on a game still not quite up to his standards.

Not anymore.

For one, the Laker schedule has lightened since they reached their 22nd game in 41 days, a particular strain for a veteran team. For another, well, Shaq had his chance to come out of the Dallas game.

“Actually, when he refused to come out of the game the other night I said, ‘To [heck] with it,’ ” Coach Phil Jackson said, grinning. “He’ll let me know when he’s tired. He let me know in the Utah game he was tired after five minutes.... Maybe he really worked hard in that game. The Dallas game, maybe there just wasn’t that much going on, where he had to defend and do the things that can make a guy tired.”

O’Neal averaged 35.5 minutes in his first 10 games off the injured list. More, probably, than most expected. Now, the schedule becomes a bit more airy. The Lakers play 15 games in December, 12 in January.

“Definitely, the last week has been an improvement in his conditioning, noticeably,” Jackson said.

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Where the public sees progress from O’Neal, Derek Fisher, who has had two foot surgeries since the fall of 1999, sees potential.

“He’s a long way away,” Fisher said. “He’ll have some bright spots. ... [But] to expect him to come around sometime soon, or be the Shaq people expect on a nightly basis, isn’t fair. We’ll know more in February or March.”

O’Neal spent some time on treadmills and bikes, but there were long periods when he was advised to stay off his feet.

“Every part of your game, especially for a big man, suffers if you’re not in shape,” Fisher said. “In the meantime, we’ll take whatever Shaq we can get.”

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The Lakers’ field-goal percentage without O’Neal: 38.7. With him: 47.0.... The Lakers don’t play again until Friday against New Orleans.