O’Neal Is Speaking Again

Unwilling to speak publicly for two weeks because he either hated or feared the state of a suddenly fragile team sagging in its attempt to win a fourth consecutive championship, Shaquille O’Neal said Friday he disparaged his teammates for good reason.

“When I make my guys mad, they usually respond,” O’Neal said before the game with the 76ers, in which he fouled out.

As the Lakers played their way to a 10-17 record, into last place in the Pacific Division, the Big Psychologist twice denigrated his guys for their lack of productivity. The result was twofold: His teammates felt betrayed and then they played no better, and some performed worse.

More than a week after the likes of Brian Shaw asked they hear the criticism firsthand rather than through the media, O’Neal said he never left their sides. Figuratively speaking. “I never jump ship on my guys,” O’Neal said. “We win together and lose together.”

They’d be happy to hear it, of course. And happy to have him back.

Suddenly chatty, O’Neal touched a handful of topics with reporters, among them:

The Lakers’ situation: “Am I bothered? Yeah, I’m bothered. That’s why I haven’t talked to you guys.... I’m a little bit concerned. As we go along, I’ll be able to tell.”

On recovering from surgery: “My foot’s still hurting a little bit, but I’ll never say nothing.”

On his progress: “I’m only as good as my team’s going. Once the team gets back on track, I’ll be at my best.”

On how the Lakers go from championship team to 10-17: “I won with these guys the last three years. I don’t know what the difference is now. I don’t know what the cancer is.... Hopefully, they’ll get better. Still time. Still time.”

On the lasting effects of criticizing his teammates: “If they haven’t been hurt in the past, it shouldn’t hurt now.”

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Tracy Murray, who has played two minutes on this trip, has taken to riding an exercise bike during games to stay warm, in the off chance Phil Jackson plays him.