No Decision on Rest for O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal was examined Monday morning by a UCLA Medical Center podiatrist who recommended more shoe support and more rest.

Team officials and O’Neal likely will meet today to discuss the depth of that rest, which could include Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, Sunday’s All-Star game and next Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards, or segments of that. O’Neal would attend the All-Star game, in any case.

No decision has been made, other than to continue to protect O’Neal’s arthritic right big toe, and to devise a better strategy that might bring him relief from the pain.

In recent weeks, O’Neal increased the size of his shoe, and three games ago he began to wear a new orthotic device that apparently has helped.

O’Neal also takes anti-inflammatory medication, though it upsets his stomach.

The various problems with his feet--he also had preseason surgery on the small toe on his left foot--have made O’Neal’s season a trying one, in some respects. He missed five games in late December and early January on the injured list, he is not as mobile and his lack of practice time limits his conditioning.

Still, in 37 games, O’Neal leads the Lakers in scoring (26.1 points), field-goal percentage (56.7) and rebounding (10.8), this while often limping to and from the arena.

On that creaky big toe, O’Neal averaged 27.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in four games in four arenas, all wins, last week.

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If you’ll recall, Brad Miller was the “bum” and Charles Oakley was the “has-been,” presumably, according to O’Neal.

The Lakers play the Bulls on Wednesday, 25 days after O’Neal threw a punch at Miller, shortly after being mugged by Miller and Oakley.

“When you’re an all-star and an MVP, I’m a bum compared to him, probably,” Miller told Chicago papers. “But who cares? I’ve been called much worse.”

Said Oakley: “Why would I care what Shaq says?”