Decision to Play Will Be Shaq’s

The decision to play tonight against the Phoenix Suns is Shaquille O’Neal’s.

It is January, and early January at that, so no one is hanging on his choice, but the Lakers could use his heft in a difficult stretch of games ahead.

Though he declared this week that he expected to return when his five-game stay on the injured list was over--it ends tonight--O’Neal did not walk past reporters Thursday afternoon, he ran. He jacked a 16-foot fadeaway over Jelani McCoy at the end of practice, howled when it dropped, and that was about the last anyone saw of him.

“Oh yeah,” McCoy said on his way off the floor, “he’ll be ready.”

Nice of McCoy, really, since it probably means a return to the injured list for him.

O’Neal, third in the NBA in scoring and fifth in rebounds, has been bothered by an arthritic right big toe and, four months after surgery, limps on his small left toe.

He volunteered to go to the injured list on Christmas Day. He rested his feet for a week and then gradually resumed basketball activities. He worked out Thursday morning, then participated in about half of the team’s regular practice. By the time the Lakers filled the floor, O’Neal already was sweating and apparently in great spirits.

“He looked pretty good, the same to me,” guard Kobe Bryant said. “He had his game face on, so I figure he’ll be ready. I don’t think it matters, because whenever he steps out on the floor he’ll be ready to play anyway.”

Asked if he assumed O’Neal would play tonight, Bryant said, “I hope so. I don’t know. He said he might, he might not.”

Coach Phil Jackson said he could not predict O’Neal’s course. He wouldn’t mind that the Suns would prepare for two Laker teams--the one with O’Neal and the one without him. Also, O’Neal often changes his mind, and actually surprised some club officials when he said he expected to return so quickly.

“He didn’t come to me and tell me he’s ready to go,” Jackson said. “We’ll talk about that [today].

“It’s important for him to come back when he’s ready to come back. We’re going to win more games when Shaq’s in the lineup, there’s no doubt about it. But, that’s not of paramount importance. It’s tough to feel you’re going into war without your big warrior out there to play. The reality is, you’ve got to go through an 82-game season. You make it the best you can. If he’s healthy for an 82-game season, great. If he plays 68, great. Whatever it is, we’ll take it and go into the playoffs in the best condition we can possibly be in when that time comes.”

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Resolutions aren’t taken lightly around the Lakers. No “cut out the fudge ripple” around here.

Jackson resolved to “surrender” his resistance.

Bryant, who enjoys a little self-examination now and then, drew his inspiration from noted philosopher Tex Winter, who tweaked the whole resolution thing.

“Not to have one next year,” Bryant said, laughing. “To have everything be nice and simple, to lead a simple life. That’s a good piece of advice that Tex gave me, ‘Just keep life as simple as possible.’ That’s a good one.”

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The Lakers were 19-9 at this time last season ... After tonight’s game against Phoenix, the Lakers will fly Saturday to Toronto, where they start a five-game, eight-day trip. They’ll also play in Detroit and Indiana on consecutive nights, then Minnesota and Chicago on consecutive nights.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center

Radio--KLAC (570)

Records--Lakers 22-6, Suns 18-14.

Record vs. Suns--1-1.

Update--The Suns were the 1 in the Lakers’ 16-1 start, scoring a 95-83 victory at Phoenix when the Lakers shot 40.5% and Penny Hardaway scored 20 points. Two weeks earlier, the Lakers had beaten the Suns at Staples Center, 117-94, when Shaquille O’Neal scored 36 points. Hardaway was the Suns’ leading scorer then as well, with 25 points. Kobe Bryant missed 10 of 15 shots in the loss. The Lakers have won the last six at home in the series. Stephon Marbury averages 20 points.

Tickets--(800) 462-2849.