O’Neal Spreads It Around

Shaquille O’Neal, The Big Pachyderm, went another day without discussing the whiffed punch that cost him three games, about $729,000 and his duty to cover Miami’s Alonzo Mourning on Wednesday and San Antonio’s David Robinson on Saturday.

But he is amusing himself and the media with his occasional bits of wisdom, Tuesday on the subject of frogs kicking elephants, and Wednesday on the importance of lawn care, particularly this time of year.

After the Lakers’ morning shoot-around, O’Neal emerged with a sign, handwritten. It read: “I do not waste my time in answering abuse. I thrive under it, like a field that benefits from manure.”

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In his 12th coaching season, Phil Jackson entered Wednesday night’s game against the Heat one victory short of Red Holzman, who won 696 games in 18 seasons, and a tie for 13th place on the all-time list.

Jackson’s winning percentage of .741 (695-243) is the highest ever, even with the loss to the Heat.

Jackson appeared unaware that he was on the verge of catching Holzman, for whom he played on the New York Knicks, though he often credits Holzman as an early influence.

“I wish he was alive to enjoy it,” Jackson said. “Most of my demeanor and techniques are attributable to him.”

Next on the list is John MacLeod, who won 707 games in 18 seasons.

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The NBA suspended O’Neal for three games and forward Rick Fox said nearly everyone loses.

“The national audience and the NBC audience are the ones that suffer, along with us as a team, because of Saturday’s game,” Fox said. “We won’t get a true assessment of what the San Antonio-Laker matchup is about.”

The Lakers beat the Spurs last Feb. 21 without Kobe Bryant, split the four-game season series, then swept the Spurs in four games in the Western Conference finals.

Tim Brown