O’Neal Makes a Promise

Shaquille O’Neal ripped Dallas Coach Don Nelson’s tactics and promised to score 50 points the next time the Lakers play the Mavericks, on Jan. 22

Nelson, whom O’Neal once called “a clown coach,” employed his Hack-a-Shaq strategy late in the Mavericks’ 17-point win Friday night in Los Angeles. O’Neal missed 13 of 24 free-throw attempts, seven of 10 in the fourth quarter, infuriating O’Neal.

“I think it’s chicken ... “ O’Neal said. “It shows you how much Nellie fears me. It won’t work all the time and I will remember it. Next time I see Dallas, I will be going for 50.”

In the scheme of O’Neal’s scoring, rebounds, blocked shots and spry defense, the Lakers choose to be understanding of his frailty at the line. But the Mavericks come to town, Hack-a-Shaq from way ahead and hold the whole thing up for inspection again.

“I think Nellie likes to tear the heart out of a team,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “He has that feeling, like he’d like to make Shaq embarrassed out there on the free-throw line. The other thing, it’s a two-pronged thing, it gave them ample opportunity for them to rail against the league about Shaq stepping over the line.

“So not only were they trying to do [the Hack-a-Shaq], but they could also harass him about stepping over the line. Then it forced the league to call it and [referee Steve] Javie accommodated them by calling another line violation.”

O’Neal was making barely half his free throws (51.5%) when he arrived at the Rose Garden on Saturday night and took only three free throws against the Portland Trail Blazers, making two.

“I haven’t been concerned about him at the free-throw line for a year,” Jackson said. “Since ... a couple years ago he’s been shooting fouls very well. It’s a problem with him because it’s a mental thing and a rhythm thing. If he’s out of rhythm, which he got out of last night, he could fall apart. We don’t try to overemphasize it. But he was out on the floor today, shooting his 25 free throws or 50 free throws because I know he was concerned about it.”

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The Mavericks did Shaq Albert on their overhead monitor, the Lakers countered in their pregame show with a replay of Steve Nash being downed by Karl Malone’s elbow.

Now the Lakers have called it off. Team executives have asked the game operations staff to maintain standards of dignity and sportsmanship, and there is a chance future shows will be reviewed in-house before being aired.

“Someone asked me if I had something to do with it,” Jackson said. “I certainly didn’t.

“I think they are activated by the Mavericks’ video corps down there. They’ve really got their game together and they’re using their

Asked if he would look into the situation, Jackson said, “We’ll talk about it.”

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The Lakers will practice Monday and Thursday this week. Jackson said he would concentrate on defense going into Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.... Among the other statistics he has piled up, Malone is the NBA’s all-time leader in defensive rebounds.... O’Neal was seven for seven from the floor against Dallas, the first time a Laker had taken as many shots without a miss in three years. Mike Penberthy was seven for seven against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 12, 2000. The Lakers lost that night too.