O’Neal’s Play Impresses Both Coaches

The Shaquille O’Neal watch continues.

O’Neal, who recently put himself at 80%, scored 33 points with seven assists Friday night, then went out the back door of the dressing room without talking, bound for a late-night charter flight to Atlanta for the All-Star game.

Coach Phil Jackson, asked about O’Neal’s health before the game, said, “Don’t ask him, he’ll tell you what kind of pain [he’s playing in], but that’s always been Shaq, he’ll always tell you he’s in a lot of pain, whether it’s mental, physical or emotional. It’s pain with Shaquille, always.

“But I think he’s OK. He’s actually doing little funny things on the court again with his body, which gives me the impression that he’s feeling good about himself, physically. And that’s been a long time coming.”

Of course, from the other bench, he looks like the old Shaq.

“I saw him when he first came back and I knew his conditioning wasn’t great,” Knick Coach Don Chaney said. “He looked a little bit overweight.... But now, I think, he’s right back to normal. I saw maybe eight games [on tape] and he appears to be sharp now. And that could be one reason they’re playing well. He’s the old Shaq now.”

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After going into the break with four road games in their last five, the Lakers will come out of the break with 11 of their first 14 at Staples Center.... Jackson continues to suggest the Lakers would like to add a fast guard to play the role they’re now entrusting to rookie Kareem Rush.