O’Neal, Bryant Start Their Engines

The “Corvette” struck back.

Kobe Bryant said he wouldn’t be afraid to drive toward the basket in Saturday’s game against Miami, despite the Corvette-hitting-brick wall analogy outlined by Shaquille O’Neal on Monday.

“I don’t back away from anything,” Bryant said Tuesday, smiling. “If I have to go to the basket or go to the rim, I’m going to go to the rim. If I have a jump shot, I’m going to take a jump shot.”

Bryant also wanted to clear up O’Neal’s comparison.

“I don’t think I’m a Corvette,” Bryant said. “I’m 230 [pounds] now. I’m like a mixture of a Corvette and a Hummer.”

O’Neal and Bryant are expected to meet Saturday for the first time since O’Neal was traded in July, although O’Neal sat out Tuesday night’s game against Boston because of a calf injury.

O’Neal has seared Bryant since the trade, his latest offering coming in a halftime interview on ABC’s “Monday Night Football.”

“If you’ve got a Corvette that runs into a brick wall, you know what’s gonna happen,” O’Neal said. “He’s a Corvette. I’m a brick wall. So you know what’s gonna happen.”

Bryant said O’Neal’s quip was creative, if not humorous.

“Shaq, he’s been that way forever,” Bryant said. “He uses comments like that as fuel or whatever. I found it pretty funny. It was cool.”

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It’s been a season for the record books so far, but not exactly the type the Lakers had expected.

Four team records have been set for offensive futility, leaving the Lakers with a 13-11 mark and one more game to make things look a little more cosmetic before Miami arrives.

To date, the Lakers:

* Set a record for fewest points in a half, 24, in Monday’s loss to Memphis.

* Set three record lows in one game last month against Utah -- fewest field goals made (20), lowest shooting percentage (29.4%) and fewest assists (seven).

* Are on track to set records for fewest points per game (currently 97.4) and fewest made field goals per game (34.3).

When asked about the struggles, Coach Rudy Tomjanovich made numerous references to clouds and storms, but said he would maintain a sunny disposition, at least publicly.

“As a coach, I’ve got to brush the clouds away and try to keep our guys confident and believing that what we’re doing is the right thing,” he said. “I’m never content, but I’m not going to be out here whining to you guys. My poor wife and my kids have got to live with that stuff. I’ve got to put on a good professional face.”

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Forward Brian Grant said he would be more anxious about playing tonight against New Orleans than on Saturday against his former team. Grant had been on the injured list since Nov. 23 while trying to rest and rehabilitate his ailing right knee.

“I’m going to be hyped up,” Grant said. “I’m going to be worried about getting tired, and winded too quick.”

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TONIGHT

vs. New Orleans, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 13-11; Hornets 2-22.

Record vs. Hornets -- 2-0.

Update -- The Hornets activated All-Star point guard Baron Davis from the injured list, but it was only out of necessity after guard Alex Garcia tore a ligament in his knee. Davis, who has sat out 19 games because of an inflamed disk in his back, is doubtful for tonight.