Defense Changes With O’Neal in It

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Shaquille O’Neal didn’t play for six games because of a strained arch and the Lakers did not give up 100 points in any of them.

O’Neal has been back for two games, and the Lakers gave up more than 100 in each of them.

According to Coach Phil Jackson, the reason lies in his defensive schemes.

“We started double-teaming and trapping, which we haven’t done with Shaq,” Jackson said. “Basically, my defensive philosophy is if you have to double-team and rotate, you’re putting yourself in jeopardy on the boards. This league is so generated by isolations and post-up situations. We just went conventional with our defense, started double-teaming and rotating more than we had before. It helped our defense get active and it helped us be better off defensively.”

The challenge is integrating the energy of a Shaq-less defense with Jackson’s preference to play straight up.

“I’d like to, but with Shaq it’s not easy,” he said. “If he has to rotate out, it’s just not going to happen. It’s much easier to do that without him in the lineup.”

Meantime, the Lakers seem destined to be a poor defensive team, largely because their older players are not quick enough to do much more than stand between the opponent and the basket. Even with those six sturdy games without O’Neal, their defense ranks 23rd in points allowed, 15th in field-goal percentage allowed, and 27th in forcing turnovers.

*

O’Neal watches them come, the faceless and the nameless but certainly not the mission-less.

They arrive from the end of the opposing bench, these men with large shoulders who carry their six fouls on bandoleers, these Feicks and MacCullochs. Despite the hard hacks from the talent-impaired, O’Neal almost never retaliates.

“I think I’m a football player who plays the game and doesn’t get the six days to recuperate,” he said. “That’s what I am, a football player.”

*

Kobe Bryant wasn’t the only one who looked tired and/or distracted in the wake of Tuesday night’s duel at New Jersey.

On Wednesday night, Bryant took only 13 shots in a 15-point loss at Philadelphia and Stephon Marbury took 12 in the Nets’ 19-point defeat at Detroit.

The night before, Bryant and Marbury combined for 54 shots and 88 points, 50 of them Marbury’s.

*

Faced with a weary team, Jackson canceled practice Thursday and moved up by an hour the time of the team’s charter flight from Philadelphia.

There was no indication he made O’Neal run up and down the airplane aisle for 40 minutes.

*

Guard Ron Harper, who has a swollen left knee, is doubtful for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. He did not play Wednesday in Philadelphia.

In the past, the Lakers have discussed putting Harper, who has chronically sore knees, on the injured list to rest him for the postseason.

Asked if he would be available tonight, Harper said, “I don’t know. We’ll find out then.”

Rick Fox’s back remains sore, but he is expected to play.

TONIGHT

at Charlotte

4:30 PST,

Channel 9 (5:30)

* Site--Charlotte Coliseum.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 32-17, Hornets 27-25.

* Record vs. Hornets--1-0.

* Update--Bryant scored 44 points in a 93-87 victory Feb. 2 at Staples Center. In 48 minutes, he also had nine rebounds and five blocks. No one else scored as many as 10 points, but that was without O’Neal. Jamal Mashburn scored 28 points. The Hornets have won two in a row overall, but have lost their last four to the Lakers. Charlotte Coach Paul Silas is 5-16 in his career against the Lakers. Jackson is 33-7 against Charlotte.