One Foe Actually Misses Shaq

SEATTLE — The Lakers come into town. Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t.

You would think most coaches will be thrilled at the news, excited to know that the paint won’t be occupied by the most devastating force in the league.

Not Nate McMillan.

The coach of the Seattle SuperSonics takes no comfort from the absence of the Laker center, who is on the injured list because of a toe injury.

“They are very good with Shaq in there,” McMillan said, “but without him, they are more aggressive.

“They use a smaller lineup that really gets after you. One of the things we like to do is run on them, but with that smaller team, they really get back well on transition.”

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O’Neal, who missed his third consecutive game Thursday, will be eligible to return for Tuesday’s game at Staples Center against the Boston Celtics.

O’Neal is expected to be ready, just as long as he doesn’t do anything dangerous, like work out with a medicine ball.

During Laker practice Wednesday at HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo, O’Neal was engaged in an exercise that consists of wedging the ball between his back and the wall and applying pressure.

Suddenly, the ball slipped out, O’Neal fell backward, cracked his head against the ungiving wall and slumped to the floor.

He lay there inert, but then flashed a wide grin.

The Lakers’ hopes of a three-peat could have ended right there, no matter what McMillan thinks.

TONIGHT

vs. Atlanta, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 35-13, Hawks 17-33.

Record vs. Hawks--1-0.

Update--In their only meeting this season, the Lakers blew the Hawks out, 127-93, at Atlanta. And it doesn’t figure to be much better for the Hawks tonight. Overall, Atlanta is 5-21 on the road this season.

Steve Springer