Concentration Pays Off at Line

By TIM KAWAKAMI

Feb. 16, 2000 12 AM PT

CHICAGO — What’s the secret to Shaquille O’Neal’s recent free-throw success? How can he shoot 46.4% in his first 47 games and then over his last two make 26 of 32--a sweet 81.3%?

“Can’t tell you,” O’Neal said after making 11 of 12 in the Lakers’ victory Tuesday over the Bulls, including his first nine.

Can’t say anything? Not after making 15 of 20 against Minnesota in the game before the all-star break and five of six in Tuesday’s fourth quarter, not when he looks so much more calm and poised at the line suddenly?

“I’m just making them,” said O’Neal, who raised his season mark to 48.5%. “I always shoot them like that.

“I’m just doing what I’ve been doing in practice. And once I develop some consistency, it’ll be all over [for the rest of the league]. It’s already all over, but then it’ll really be all over. . . .

“It feels good. I’m sure that was part of the plan, get me to the line. It was going for me tonight. So hopefully [against the Charlotte Hornets tonight], if that’s their plan, hopefully they’ll go for me tomorrow.

“I’ve got to concentrate. When I don’t make them, that’s what’s wrong, my concentration.”

O’Neal hurt his right shoulder in Sunday’s All-Star game, and said he wasn’t feeling any problems Tuesday, but Coach Phil Jackson said he could tell O’Neal was favoring it.

O’Neal also showed restraint in the fourth quarter when he was thrown to the floor by Will Perdue and did not immediately retaliate physically.

“I think the old Shaq would’ve probably gotten [suspended] five games,” O’Neal said. “I probably would’ve gone after him. But I’m on a mission. [There are] 33 games left, we just want to try to do whatever, trying to get ourselves in good position.”

Tonight’s game will mark Eddie Jones’ first game against the Lakers since he and Elden Campbell were traded to the Hornets for Glen Rice. Jones sat out the Hornets’ game at Staples Center earlier this season because of an elbow injury. “It’s just another game, just like I was playing Cleveland or whoever,” Jones said last week. “Of course, I want to win. I may put a lot more into that game.” . . . Kobe Bryant went down after taking an elbow to his right knee in the first quarter but said it wasn’t a problem after.

TONIGHT

at Charlotte, 4:30 PST

Channel 9 (6, delayed)

* Site--Charlotte Coliseum.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 38-11, Hornets 28-20.

* record vs. Hornets--1-0.

* Update--Charlotte’s 20-3 home record is second-best in the league behind Indiana’s 21-2.

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TRIPLE PLAYS / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL