O’Neal Leery of MVP Talk

Laker center Shaquille O’Neal--leading the league in scoring and shooting percentage, second in rebounds, third in blocked shots--has made himself the overwhelming favorite to win his first most-valuable-player award, but says he has experienced this process too often to count on anything.

“I’ve heard this talk before, and they’ve given it away [to someone else] before,” O’Neal said. “So it wouldn’t surprise me if they give it to somebody else, again. You never know. I mean, for me, it’s always something.

“First time, it wasn’t my turn. The second time, Karl Malone had a little bit better season. Third time, [people said,] ‘He can’t do this, he can’t do that.’

“So, I don’t know what the hell will go on. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing. But it wouldn’t be surprising if they gave it to somebody else.”

In O’Neal’s latest burst of MVP-level play, he dominated Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing, and has a 36.2-point average over the last seven games, inching him past Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson in the scoring race.

And, with only 14 regular-season games left to play, O’Neal has led the Lakers to the best record in the league, by far. The Lakers are on pace to finish with 67 victories.

Coach Phil Jackson compared it to his days with Michael Jordan, who was MVP five times, but lost out to Charles Barkley once and Karl Malone once in title-winning Chicago Bull seasons.

“[It] still has to be voted, you know?” Jackson said. “I coached a guy who’s probably the best the NBA has ever seen, and a couple years he wasn’t most valuable player.

“Even though he won championships, they still found a way to put somebody else out there. . . . And you’ve got to spread it around.

“But I think it’s certainly Shaq’s turn to have it and he’s certainly done the job this season to deserve it.”

Jackson said that he knows O’Neal is focused on the bigger picture, and not on the individual awards.

“He’s downplaying it,” Jackson said. “I think that’s the right way to be--it’s understanding that’s not the key to the season.

“It’s a wonderful accolade, but the key to the season is the playoffs and the championship.”

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State,

7:30,Fox Sports West

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 56-12; Warriors 17-50.

* Record vs. Warriors--2-0.

* Update--The February acquisition of Larry Hughes spurred a few weeks of decent play but now the Warriors are tumbling again. Hughes, however, scored an opponent-high 41 points in the Lakers’ victory at Oakland on March 9. The Lakers will complete the regular season with eight home games and six on the road.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.