Good Vibrations Get a Road Test

Change came in a broad-shouldered power forward and a sunken-chested point guard.

Seventeen games later, the Lakers swing the basketball, seem to like playing defense and have won 14 times.

No one doubts what Shaquille O’Neal is in the middle and what that would mean in the playoffs. When Kobe Bryant shimmies his shoulders on the perimeter, opposing coaches still go stiff with dread.

But an organization had grown, well, predictable. It was Shaq. Or Kobe. Or home for May.

By the end of three championship seasons, the bench thinned, O’Neal didn’t, Bryant became the accused and the peripheral players who weren’t too young had grown too old.

In walked Karl Malone, alongside Gary Payton. They came because O’Neal and Bryant were already here. They came because of what Jerry West built seven years ago, and because of where the Lakers finished a year ago.

Malone asks that no one get ahead of himself here, but in the Lakers’ gym in El Segundo, in the business offices upstairs, there is optimism where, seven months ago, there was deep concern. The “big four,” Malone, Payton, O’Neal and Bryant, have kicked in a handful of shots apiece, and plenty of points apiece, and heading into the first game of a road back-to-back tonight in San Antonio -- and the rested Dallas Mavericks await -- the Lakers are feeling what their total game could be.

“It’s been fun,” O’Neal said. “Guys are working hard, hanging out. It’s going to be a memorable year.”

After Tuesday’s practice, O’Neal and Malone spent another 15 minutes, each soaked in sweat, shooting free throws, making fun of the other guy’s misses.

“It’s a different group of guys,” said O’Neal, whose dour periods have generally shortened. “We’re all so funny. We sit and look at each other and laugh at each other.”

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Had he not had his heart set on playing beside O’Neal and for the Lakers, Malone might have spent Tuesday preparing for them. When free agents Jason Kidd and Jermaine O’Neal spurned the Spurs in July, and with Malone already having verbally committed to the Lakers, the Spurs made several calls to Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley. Malone would not bite, though he admitted the prospect of playing beside Tim Duncan was attractive.

“You’re intrigued with certain guys,” Malone said. “Playing with Shaq, though, that’s not too shabby at all.

“It worked out for the better.”

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By tonight, the Lakers will have played three of their four games against the Spurs and will not return to San Antonio this regular season. O’Neal said he was looking forward to the trip.

“I love it a lot,” he said. “Because it’s us against the golden boys.”

The Spurs? Golden boys?

Apparently, it had something to do with Duncan’s being suspended for only one game for “pushing” a referee Saturday night in Oakland.

“If I’d have done that,” O’Neal said, “I would have got 10 games.”

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Rick Fox, recovering from May foot surgery, is participating in nearly every facet of Laker practice. He is hesitant to target a return date, but is aiming for somewhere around Jan. 1.

No one has yet considered Fox’s role when he does return.

He started the previous three seasons for Coach Phil Jackson but Devean George is younger and more athletic. Fox, though, is one of the grittiest players in the league, something Jackson values.

Recently asked about the Lakers adding toughness in the front court with Malone, Jackson said, “We really needed a physical presence out there. We thought we’d lost the physical nature of our game, particularly last year when Rick Fox was out. When your small forward is the most physical player on the team, it says something about it.”

Fox said Tuesday he simply wanted to help.

“Honestly, this is the biggest challenge,” he said, pointing to his left foot. “When and where he plays me, how he plays me, that is not an issue for me.”

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TONIGHT

at San Antonio Spurs, 5:30 PST, Channel 9

Site -- SBC Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 14-3, Spurs 9-9.

Record vs. Spurs -- 2-0.

Update -- The Spurs get Duncan back after his one-game suspension.