EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- As if Shaquille O'Neal didn't have enough problems with foul shooting. Now, the refs will watch him closely to make sure he doesn't step over the free-throw line.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently complained that O'Neal violates the rules, stepping over the line before the ball hits the basket.

In response, NBA senior vice president Stu Jackson told referees to keep tabs on O'Neal, and told the Lakers he would be called for violations.

Lead official Jack Nies warned O'Neal before Sunday night's game against Sacramento, but no violations have been called.

Nevertheless, O'Neal directed his anger toward Cuban.

"Mark, you make too much money to be whining and crying," he told the Los Angeles Daily News. "Let me tell you something -- crying is not going to stop Shaq O'Neal. It's just going to get me angry. And when I'm angry, you won't like me when I'm angry."

Cuban said O'Neal "still shoots free throws like a 10-year-old -- he's got to step over the line to get it there."

The rulebook states the shooter may not cross the plane of the free-throw line until the ball touches the basket ring, backboard or until the free throw ends.

Through the Lakers' first nine games this season, O'Neal made 58.3 percent of his foul shots. He entered the season with a 53.1 career percentage.