Team is hungrier, more focused
Associated Press
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- No more knuckleheads.
That's Shaquille O'Neal's take on the current Los Angeles Lakers
team.
Teammate Derek Fisher, on the other hand, believes increased
stability and maturity have been the key factors in the Lakers'
terrific regular season and role as favorites to win their first
NBA championship in 12 years.
|  | | O'Neal is one of the Lakers who has matured. |
"The guys are hungry this year," O'Neal said following
practice Tuesday as the Lakers continued to prepare for Game 2 of
their first-round playoff series against Sacramento, to be played
Thursday night at Staples Center.
Hungrier than in the past?
"I think so," O'Neal replied. "The older guys are doing a
good job of keeping the younger guys in line. I think this is the
closest-knit group I've ever been on. We're like a close family. We
win together, we lose together."
That hasn't always been the case.
The Lakers, who lead the Kings 1-0 in their best-of-five series,
have been considered championship contenders since O'Neal joined
them, but they've flamed out in the playoffs, losing 4-1 to Utah in
1997; 4-0 to Utah in 1998, and 4-0 to the eventual champion San
Antonio Spurs last spring.
That was then, this is now.
"We don't have any knuckleheads on the team this year," O'Neal
said.
When asked to elaborate, he said, "You know who I'm talking
about, elaborate for me."
Fisher, who along with Kobe Bryant joined the Lakers as rookies
when O'Neal did, before the 1996-97 season, agreed with O'Neal's
assessment regarding the closeness of the current team, but saw
other things differently.
"I think our synergy as far as individuals, as far as
personalities, has meshed better this year than in the past,"
Fisher said. "Guys have come in and given us a settling effect,
guys with more experience, more maturity."
Fisher mentioned newcomers Ron Harper, A.C. Green, Brian Shaw
and John Salley -- all 34 or older.
"I'd say we still have knuckleheads, just more mature
knuckleheads," Fisher said with a smile. "When you get older and
more mature, you tend to accept responsibility more. You tend to
look in the mirror rather than pointing fingers.
"It's really been a great team feeling, instilled by the
coaching staff."
Lakers owner Jerry Buss signed Phil Jackson to a five-year, $30
million contract last summer -- by far the most Buss has paid for a
coach.
Jackson, who coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships in
the 1990s, brought instant credibility to a team loaded with
potential.
"I just think everybody was immature, all of us," Fisher said.
"As young players, you're always looking at your individual
situation. I think if you put that group back together right now,
we'd probably be as dominant."
When apprised of Fisher's observation that several Lakers had
matured over the last few years, O'Neal said, "Yeah, like me."
Fisher noted that friction between former Lakers guard Nick Van
Exel and ex-coach Del Harris surfaced several years ago, and the
game-to-game effort of former forward-center Elden Campbell was
questioned for years.
Van Exel was traded to Denver following the 1997-98 season, and
Campbell was traded to Charlotte during the lockout-shortened
1998-99 season along with Eddie Jones for Glen Rice. Jones was one
of the most popular Lakers players with his teammates, Fisher said.
As far as Dennis Rodman was concerned, Fisher said, "I would
say it was a tough time for him to come in."
Rodman joined the Lakers on the same day Harris was fired, in
February 1999, but was released seven weeks later following a
series of incidents.
"I don't think any team can deal with the cloud of uncertainty
that was always around this organization," Fisher said. "If you
know your coach might not be around next week, if there's going to
be a big midseason trade, that's tough."
Harris was replaced by Kurt Rambis 12 games into the
lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. Rambis finished the season before
the Lakers hired Jackson, who will certainly be around a while.
And there were no midseason trades this season.
"The focus is on the court," Fisher said.
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