LAKERS NOTEBOOK: JACKSON: TAKES MORE THAN ONE.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer EL SEGUNDO El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and - Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). is not the same overpowering force he once was and, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. his coach, might not ever be again. The Lakers wait and hope for the old Shaq to re-emerge, but in the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. is adjusting their formula for success. Under the old model, O'Neal and Kobe Bryant dominated, their teammates dutifully du·ti·ful adj. 1. Careful to fulfill obligations. 2. Expressing or filled with a sense of obligation. du filled in around the edges and everyone thrived. That model now appears obsolete, the Lakers having gone 11-19 this season and 8-10 with O'Neal in the lineup. Three months after toe surgery, O'Neal lacks the mobility to be as imposing on defense and the explosiveness to be a wrecking ball on offense. With better conditioning, he had shown improvement in recent weeks, but, ``He's leveled off,'' Jackson said. ``He's giving us the best kind of effort that he can give. And that's good,'' Jackson said. ``From that standpoint, I have no gripes gripe v. griped, grip·ing, gripes v.intr. 1. Informal To complain naggingly or petulantly; grumble. 2. To have sharp pains in the bowels. v.tr. 1. , no hopes, no anticipations that he's going to be playing at another level, an elevated level, than what he's at.'' Which means now, more than ever, it's up to everyone else. ``What I'm asking is for the other players that are playing around him to play at another level,'' Jackson said. ``Kobe's defense, as an all-defensive player, and his ability to take good, quality shots. Rick (Fox)'s ability to be an offensive threat and do some things with the basketball that creates penetration and assists. Derek (Fisher)'s shooting and his choice of shots and his ability to make the right decisions with the basketball at different times in the game has to improve. ``Samaki (Walker) has got to stay within the offense and understand what the triangle is all about, so that we can operate the offense when it moves from side to side. Rob (Horry) has to give us a little bit more than a lick and a promise, even if he is physically not ready to play or not 100 percent every night. He's got to give more to the team defensively than he has, or has been able to, lately. ``Our bench guards have to be able to come in and give us a lift. Our backup players, our short-term backup players, have to do the jobs they can do - Slava (Medvedenko) come in and score, Mark Madsen rebound and defend. ``It goes on and on down the line, that's basically what we're talking about. One person can't carry the whole team.'' --Also: The Lakers had a brief film session Thursday morning - gathering on an off-day at the players' request - then scattered quickly to prepare for O'Neal's wedding in Beverly Hills. Jackson will have a full practice today before the Lakers depart for Denver. They play the Nuggets Nuggets can refer to several branches of interest:
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