LAKERS NOTEBOOK: O'NEAL'S CHOICE FOR MVP? O'NEAL.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer SALT LAKE CITY - 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). assessed the field for the MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. race and didn't hesitate before offering his selection: ``Me,'' he said. ``Me.'' Unfortunately for the league's reigning MVP, he doesn't get a ballot. The writers and broadcasters who cover the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= do and will begin voting soon. All the chatter surrounds Philadelphia's Allen Iverson <noinclude></noinclude> Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975, in Hampton, Virginia[1]), nicknamed A.I. and The Answer, is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. , Sacramento's Chris Webber For the Canadian-born former BBL basketball player, see . Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, better known as Chris Webber or C-Webb (born March 1, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan), is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.. and San Antonio's Tim Duncan - whose teams all have better records than the Lakers. O'Neal and teammate Kobe Bryant both rank in the top four in the league in scoring, but with the Lakers underachieving, they might not get a lot of support for MVP. ``Definitely, both of them played well enough,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``If our record was a leader in either the Pacific or the Western Conference, yes they would be considered. But I think more than anything else, it's the team and where they're at, and my guess is right now there will be three front-runners, and that's the teams that are ahead - Iverson, Duncan, Webber perhaps. ... But I would be surprised if Shaq doesn't finish in the top four in the league.'' A dominant individual performance sometimes offsets a subpar sub·par adj. 1. Not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production. 2. Below par in a hole, round, or game of golf. win-loss record, but O'Neal hasn't been nearly the offensive and defensive force he was last season, when he fell one vote shy of winning the award unanimously. Injuries have played a part, as has his tug-of-war with Bryant. ``If I get the same opportunities, I'm always going to have the same numbers,'' O'Neal said. ``Feed the dog more. Ruff, ruff.'' True, O'Neal's scoring is down a bit, but his rebounds and blocked shots are down as well, which also could affect the voting. ``I went down in one stinking stinking having an intrinsic fetid smell. stinking elder sambucuspubens. stinking hellebore helleborusfoetidus. stinking iris irisfoetidissima. little freaking freak·ing adv. & adj. Slang Used as an intensive: Traffic was a freaking nightmare. [Alteration of frigging, present participle of frig.] category,'' O'Neal said in protest. ``You can never freaking satisfy these people.'' As for his various injuries, he said, ``Well, write that then. Why don't you stick up for me one freaking time and write that? I would say it, but I don't like to use that as an excuse.'' O'Neal marveled at the possibility of shooting 30 times a game, as Iverson does. But he also brushed off any concerns over postseason awards. ``The first year I stopped thinking about it, I actually won it. So I'm not even thinking about it,'' he said. ``Iverson's having a great year, Webber's having a great year. ... So whoever gets it, gets it.'' --J.R., MIA MIA n. A member of the armed services who is reported missing following a combat mission and whose status as to injury, capture, or death is unknown. [m(issing) i(n) a(ction). : Isaiah Rider was benched for Tuesday's entire game against Utah after missing the team bus and arriving 45 minutes late to the Delta Center. The arena is just three blocks from the team's hotel. ``I've just noticed that when he is late, sometimes it affects his game, and how he plays,'' Jackson said. ``So I didn't take a chance.'' Rider had little to say. ``Nothing happened,'' he repeated three times. Told of Jackson's explanation, Rider said, ``Report that Phil said I was late to the bus.'' --Kobe update: Bryant (sore left foot and ankle) was unable to participate in the morning shootaround and therefore was held out of the game. The Lakers are hopeful he will be able to practice today in Chicago and return Thursday night against the Bulls. |
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