LAKERS NOTEBOOK: O'NEAL STEAMS OVER RICE.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer Trade rumors may or may not be affecting the Lakers' Glen Rice Glen Anthony Rice (born May 28 1967, in Flint where he played for Flint Northwestern High School, Michigan) is a retired American NBA basketball player. Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star small forward well known for his pinpoint shooting accuracy, ranking 4th in NBA history with , but they are certainly aggravating ag·gra·vate tr.v. ag·gra·vat·ed, ag·gra·vat·ing, ag·gra·vates 1. To make worse or more troublesome. 2. To rouse to exasperation or anger; provoke. See Synonyms at annoy. 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). . Rice has scored just 12 points combined over the past two games. He insists he's not pressing or bothered by speculation he'll be dealt by the Feb. 24 trade deadline. O'Neal thinks otherwise, and thinks he knows who's responsible. ``I wish you guys would just leave him alone and let him play his game,'' O'Neal lectured reporters Thursday. ``I'm concerned about Glen because you guys keep messing with him, like you guys messed with Eddie (Jones). . . . ``If I was on the trading block, I would just want to hear about it one day. But you guys write about it every day. He has to see it. He sees it, his family sees it, his kids see it. Excuse my French, but you guys are (bleeping bleep n. A brief high-pitched sound, as from an electronic device. v. bleeped, bleep·ing, bleeps v.intr. To emit a bleep or bleeps. v.tr. ) him up. Yeah, you guys. Just say it one time.'' Someone pointed out it was Lakers management that left Jones dangling for weeks before trading him for Rice last March. And it is the Laker front office that now is deciding whether Rice will stay or go. Said O'Neal: ``The front office didn't tell the drill sergeant (Mil.) a noncommissioned officer whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military exercises and evolutions. (Mil.) See under Drill. See also: Drill Sergeant (O'Neal) that. You guys are the bad guys, not Jerry (West). You guys keep messing with him. It's probably hard on him.'' Rice said he's ignoring the trade talk. ``I want to perform better regardless,'' he said. ``Like I said, if I'm going to be traded, I'm going to be traded. If not, then I'll continue to be here. That's not my judgment call there.'' Rice has struggled with his jump shot the past two games and has been upset over both scoring opportunities and playing time - he was benched for two quarters at San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. on Tuesday. Rice said he hasn't discussed the matter with 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. , and he avoided the issue Thursday. ``I was upset because we went out there and we lost, and that's about all I'm going to speak on,'' he said. ``Of course, any player wants to be out there on the floor, and one of the things that I'm just going to try and do is just go out there and continue to stay aggressive, regardless of how many shots I get.'' --Shake it up: With the Lakers in a tailspin tail·spin n. 1. The rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep, spiral spin. 2. Informal A loss of emotional control sometimes resulting in emotional collapse. that has seen them lose six of their past nine games and slip out of first place in the Pacific Division, Jackson is considering potential changes to the lineup and the rotation. ``Yeah, I'm considering almost all those things,'' he said. ``I'm considering starting it (Friday, against the Utah Jazz). . . .We just have to try to shake things up a little bit.'' He declined to elaborate. LAKERS vs. JAZZ Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; KLAC-AM (570) --Lakers (34-11) update: They need a victory to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. The Lakers, 2-1 against the Jazz, could win the season series with a victory tonight - something they've done just once in the past 13 years. --Jazz (27-16) update: Another struggling Western Conference power. After beating the Lakers in double overtime Jan. 24, Utah lost four straight, including a 17-point defeat at home to lowly Vancouver. - Howard Beck CAPTION(S): box Box: Lakers vs. Jazz (see text) |
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