LAKERS NOTEBOOK: O'NEAL'S PRESENCE ALTERS DEFENSE.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

The obvious impact of Shaquille O'Neal's return in Friday's 116-106 victory over the Atlanta Hawks could be found in the box score. The 22 points, the nine rebounds, the two blocked shots.

But the statistics are insufficient, failing to fully identify O'Neal's effects on the opponent, especially as a defender.

As forward and defensive attack dog Rick Fox explains, the court seems to get smaller when O'Neal is on it.

``It's so much easier to play defense. A trap is easier to make. You look at their faces on the opposing team, they look in disarray, because they know if they break the trap, then they know they have to go deal with him back there,'' Fox said. ``What happens if they break the trap, they start to push and then they see Shaquille is in there, so then they slow up. And as soon as they slow up, we come in from behind.

``It feels like we're playing on a half court. . . . We know (O'Neal's) got the back part of the court. That has to be uncomfortable (for opponents).''

Fox said he saw a greater confidence among the Lakers in applying defensive pressure when O'Neal was in the lineup for eight games in early November, before reinjuring his abdomen. During O'Neal's six-week absence, that confidence seemed to dissipate, he said.

``You don't trap as aggressively as you would, knowing nobody is really going to challenge them (if they break the trap),'' Fox said.

But with O'Neal back, ``it's a different game,'' he said.

``Its like having an atomic weapon, it's like having a bomb,'' Fox said. ``Can you imagine over in Iraq, Saddam, how he'd act if he had Shaq? It's like you can't really mess with us, because we're going to drop this on your head.''

Giving it up: When Nick Van Exel dished out 13 assists Friday, he became the first player in the NBA this season to record double figures in the category for six straight games.

The streak is also a career-high and accompanies a string in which he's recorded five double-doubles in six games.

``There isn't any blockbuster reason,'' coach Del Harris said. ``He and I talked this summer about aiming for 10 assists (per game) . . . but I assumed Shaquille would be in the lineup.''

Van Exel averaged 11.2 assists and 18.5 points per game in the six-game stretch. Before the streak, he had only four double-digit assist games this season. The Lakers are 8-2 when he has 10 or more.

Van Exel just missed extending the streak Sunday, getting nine assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Photo

PHOTO Elden Campbell of the Lakers fouls Philadelphia's Jim Jackson.

Michael Owen Baker / Daily News