LAKERS NOTEBOOK: SHAQ REPLIES WITH PROVERB.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - He is operating under a self-imposed silence, neither ready nor motivated to defend his actions or rebuff his critics or explain whether that mighty swing was meant for more than an earlobe.

Shaquille O'Neal is once again lighthearted with Lakers teammates, but he walks in public with the demeanor of a devout monk who's just taken a vow of silence. Only appropriate then, that O'Neal's only statement Tuesday was a typewritten Hindu proverb taped to his chest.

O'Neal chewed gum quietly while television cameras filmed his message.

``In Hindu culture, the elephant is tall, regal, majestic, strong, powerful and enigmatic,'' it said. ``A Hindu proverb states that, when an elephant is down, even a frog will kick him.''

Then O'Neal - strong, powerful and enigmatic - walked away. Nothing to say? He nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

Coy, defiant, playful. O'Neal has not changed since the NBA handed down its three-game suspension for taking a swing at Chicago's Brad Miller. But he's also not talking to reporters and probably won't until the suspension ends Saturday.

While O'Neal remains silent on the whys, hows and what-ifs of the most violent moment of his 10-year career, critics are killing him, both on the air and in print. One particularly hyperbolic New York columnist wrote O'Neal deserved a 10-game suspension, minimum, and that his swing amounted to ``attempted murder.''

No wonder, then, that O'Neal is choosing silence.

O'Neal lightened up Tuesday, though, as thrilled as anyone with the Lakers' 39-point rout of the Memphis Grizzlies and with Kobe Bryant's 56-point game, an effort he dedicated to O'Neal.

After practice, O'Neal rumbled over with a big, goofy smile and bear- hugged Bryant in the middle of an interview, sending Bryant into hysterics.

``As playful as ever,'' Bryant said, laughing. ``He's just been having a good time today.''

Coach Phil Jackson, himself a student of Eastern religion, chuckled at O'Neal's statement.

``He's always searching some philosophical book. It was probably translated from Sanskrit or something,'' Jackson said. ``But I think the big elephant is OK. He's not down, no frog is going to kick him.''

Jackson again indicated the nine-day respite will be beneficial for O'Neal's sore toes.

``More than likely he won't have to miss the All-Star Game now, because of this period of time he's got off,'' Jackson said.

--Rout 56: Four seasons ago, when Bryant was a precocious 19-year-old starting his second NBA season, he dominated an exhibition game and made an impression on his new teammate.

``He scored like 36 points or some ridiculous amount of points in 28 minutes,'' Rick Fox recalled. ``And he said to me on the bus afterwards, he felt like he could go for 70. And I looked at him like, `What is this kid about?' ''

Monday night, Bryant scored 56 points in three quarters and the only thing stopping him from 70 was good sportsmanship. Bryant sat out the fourth.

``I was kind of anxious to see if he could get 70 myself,'' Fox said. ``But the game was out of hand and we were 40 points up, and that was the right decision. You don't want him getting hurt right now.''

--Dazzled: For Bryant, the exhilaration lasted long after the game was over.

``I'm not going to lie, man. I was excited after the game,'' he said. ``I was excited. I couldn't believe what just happened.''

Jackson couldn't either. The former Bulls coach said he couldn't recall anyone, not even Michael Jordan, scoring 56 points in three quarters.

``That's got to rank right up there at the top,'' he said.

Bryant has no plans to duplicate the performance. But then, the first one wasn't planned either.

``I came into the game with the mind set of getting everybody else involved, and it was just one of those nights,'' he said. ``My mind set is not going to change. It's going to be the same: Get everybody involved. ... (Monday's game) was just one of those freak situations.''

--Body movement: Jackson indicated he might start Mark Madsen tonight to match up with Miami Heat bruiser Brian Grant.

Robert Horry made his first start of the season Monday but Jackson wasn't entirely happy with the results. Horry finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, but he was torched early by Memphis' Pau Gasol.

LAKERS vs. MIAMI

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish)

Lakers (27-8) update: With a victory tonight, coach Phil Jackson will move into a tie with his mentor, the late Red Holzman, for 13th on the all-time wins list, with 696. Jackson (695-242) needs 12 wins to catch 12th-place John MacLeod. He won't be able to catch 11th-place Gene Shue (780 wins) until next season.

Heat (9-26) update: Showing signs of a revival, the Heat has won four of its last seven games (though that includes a pair of wins against equally inept Golden State). Former Laker Eddie Jones leads Miami with 18.3 points a game. Alonzo Mourning, playing despite his kidney ailment, is averaging 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds.

- Howard Beck

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LAKERS vs. MIAMI (see text)