MAGIC FEELS SHAQ WAVES O'NEAL SPEAKS LOUDLY IN VICTORY IN ORLANDO LAKERS 111, ORLANDO 93.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. - Shaquille O'Neal returned to his NBA roots, and a whole lot returned with him. His fondness for Orlando, often masked by his competitiveness. His game, back to a dominant level not seen much in recent weeks. And finally, his voice, seldom heard since the Swing Felt 'Round the World in Chicago.

O'Neal came home, slept in his own bed, ate his own food and pounded his old team, getting 30 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday night as the Lakers rolled the Orlando Magic 111-93 at the TD Waterhouse Center.

The Lakers rode O'Neal's inside scoring for most of three quarters, then took control in the final period when the defense came alive and Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 23 points.

Afterward, it was time for O'Neal to entertain the locals as he always does in his annual return. For most of 18 days, since the night his mighty swing caught Brad Miller's ear and drew a three-game suspension, O'Neal had gone silent.

When he finally settled in before a dozen cameras and two dozen media members after Wednesday's win, he had little to say about the incident, except that he's frustrated he's not at liberty to say what he wants.

Biting his tongue?

``Yeah, yeah,'' he said.

Because an honest O'Neal probably would be a fined O'Neal.

``It's not that I'm upset about Chicago,'' he said of his recent silence. ``It's just at this point in my career, if I'm not allowed to speak how I really feel, then I just won't say anything.''

``My perspective on the league has changed,'' said O'Neal, who turns 30 in March. ``I'm disappointed in a lot of things that's going on in this league. The comments that (Dallas owner) Mark Cuban made (about officiating), most of them were correct. You can do your own research about that. When you have good product like we have in the league now, you should focus on the product, trying to make the league a better league. It's not like it used to be.''

It isn't just the hard fouls and the hacks, O'Neal said.

``It's just that I would like to see it be called more consistent,'' he said. ``If we get called for a touch foul, I would like to get the same respect, because you have to put two hands on my back to stop me.''

The locals, worried about the impending sale, and possible relocation of the Magic, wondered if things would be different had O'Neal never left Orlando for Los Angeles in 1996.

``I don't believe in 'if.' I think 'if' I would have hit Brad Miller in the head, then I probably would have still been here vacationing,'' O'Neal said. ``I don't believe in ifs. I was a young boy then, I made a decision that was good for my career. It worked out, I got two rings, I got a couple years left, so hopefully I can get a couple more.''

This was a night designed for O'Neal. Three Magic opening-day starters were out, including the big-man tandem of Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant. That meant easy pickings for O'Neal against smallish Don Reid and Andrew DeClerq, and the only surprise was the Lakers didn't exploit it more often.

O'Neal made 13 of 19 field goals, but without consistently using him, the Lakers fell behind early by 11 points and played from behind for most of three quarters.

Pat Garrity kept finding open looks off screen-and-roll plays and burned the Lakers for 22 points. Tracy McGrady added 22 points and 10 rebounds.

But Devean George contained McGrady in the fourth quarter and the Lakers seized control. They opened the final period with a 12-0 run and outscored the Magic 38-14 between the middle of the third period and the middle of the fourth, ultimately holding Orlando to 16 points in the last 12 minutes.

``We had a good defensive stand in the fourth quarter,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``It made up for a game in which we were on our heels a lot of the night. They went cold at an appropriate time.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

The Lakers' Devean George, right, tries to beat Tracy McGrady to a loose ball Wednesday night in Orlando's TD Waterhouse Center.

John Raoux/Associated Press

Box:

GAME RECAP