SHAQ OPTIMISTIC HE'LL MAKE RELATIVELY SPEEDY RECOVERY.

Byline: Marc Stein Daily News Staff Writer

Shaquille O'Neal, speaking publicly for the first time since suffering a potentially season-ending knee injury last week, vowed Sunday to make it back for the playoffs - and perhaps even faster.

The injured Lakers center is expected to miss at least 8-10 weeks recovering from a torn capsule, a fractured bone and a partial tear to the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

``I don't think it'll be that long,'' O'Neal said after watching on a locker-room TV as his Lakers lost 102-91 to the Seattle SuperSonics. ``I'm looking for six weeks myself.''

O'Neal - who addressed his teammates before tipoff and was visited by Lakers vice presidents Jerry West and Magic Johnson in his private quarters - plans to attend every home game during his recovery.

He explained, however, that he doesn't want to sit on the bench until the bulky splint over his knee is removed.

``I don't like people to see me banged-up like this,'' O'Neal said. ``My mother called and said, `Can I come out and see you?' and I said, `No.' And I don't ever tell my mom no.''

O'Neal also promised to maintain his present weight with the help of a fruit-based diet developed by his personal chef and warned against suggesting that the Lakers' season is doomed.

``Mentally I'm kind of frustrated, (but) I'm not going to get fat or go crazy,'' he said. ``. . . It's going to be very tough, but I'm a mentally strong person.

``. . . We still have high hopes. These guys are going to have to hold the fort, and I think they will. . . . Don't count us out. I'm going to be well-rested when I come back. Fresh legs.''