SPRINGTIME MEANS IT'S SHAQ'S TIME HE SCORES 41 AS LAKERS BEAT SONICS LAKERS 111, SEATTLE 104.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

This is the Lakers' world and so they make the rules, and the one at the top of the list, in bold type, all caps, underlined three times, is the one that says nothing matters 'til mid-April. Or something to that effect.

They believe it, they live it, they practice it. No one more than Shaquille O'Neal, who treats the fall and winter as a training exercise, then demolishes the league each spring.

So on Monday night, with the Lakers teetering on the edge of the fourth seed, needing a final kick before the first round of playoffs opens his weekend, O'Neal did what he does.

He crossed over and drove around Jerome James. He finished the fast break with a powerful slam and a full-body shimmy. He ran over the Seattle SuperSonics and pulled his teammates along for a 111-104 victory that put the Lakers in position to keep their No. 3 slot.

The Lakers can guarantee that position, and a first-round meeting with Portland, by beating Sacramento on Wednesday.

O'Neal scored 41 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He was 16 for 19 from the field and 9 for 11 from the foul line, for his seventh 40-point game this season. Kobe Bryant added 19 points, 15 in the third quarter.

One more game, against Sacramento on Wednesday, and the Lakers can finally put another annoying regular season behind them. It is, of course what they've been waiting for all along.

``Eighty-two games,'' coach Phil Jackson said with a smile, ``is awfully long. We know what we're after and we're getting there. We couldn't be happier that this (week) brings the end of the regular season.''

The Lakers have won four of five, short of the pure winning streak they wanted to close the season, but a good sign nonetheless.

``We're playing well enough,'' Jackson said.

All five starters scored in double figures - the first time since March, 19, 2001 - and the Lakers won their 14th consecutive home game.

Robert Horry left the game with abdominal pains in the fourth quarter and was being examined by a team physician.

The Lakers won the season series against the Mavericks and Spurs and therefore have the tiebreaker against both teams should they finish tied in the standings. Dallas and San Antonio both close out the season with games against Utah and Phoenix.

Samaki Walker scored 10 points - including four dunks - and grabbed five rebounds in the first quarter, working in tandem with O'Neal to dominate the paint. O'Neal had 24 points by halftime.

But no one played any defense - the Lakers shooting 61 percent, Seattle 52 percent - and the Lakers settled for a 60-54 lead at halftime.

After a two-game fashion experiment, Bryant ditched his new headband. But he started Monday's game as quietly as he finished Sunday's. He played just 14 minutes in the first half, picking up more fouls (three) than points (two).

Bryant, who failed to score in two overtimes at Portland, extended his scoreless streak to 31 minutes before finally throwing down an alley-oop dunk with 2:46 left in the second quarter.

Often lately, Bryant's offense has disappeared as he opts for playmaking.

``We'll refine that during the playoffs and what each game brings in the playoffs, as to whether this is a time for him to be real aggressive,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``He just has to take what the game is showing him. Reading (the defense) is really important I think in context to what's best for the team at this time.''

The loss dropped Seattle to eighth in the West, a half-game behind Utah. If the Sonics stay there, it means a first-round matchup with the Sacramento Kings. But Seattle has given the Kings trouble all season and second-year coach Nate McMillan's team plays enough defense to make it interesting.

``He's done a good job, he's done a very good job,'' Jackson said of McMillan. ``Their defense is good. I think that's something that's still a holdover from (former coach George) Karl, and what they were good in the mid-90s at, is that defense. Their statement page is that we're going to defend you, we're going to get after you, we're going to play aggressive defense, we're going to rotate, we're going to get after steals, we're going to run. I like their poise. They're much more poised than they were a couple years ago.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal gets by Seattle's Jerome Jones for a dunk in the first half Monday night.

(2) Kobe Bryant, who finished with 19 points, is fouled by the Sonics' Ansu Sesay during the Lakers' 111-104 victory at Staples Center.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

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