Heat Notebook
Shaq fires back at Jackson
BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
igutirrez@MiamiHerald.com
Not since the first Christmas Day meeting two seasons ago have there been any real fireworks between former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
So this season, it seemed like Lakers coach Phil Jackson stepped in to start a brief show.
Answering a question about Bryant's work ethic Sunday, Jackson said the only great player he coached who didn't like to work was O'Neal.
''I know [Heat coach] Pat [ Riley] got him working in Miami, but we had a hard time getting him to work,'' Jackson said.
O'Neal had a quick response for his former coach.
''How can Benedict Arnold be reliable in what he says?'' O'Neal said after the Heat's 101-85 victory over the Lakers on Monday.
O'Neal's turncoat statement was in reference of Jackson leaving Los Angeles the same season as O'Neal, only to return a year later and coach the Bryant-led Lakers.
Jackson did mention that O'Neal has worked hard since being traded to Miami in 2004. And Riley agreed.
''I mean, he's been great here, with me,'' Riley said. ``I mean, those are [Jackson's] feelings. I don't have much to comment on. But he's done everything that he can for us, he really has. Very rarely ever misses practice. When he works, he works hard in practice. He completes everything. When he's injured, he rehabs. He's been very attentive to try to keep his weight. I mean he's a very big man. A lot of G-forces there when he's running. He's been great here.''
As for when O'Neal will return to show the benefit of that work remains unclear, with Riley being as vague as ever.
''I think somewhere in January,'' Riley said. ``And, again, we're not going to rush anything. Maybe after the first of the year, I can't even tell, I haven't talked to the doctors yet, but somewhere in that period of time, maybe he'll get back to some court action. I'll definitely have to reacquaint him to some of our system things that we've changed or updated, offense. So, it'll be a process there, first, mentally, before physical activity starts.''
Shaq fires back at Jackson
BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
igutirrez@MiamiHerald.com
Not since the first Christmas Day meeting two seasons ago have there been any real fireworks between former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
So this season, it seemed like Lakers coach Phil Jackson stepped in to start a brief show.
Answering a question about Bryant's work ethic Sunday, Jackson said the only great player he coached who didn't like to work was O'Neal.
''I know [Heat coach] Pat [ Riley] got him working in Miami, but we had a hard time getting him to work,'' Jackson said.
O'Neal had a quick response for his former coach.
''How can Benedict Arnold be reliable in what he says?'' O'Neal said after the Heat's 101-85 victory over the Lakers on Monday.
O'Neal's turncoat statement was in reference of Jackson leaving Los Angeles the same season as O'Neal, only to return a year later and coach the Bryant-led Lakers.
Jackson did mention that O'Neal has worked hard since being traded to Miami in 2004. And Riley agreed.
''I mean, he's been great here, with me,'' Riley said. ``I mean, those are [Jackson's] feelings. I don't have much to comment on. But he's done everything that he can for us, he really has. Very rarely ever misses practice. When he works, he works hard in practice. He completes everything. When he's injured, he rehabs. He's been very attentive to try to keep his weight. I mean he's a very big man. A lot of G-forces there when he's running. He's been great here.''
As for when O'Neal will return to show the benefit of that work remains unclear, with Riley being as vague as ever.
''I think somewhere in January,'' Riley said. ``And, again, we're not going to rush anything. Maybe after the first of the year, I can't even tell, I haven't talked to the doctors yet, but somewhere in that period of time, maybe he'll get back to some court action. I'll definitely have to reacquaint him to some of our system things that we've changed or updated, offense. So, it'll be a process there, first, mentally, before physical activity starts.''
