O’Neal Is Not Happy to Sit in Stretch

For the second time in a week, Shaquille O’Neal was held out of pivotal last-minute offensive and defensive possessions, and on Friday, O’Neal did not hide his disappointment over the development.

“I guess it shows what type of confidence people have in me,” said O’Neal, who sat on the sidelines for most of the last 48.9 seconds of Friday’s victory over Phoenix, including the last two game-deciding possessions.

“But we won the game, so it doesn’t matter.”

Coach Kurt Rambis also chose to go with a smaller lineup in the final 35 seconds of last Friday’s defeat to Sacramento, including the Kings’ game-winning rebound-tip by Chris Webber.

After the victory over the Suns, Rambis said he wanted to use Robert Horry to key a smaller, quicker defensive unit that would be able to switch seamlessly against the Suns’ movement.

O’Neal wasn’t in during the Lakers’ final offensive possession with 11.3 seconds left, Rambis said, because he didn’t want the Suns to put O’Neal on the free-throw line.

“A great move, I guess,” O’Neal said. “That makes sense. We had a smaller lineup in and we were able to switch everything. But nothing really makes sense.

“I guess I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, so I’ll just go with the flow.”

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Laker assistant Larry Drew has emerged as a short-list candidate to potentially succeed Norm Stewart at Drew’s alma mater, Missouri. Drew, a Laker assistant for the last seven seasons, has not applied for the job or thought seriously about it, but apparently has been contacted unofficially.

TONIGHT vs. Golden State

7:30, Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 22-11, Warriors 13-18.

* Record vs. Warriors--1-0.

* Update--The Warriors lost their first five games this season, but since then have played decently.

* Tickets--Sold out.