NET NOTES
At 7-2 and something like 350 pounds, Shaquille O’Neal may represent the fantasy size of every kid who grows up wanting to play basketball. But did Nets coach Lawrence Frank – all 5-7 and 142 pounds of him – daydream as a kid about boasting a bigger frame?
Sure.
“Not exactly those figures,” Frank said. “But 5-9 would have been good.”
When Frank does look at the Lakers, he sees their obvious talent. But he also sees the history of friction among the stars. It’s one more reason to be thankful he is where he’s at.
“That’s why we have a very unique mix,” Frank said. “I don’t know anything that’s going on in L.A. – but in terms of our locker room we have a very unique group, in the sense there are no hidden agendas there are no cliques. Everyone has one agenda, which is to win. So we realize how fortunate and special it is. That may be unique. That’s how we feel: that we have great character in that locker room.”
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Karl Malone was only available to the Lakers for 24 games before suffering a right-knee injury. But the Mailman, one of the game’s great power forwards, figures he’ll be ready for the playoffs.
“I’d like to get 10, 15, 20 games [before the playoffs],” Malone said.
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It was Kerry Kittles’ turn to come up with a slogan – Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin handled the duty for the first two weeks. Kittles’ offering: “When you hit a bump in the road, take hold of the wheel with both hands.” Asked who originated the maxim, Kittles claimed credit, saying: “It was just something I thought about and came up with.”
Frank on Lakers coach Phil Jackson: “Give him a lot of credit. People on the other side say, ‘look at the players he’s had,’ but a lot of people couldn’t coach great players; [and] he has. And he paid his dues. An assistant with New Jersey with the [CBA] Albany Patroons.”