Word: neale
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...last year, where the Lakers went through two coaches on the way to being swept out of the play-offs. This year, his first with the Lakers, Jackson has a roster brimming with talent, including superstar-of-the-future Kobe Bryant, superstar-of-the-present Shaquille O'Neal and old pros such as Glen Rice, A.C. Green and Ron Harper...
...very much the same team, a bit more mature perhaps, and Shaq is healthy, but the big difference is that the Lakers are winning. Under Jackson, the Lakers sport the glossiest record in the NBA (51-11), and O'Neal is having an MVP season. "We've had a good first half," says the massive 315-lb., 7-ft. 1-in. O'Neal, who is averaging almost 30 points a game. "Now we have to maintain." Adds Jackson: "To be quite frank, I didn't think they'd be this far along...
...Neal, he has shown fresh dedication to solving his problems at the free-throw line, a place where he has laid down enough bricks to qualify for union membership. "He's much better," says Jackson. "He's been dedicating a lot of time off-hours to just shooting free throws. His poise, his confidence, his touch are better. He has some fundamental things wrong with his shot, but he's trying to correct those...
Jackson's positive attitude has helped O'Neal's confidence. "He's a top coach who makes the right moves," says O'Neal. Truth be told, Shaq's not really that much better at the line--his .502 free-throw percentage is down slightly from last season. But lately he's been shooting better, especially in big games...
KOBE BRYANT, 21, knows recording studios are littered with the gargantuan bones of basketball players who thought they could rap. (Anyone unfamiliar with Shaquille O'Neal's Shaq Diesel or Chris Webber's 2 Much Drama should consult the nearest record store's clearance bin.) Nevertheless, the L.A. Laker and NBA All-Star thinks his upcoming album, Visions, will be different. "If I heard a basketball player rhyming, I'd be suspicious too," says Bryant. "But I think I'll get people's respect as time goes on." Bryant's first single, K.O.B.E.--a duet with fellow musical novice Tyra...