Lakers’ Slumber Turns Into Party

Nope, those weren’t oooooohs. Those weren’t woahhhhhhs.

They were boos.

For the first time in his three years here, Shaquille O’Neal was welcomed by some of his adoring Forum faithful Thursday with a greeting that wouldn’t have sounded any less familiar if it were “Hey, Tiny.”

Remember how Philadelphia became famous for booing Santa Claus?

Well, Los Angeles has finally broken down and booed Superman.

Shaq, who has the Man of Steel logo tattooed on his biceps, was periodically the man of scorn during the early unsteadiness in the Lakers’ 108-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The jeers weren’t loud, and certainly weren’t unanimous, and were also directed at his teammates.

But they were there.

And they were not to be mistaken for the unfiltered cheers that were showered on Kobe Bryant.

Shaq heard some boos when his name was announced. He heard boos when he missed a layup as the Trail Blazers took a 7-2 lead. He heard boos when he missed another layup, then missed a dunk.

He heard boos when Arvydas Sabonis sank consecutive 20-foot, wide-open jump shots, even though Shaq was helping out down low.

He finally heard serious boos when Brian Grant scored on a layup at about the time Shaq was crossing midcourt with 2:46 left in the first quarter, at which point Superman was yanked from the game.

“Get down the floor!” the fans shouted.

“Hustle, would ya!” they screamed.

At the end of the period, the Lakers trailed by five, in danger of not just losing the game, but a part of this restless and annoyed town.

And, then, finally, Shaq spoke back.

It was harsh, and sweaty, and a little bit reckless.

But it was voluminous.

In a defining moment at the end of a long week of criticism--much of it warranted--Shaq announced he was willing to work harder on defense, work smarter on offense, even work it out with young Kobe.

In nine minutes of a second quarter that changed a game that may even have a remote chance of changing the season, Shaq had 14 points and two rebounds and one blocked shot.

And, most important, 300 pounds of defense and teamwork.

Shaq’s blocked shot of Walt Williams carried over the press table and into the arms of a fan in the front row.

While chasing on defense, he ran past the scorers’ table and two rows of seats.

After scoring on a tip-in that followed one of his misses, he screamed at his teammates and the crowd in a long-overdue show of emotion.

He played pitch-and-catch with Kobe, found him when open, and vice versa, with Kobe collecting three assists in the period, two old buds.

“They don’t have to be best friends off the court, but they have to act like it on the court,” Magic Johnson said during the game.

They did. The Lakers outscored the Trail Blazers in the second quarter, 31-17, and never trailed again against a team that had whipped them twice in the last 2 1/2 weeks.

Robert Horry saved the evening in the second half with defense and three-pointers, showing a strength that may be an important key in the playoffs.

But it was Shaq who started it.

And, if this game was any indication, it is Shaq who obviously wants to end it; the criticism, the feuding, the distractions that have settled around his considerable shoulders.

Heck, he even made 14 of 17 free throws.

And when he left the game with 2:23 remaining--with 38 points, 12 rebounds, and a big hand in holding the Trail Blazers to 40% shooting with 20 turnovers--there was nothing but cheers. And everyone was standing.

And this, of course, is the way it must be.

For the Lakers to succeed, either now or in the immediate future, it must be Shaquille O’Neal who leads them there.

He must play better defense, as Wilt Chamberlain said.

He must be more patient with Kobe Bryant, as Jerry West said.

He must lose a few pounds to increase his endurance, as I’m saying right now.

But he easily can do all that.

Judging from his calm reaction to the recent rips--he really didn’t quarrel with much of what has been said about him--we all know he is conscientious enough.

On Thursday he showed everyone he is also determined enough.

Make no mistake, if this team ever wins a title with those two guys on the same floor, a more mature Bryant would probably be the star.

But O’Neal must be the soul, as he was Thursday in a game that could be the beginning to a most unlikely regular-season ending.

As in a decent one.

If the Lakers win their three remaining winnable games--at Seattle, then Dallas and Portland here--it should be enough to make up the half-game by which they trail equally struggling Houston.

A first-round series with the Rockets would look a lot more palatable if it began here.

Before Thursday’s game, when things looked much more dim, it appeared that an explanation for this Laker madness may have finally surfaced when owner Jerry Buss made a rare appearance in the locker room.

I asked, can I grab you a second?

“I’m not doing any interviews,” Buss said, smiling, holding out his suede-covered elbow. “But you can grab me.”

Fine. At least on this night, he didn’t need to talk. His most important employee did it for him.

Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.