Baby Shaq

Jackson says Shaq unlikely to miss playoff game

Shaquille O'Neal has more than dunks on his mind this week. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal's wife could give birth in a week, but Lakers coach Phil Jackson doesn't think his star center will miss any playoff games.

"We've talked about the sequence of days, and possibly Wednesday could be the day, which would give him a couple of days," Jackson said before the Lakers' 117-111 win at Golden State on Wednesday night.

The Lakers open the playoffs at Minnesota on Sunday. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Minneapolis, and Game 3 is two nights later in Los Angeles.

When asked whether O'Neal could miss a game, Jackson smiled, shook his head and quietly said "no."

"Not unless she suddenly goes into labor while he's on the free throw line and he gets a call on his cell phone and says he has to go now," Jackson said.

O'Neal was a little less committal about the situation after the game, saying, "I don't know."

"She's not ready and I'm not going to force it," he said. "When the baby comes, I'll be there."

O'Neal and wife Shaunie met with doctors Monday. The couple, who were married on Dec. 26, 2002, have two other children together and two from previous relationships.

 

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