The Lakers are 4-4 since Shaquille O'Neal's return, and the big man himself is not happy about it.

Phil's work begins

It sounds as if Shaq and Kobe aren't the only ones losing patience with the floundering Lakers. Add Phil Jackson to the angry triangle. According to the LA Times, Jackson says his players no longer have the benefit of his patience. Heading into Friday night's game against the 17-1 Dallas Mavericks, Jackson has told his team things will change. "They were on a long, long leash this year because of past successes," Jackson said after Thursday's practice. "I told them today the responsibility fell back on my shoulders." The Lakers talked in private Thursday and perhaps vented some frustrations . "It's easy to cast blame," Jackson said. "It's easy to point fingers. What we really have to have are leaders that lead and players that follow ... we're getting to that point in the season."

O'Neal said he wasn't making excuses for his recent outing -- he missed 15 of 23 shots in Los Angeles' 93-85 loss to Utah on Wednesday night.

But according to a report in Thursday's Los Angeles Times, Shaq is beginning to question the players around him and wondering if they are the right players.

When asked by the Times if those players could lead the Lakers to a fourth straight NBA crown, O'Neal said, "No comment."

"I just want eight guys out there with me who want to play," Shaq told the newspaper.

"The problem is that the whole team is not playing with enough energy or enough fire," O'Neal added. "I'd like to touch the ball more too, especially when I'm shooting seven for 10 from the line."

Los Angeles again is in last place in the Pacific Division. The worst record through 20 games by a team that eventually won an NBA championship is 11-9, by the Philadelphia Warriors during the 1946-47 season.

O'Neal returned from surgery on his big toe and they have won four of eight games. But the upcoming schedule provides no relief for the Lakers, who host Dallas (17-1) and Utah returns on Sunday.

"There's really no excuse," O'Neal told the Times. "We're all professionals and we have to be ready. You know, it seems like sometimes we have five out there and a couple of guys don't know what's going on."