Shaquille O’Neal has been in the news lately for his ill-fitted words towards the Lakers’ Dwight Howard. But an attitude misfire isn’t uncommon for the former Lakers center. Shaquille is more often than not labeled a really great talent on the teams he comes from. However, on most every team he has played for, he has left on bad terms.

What Shaq needs to realize is that, especially with his jersey retiring this coming year, he is going to damage the way fans in L.A. perceive him in L.A. Especially if he is dogging current Lakers players. It just isn’t wise for him to continue with the controversy; Shaq needs to realize that time is running out for him to make amends with Lakers fans, and he needs to do so before his jersey hangs in the Staples Center rafters.

But Shaq isn’t the only one speaking up. Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat decided to do a little Dwight bashing today as well. Bosh is moving from power forward to center this coming season, which brings him into direct contact with Howard more than he would have had at PF. And with a lighter frame, he may struggle a bit at the five. Rivalries are normal, but it looks like some of Bosh’s squandering is coming from a place of insecurity. Sorry Bosh; not everyone can be Superman.

One person who is always a voice of Lakers reason is Phil Jackson. The last Lakers coach to win a title, Phil weighed in on some of the Lakers strengths. He cited Steve Nash as having “confidence” with the ball and also spoke about Kobe’s presence during critical conditions. Jackson also mentioned Howard’s inside presence and how Nash will have to play the ball to the big man.

Elizabeth Benson posts her second part of a three part series about Eastern Conference competition today. She focuses on Laker rival the Boston Celtics and how they could potentially take the top spot from Miami on the East, therefore being L.A.’s biggest competition in a possible finals showdown. The Celtics added youth and depth to their roster, making this scenario a more real possibility.

Greg Somogyi sat down with yours truly to speak about the past few days of training camp and his overall impression of the Lakers. Don’t miss his behind the scenes account. Wednesday featured another interview with Lakers hopeful Reeves Nelson.

Before you take off, take a look at our Lakers Nation practice gallery from the past few days. One thing I notice, Dwight is looking good and healthy!

Lakers Nation News

Phil Jackson Talks Lakers and Team Chemistry

To Avoid Embarrassment Time For Shaq To Shut His Mouth

NBA News: Spurs’ Manu Ginobili Hints at Retirement

NBA News: Suns and Alvin Gentry Ready to Begin Post-Nash Era

Chris Bosh on Dwight Howard: ‘It’s Nothing I Haven’t Seen’

NBA News: Ty Lawson Says Nuggets Are Best Team in West

Lakers Top 2012 Eastern Competition Part II: Boston Celtics

NBA News: Spurs’ Manu Ginobili Hints at Retirement

NBA News: Suns and Alvin Gentry Ready to Begin Post-Nash Era

NBA News: Ty Lawson Says Nuggets Are Best Team in West

Greg Somogyi Talks Summer League, Lakers and the Start of Training Camp

Lakers News

Friday Forum [Forum Blue and Gold]

How the Lakers View the Flopping Rule [LA Times]

PodKast: On Kobe’s Team, Flopping, and Endorsements LeBron Doesn’t Want [Lakers Report]

Dwight Howard Advances to 5-on-5 Limited Contact [Lakers Blog]

Dwight Howard Puts His Back into Lakers’ Drills [LA Times]

Making (And Getting) The Most Out Of Metta [Forum Blue and Gold]

Dwight Howard Dismisses Shaq [Silver Screen and Roll]

Practice Notes: Dwight Howard [LA Times]

Are Lakers to Blame if Fans Can’t Get Time Warner Cable Channel? [Press Telegram]

Lakers Rookie Sacre Has Front Row Seat [OC Register]

Dwightmare Seems Very Far Away as Howard Reboots with Lakers [CBS Sports]

Two Days Before Lakers Open Season, Bryant and O’Neal Are at Odds Again [LA Times]

Leading Off the Court: Steve Nash [NBA]

Jameer Nelson’s Had Enough of Superman [Silver Screen and Roll]

Dwight Howard Fitting in With Lakers, So Bet He Re-Signs [ProBasketballTalk]

Leading Off the Court [Lakers.com]

The State of Metta World Peace: Fit and Determined [LA Times]

The NBA’s 1% – Previewing The 2012-13 Lakers [Hardwood Hype]

Lakers’ Steve Blake (Foot) Practices [ESPN LA]

Dwight Howard Fires Back at Shaq: ‘Your Time is Up’ [Yahoo Sports]

Metta and His New Look on Fitness [LA Times]

NBA News

GM optimistic about Derrick Rose [ESPN Chicago]

Former D-League Coach Set To Help Develop Bigs In Phoenix [Ridiculous Upside]

Peyton Manning Part of Ownership Group to Buy Memphis Grizzlies [ESPN]

Ten Things to Watch in Western Conference for 2012-13 [NBA]

Chauncey Billups Goes Through Drills [ESPN]

Detroit Pistons to Face New York Knicks in London, England [SLAM Online]

Dirk Nowitzki: NBA Flopping Rules ‘A Bunch of Crap’ [SI Tracking Blog]

Anti-Flop Rules Takes Away from the Game [Hang Time Blog]

Nuggets Finally Enter Season With a Little Stability … for About 45 Seconds [CBS Sports]

Sacramento Kings Preview: Where The Games Are Only Subplots [SB Nation]

Union Leaves Players Defenseless Over NBA’s New Flopping Fines [Yahoo Sports]

Players and Coaches on Flops [True Hoop]