<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In dealing with Shaquille O'Neal, the approach is one ugly number at a time. With coach Pat Riley having won the battles of wills over getting the center's playing weight down, the focus now could turn to a number in need of an increase. Amid the Heat's recent success, a run of nine consecutive victories it carries into tonight's home game against Washington, it has been easy to overlook the most unsightly aspect of O'Neal's game. The ugly free-throw stroke arguably never has been uglier. Over the past seven games, O'Neal is 24 of 69 from the line, including 3 of 11 in Monday's overtime escape in Charlotte. That .348 three-week run of inaccuracy has dropped his season percentage to .464, just about even with last season's career-worst .461. He entered the season .531 from the line. Because Riley has tended to concentrate on the positives during this winning streak that has featured more than its share of shaky victories, the focus has become one of evasion. The latest tack is to have O'Neal avoid the foul line. Riley successfully utilized the strategy late in the 106-105 victory in Charlotte. Instead of pounding the ball to a stationary O'Neal and allowing the Bobcats ample time to foul, Riley played with O'Neal on the move. Many of O'Neal's 35 points, especially late, came with him in motion toward the rim, the inertia of his 326 pounds too powerful for wraparound fouls to prevent dunks. "We tried to find another way to do it on pick and rolls for him," Riley said. "We set some pick and rolls for him late. He rolled to the rim and got it instead of always having to pound it."</div> Source
