Shaquille foul trouble solution

Shaquille O'Neal has a solution that might keep him out of the foul trouble that has recently limited his play.
''I told myself a long time ago when it gets like this, I'm just going to stop playing defense,'' O'Neal, a 7-1, 325-pound center, said. ``Every time I touch somebody, [referees] are going to call something. So I have to go back to my mantra. Just stand there.''
As imposing of a presence O'Neal would still be if he stood in place on the court, it's not exactly what coach Pat Riley had in mind when he suggested O'Neal tweak his approach to stay in the game. Foul trouble has limited O'Neal to an average of 26.1 minutes in his past six games.
He played only 21 minutes during Wednesday's victory in Atlanta. But the Heat might need court time from O'Neal tonight to get past the Indiana Pacers, who are 29-5 at home against Miami.
''We've talked about this. There are times when he's in foul trouble that he's got to back off,'' Riley said. ``He's almost got to give up a layup. I know he doesn't want to do that.''
O'Neal's foul trouble hasn't affected his efficiency on offense. He is shooting 55 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free-throw line during the past six games.
The Heat's backup centers also have raised their level of play to compensate for O'Neal's extended stays on the bench. Alonzo Mourning scored 16 off the bench in a March 11 victory over the Wizards, when O'Neal played 18 minutes.
Udonis Haslem moved to center and had 21 points in a March 15 victory at New Jersey after O'Neal was limited to 22 minutes. Michael Doleac played nearly all of the third quarter Wednesday night and had 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
''I have faith in all of those guys,'' O'Neal said. ``When I'm in the game, I try to get them going, get them into a rhythm, and then I go to work. But I know I have to be smarter.''