Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal don’t like Lakers’ offense

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have never hidden their thoughts on the Lakers.

Earlier this month, in fact, O’Neal said Dwight Howard was the third best center in the league, behind Andrew Bynum and New Jersey’s Brook Lopez.

So it wasn’t overly surprising to hear the TNT analysts give a thumbs down to the Princeton-style offense the Lakers have employed this preseason.

“I’ve always said I want my accountants from Princeton, not my offense,” Barkley said in a conference call Tuesday with reporters.

Added O’Neal: “If they’re going to switch offenses, they should go back to the triangle.”

The Lakers are 0-6 in exhibition play but have been short-handed most of the month. Dwight Howard just made his Lakers debut Sunday and Jordan Hill practiced Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a back injury two weeks ago. Hill will probably play Wednesday against the Clippers and Howard will likely play again Thursday against Sacramento in the Lakers’ exhibition finale.

Barkley wasn’t completely dour on the Lakers.

“The Lakers and the Celtics are the two biggest things that have ever happened to the NBA,” he said. “The Lakers and Celtics are money-making gold mines. [The Lakers] are in the conversation for the next five years with a legitimate chance to win the championship. There are only a couple teams who can say that. The Lakers are just amazing to me.”

TNT analyst Reggie Miller added, “You always have to put great product on the floor and that’s what the Lakers have done the last 30-40 years.”

Barkley even provided a way for the Lakers to prevail if they meet Miami in the NBA Finals.

“The only way to beat them is to beat them up physically,” Barkley said, calling the Heat a “very small team.”

“LeBron James is great but he can’t stop Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard.”

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