The Lakers admit they're not playing like a team off to a 6-0 start, which makes them more encouraged about winning a third consecutive NBA championship.

Coach Phil Jackson was among the many who had predicted a slow start. Among the reasons: Shaquille O'Neal's extra pounds and recovery from toe surgery; offseason operations on Derek Fisher and Mark Madsen; and several new players on the roster.

But the Lakers have shrugged it all off to record the third-best start in franchise history, and are five victories away from tying their best-ever start of 11-0 in 1997-98.

They beat the Orlando Magic 108-95 Sunday night.

``We feel very confident because we didn't play good. We didn't execute our offense as well as we should have, but that's going to come,'' Kobe Bryant said. ``There's a lot of things execution-wise that we have to get in sync.''

Bryant scored 28 points in 33 minutes Sunday, despite a bloody and swollen nose from an accidental hit. Bryant was examined by a doctor Monday and his nose isn't broken, a team spokesman said.

O'Neal leads the NBA in scoring with a 30.7 point average, and Bryant is next at 28.5. O'Neal handled everyone Orlando threw at him while scoring a season-high 38 points, grabbing 18 rebounds and blocking four shots.

``Shaq's unstoppable and he's not even in shape,'' Magic coach Doc Rivers said.

``I'm still the baddest bad-feet big man ever,'' O'Neal said, smiling.

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