Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal can dish it out, but the prickly Big Cactus can't take it.

That's basically Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy's reaction to Shaq's harsh criticism Wednesday of his coaching ability after Van Gundy chided him for flopping in the Magic's victory against the Suns on Tuesday night.

"He's dealt with this like he's dealt with everything else," Van Gundy said when reached at his home on Wednesday night. "I think it's funny."

Said O'Neal of Van Gundy, "Flopping would describe his coaching."

O'Neal conceded he tried to draw an offensive foul by "flopping" or falling to the floor against Magic center Dwight Howard, whom Shaq also had criticized before the game.

Van Gundy said he was "joking around a little," but O'Neal lashed out at his former coach in Miami before the Suns lost to the Heat on Wednesday.

"One thing I really despise is a frontrunner," O'Neal said. "I know for a fact he's a master of panic and when it gets time for his team to go into the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic. I've been there before. I've played for him."

O'Neal, who played for Van Gundy in Miami for parts of two seasons, openly complained about Van Gundy's decisions in the 2005 Eastern Conference finals, when the Heat lost Game 7 at home to the Detroit Pistons.

Van Gundy said he didn't have a problem with Shaq when they were together in Miami.

"Whatever. I don't know . . . that's his estimation of my coaching. I'm not going to worry about it too much," Van Gundy said. "Actually, that (Shaq's criticism) puts me in good company, very good company.

"He's taken shots at Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, so maybe I should consider it an honor."

Van Gundy said he ribbed Shaq — who has become a master of ribbing players and coaches during his career — when he came near the Magic sideline.

O'Neal was defending Howard late in the third quarter when Howard made a spin move. O'Neal, who weighs in the neighborhood of 350 pounds, took an exaggerated tumble to the court on a play that was repeatedly replayed on ESPN, along with Van Gundy's post-game comment.

Van Gundy said after the game that Shaq has long expressed his disdain for floppers around the league.

"I'm shocked, seriously shocked and very disappointed because he (Shaq) knows what it's like," he said. "Let's stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that."

Said O'Neal, "Flopping is playing like that your whole career. I was trying to take a charge, trying to get a call. Yeah, it probably was a flop, but flopping is wrong. Flopping would describe his coaching."