Shaquille O'Neal's bruised right thigh will keep him out of the Miami Heat's
final two regular-season games, but the team expects him to be ready when
the playoffs open this weekend.
The decision to rest the All-Star center wasn't unexpected since Miami,
which wrapped up the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs two weeks
ago, has nothing to tangibly gain from Tuesday's home game against
Charlotte or Wednesday's finale in Orlando.
The Heat will open the best-of-seven East quarterfinals at home either
Saturday or Sunday, against Cleveland, Philadelphia or New Jersey.
"We know what he's going to do when playoff time comes," Heat guard
Dwyane Wade said. "He's going to be the Shaq no one in Miami has seen yet.
We're not worried about that at all."
O'Neal, who didn't participate in the team's shootaround Tuesday
morning, hasn't spoken with reporters since getting hurt in Sunday's 84-80
win over Indiana. He was kneed by Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal while
defending a drive to the basket, and left just before halftime of that
contest.
"He's getting treatment. We expect him to be ready for the weekend,"
Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said.
O'Neal - whose Miami jersey was the league's top seller this season,
league officials said Tuesday - averaged 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds
this season, his first with the Heat.
He missed three games earlier this month because of a stomach virus,
and has played only 85 minutes since April 3. Teammates said they'd rather
see O'Neal rest and be fully ready for the playoff grind.
"It's all about the big fella," forward Udonis Haslem said. "He's
opened a lot of doors for us this year."
Alonzo Mourning, who played 18 minutes in the second half of the win
over Indiana, was expected to start at center.
"Shaq's not going to play, so that's a big change in the rotation," Van
Gundy said. "But we do want basically everybody to play some and have a
comfort level going into the playoffs."
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-20 08:45
