pooh
10-22-2004, 12:04 AM
Indianapolis, IN -- Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason with a sore right foot, head coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday.
O'Neal suffered a strained ligament in the foot during a pickup game less than a month before training camp began. He sat out Indiana's first preseason game, but played in the next two.
"It's not that he has injured it any worse," Carlisle said. "It's just a situation where the doctors looked at it today and they feel at this point in time, rest will expedite the healing process. Our hope is to get him back by the beginning of the regular season."
A three-time All-Star, O'Neal had participated in every Pacers training camp practice until Thursday.
"It's just one of these things where, when you're looking at a 100-game run to try to get to the playoffs, right now is the time for him to take a break," Carlisle said. "He really hasn't had a break since training camp started and it's been his choice to get out here."
The Pacers open their season on November 3 in Cleveland
O'Neal suffered a strained ligament in the foot during a pickup game less than a month before training camp began. He sat out Indiana's first preseason game, but played in the next two.
"It's not that he has injured it any worse," Carlisle said. "It's just a situation where the doctors looked at it today and they feel at this point in time, rest will expedite the healing process. Our hope is to get him back by the beginning of the regular season."
A three-time All-Star, O'Neal had participated in every Pacers training camp practice until Thursday.
"It's just one of these things where, when you're looking at a 100-game run to try to get to the playoffs, right now is the time for him to take a break," Carlisle said. "He really hasn't had a break since training camp started and it's been his choice to get out here."
The Pacers open their season on November 3 in Cleveland