Shaq Returns To Practice

[duncan228]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/01/13/shaq.practice.ap/index.html

O'Neal returns to Heat practice
Riley says center will be ready for Wednesday's game

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal returned to practice Sunday after missing eight games with a hip injury.

Heat coach Pat Riley said O'Neal "is going to be ready for Wednesday" when the Heat play against the Chicago Bulls.

O'Neal did not participate in contact drills Sunday, but did do a lot of weight training, cardiovascular work, and completed shooting drills. He is expected to practice more Monday and Tuesday.

O'Neal flew to Los Angeles last week to receive medical treatment on his hip. He bruised his left hip Dec. 22 when he dived for a loose ball and slid into the scorer's table during a win over Utah.

He aggravated the injury Dec. 26 against Philadelphia and has not played since.

A sore left knee also has contributed to O'Neal's least productive season in his 16-year career as he is averaging 14 points and 7.8 rebounds in 29 games.

The Heat have lost 10 straight games and have the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-28.

[Armando]

Won't make a difference.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Won't make a difference.

[Dex]

I, for one, am enjoying watching Shaq's athletic decline.

Don't get me wrong. I don't (publicly) wish the guy any harm or ill will.

Shaq is just one of the players who has always bugged me. It's nice to watch Tim still going strong while Shaq is struggling to stay on the court and keep his team out of the lottery.

[Medvedenko]

Tim's younger than Shaq.....

[m33p0]

Tim's younger than Shaq.....
way lighter too.

[Dex]

Hey, I understand WHY Shaq is already deteriorating.

All I care about is it doesn't look like he's gonna be threatening for many more championships. When all is said and done, I'd like to see Tim finish with more in that category.

[Cry Havoc]

I, for one, am enjoying watching Shaq's athletic decline.

Don't get me wrong. I don't (publicly) wish the guy any harm or ill will.

Shaq is just one of the players who has always bugged me. It's nice to watch Tim still going strong while Shaq is struggling to stay on the court and keep his team out of the lottery.

That's what happens when a player depends on one trait (size, brute strength) to be a great player rather than developing a well-rounded game. Say... a shot outside of 8 feet from the hoop.

Duncan is an incredibly strong player as well, he can overpower his opponents, but he doesn't continually rely on it.

I love watching Shaq fall apart. Time after time I watched him go over and through players like a schoolyard bully with no repercussions, I had to ask myself: Is this really what basketball is about?

Duncan might be younger than Shaq, but I don't think we'll see Timmy in a free-fall decline anytime soon.

[duncan228]

I agree with Cry Havoc. I don't expect to see Duncan decline like Shaq either.

Duncan is a big man, strong, but he's not built like Shaq. All that weight has wreaked havoc on Shaq's body.

Duncan's game relies more on finesse than power. More on skill than brute strength. Duncan is also more of a team player than Shaq ever was, but that's another conversation.

I think that Duncan will hang it up before he gets to a level where he can't perform well. He doesn't strike me as a come off the bench role player for years to end his career. He'll go out on top.

[boutons_]

His decline is self-inflicted, both mentally (doesn't care) and physically (50 pounds too heavy these last 4 or 5 years).