Shaq practices, won't play against Spurs

[sa_butta]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/s...a-sports-front

SAN ANTONIO · As Heat center Shaquille O'Neal took a step forward, Antoine Walker has decided to step back and reassess his game.

Sidelined by a sprained right ankle since the Nov. 3 home opener, O'Neal participated in practice Tuesday for the first time since training camp.

"It went pretty good. Obviously I've got to get my wind back and in game shape," he said of the late-afternoon session at the SBC Center. "It kind of tingled. We can get over that. I think the ligaments have healed."

While O'Neal ruled himself out of tonight's nationally televised game against the defending-champion Spurs, he was encouraged by the full-speed session with the team's second-tier players.

Walker, by contrast, is growing increasingly perplexed by the direction of his season, especially in his role as a second-team, perimeter-oriented power forward.

"I just can't get it done, for whatever reason," he said in the wake of his 0-for-10 shooting in Monday's late 99-89 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. "It's a whole different process for me, everything. It's going to take some time."

Walker and most of the veterans skipped practice, having arrived in San Antonio at 4 a.m. Also missing was coach Stan Van Gundy, who was ill.

Instead, O'Neal participated in a series of 3-on-3 fastbreak sprints with Michael Doleac, Jason Kapono, Gerald Fitch, Dorell Wright and Shandon Anderson.

"I thought it was a good first day," Doleac said of O'Neal's 90-minute session. "He's definitely not in his best shape. He's definitely sucking wind a little bit. But he's still as strong as ever, as big as ever."

O'Neal regretted not being available for tonight's lone regular-season visit, having played high school ball in San Antonio, but added of the path to a potential NBA le, "If everything works out, we'll be back."

While O'Neal addresses his physical woes, Walker said he needs to take stock of his game.

Against the Clippers, Walker reverted to launching too many 3-pointers. He also failed to make it to the foul line, with his inside attempts taken more with finesse than force.

The performance resembled his 1-of-13 outing against Dallas earlier in the season.

"I'm not posting up as much as I used to," he said of his long-time role with the Celtics. "I've got to try to find different ways to score. So I try to attack the basket -- and I can't get any calls."

Clippers forward Walter McCarty, who spent five seasons with Walker in Boston, could tell his former teammate is going through a difficult adjustment.

"Antoine can kill in the low post," McCarty said. "I don't care who's guarding him. He's just not getting opportunities. You've got guys over there who can play, who are probably even better in the low post.

"It's big challenge for him. Boston was a whole different system. It's something he's got to work on and try to make the best of. He's a good enough player. He should be able to find his niche."

Asked if he would approach Van Gundy, Walker said, "If it comes to that. I don't know. I'm going to try to figure it all out. It's a different role."

As for O'Neal, Tuesday's session moved him closer to supplanting Alonzo Mourning as the starting center. But he continued to downplay the possibility of a return this week.

"Couple more practices, couple more treatments and we'll see," he said. "I don't think I'm game-ready yet. My timing was off and my wind wasn't game-ready. Practice-ready and game ready are two different type of readies."

[fraga]

Cause he's scurred...

[samikeyp]

Heat excuse #1 provided.

[sa_butta]

Heat excuse #1 provided.

sucks cause I wanted him to be healthy and we only play them once this season.

[nkdlunch]

"I've got to try to find different ways to score. So I try to attack the basket -- and I can't get any calls."

he still doesn't get it. He's just thinking about scoring

Heat sucksss

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

"I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team, whether that's by scoring points, or shooting shots, or not passing, I'll do whatever it takes."

[ploto]

sucks cause I wanted him to be healthy and we only play them once this season.

We play in Miami in January. We always play every Eastern team twice. Did you mean we only play them once at home??

[angel_luv]

Cause he's scurred...

Great minds! My thought exactly!

[sa_butta]

We play in Miami in January. We always play every Eastern team twice. Did you mean we only play them once at home??

Yeah sorry didnt clarify that.

[sa_butta]

Shaq is on giant bleeding vagina. Can You Dig It.

I dont want to dig it

[mavsfan1000]

"I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team, whether that's by scoring points, or shooting shots, or not passing, I'll do whatever it takes."

I gotta find ways to get my shot going early and I need the ball to be effective.

[sa_butta]

It digs you.

of course it does.