SHAQ STATUS FOR THURS.

[THE HITMAN]

.................To those who may want to lay an early play or are looking for a possible head's up on Shaq O'neill's status for Thursday's 7:30 P M game against the New Jersey Nets.................The word today out of the Heat camp is that Shaq probably will be ready to give it a go.

 

[IE]

Shaq back at practice, says he'll play Thursday
March 1, 2005
MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal returned to practice Tuesday, one week after spraining his left knee in an awkward tumble against the Chicago Bulls.

O'Neal, who missed all but the first two minutes of that Bulls game and was held out of Miami's next three contests, said he plans to play on Thursday when the Heat visit New Jersey.

``I went through the whole practice,'' O'Neal said. ``It was good.''

O'Neal is averaging 22.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks this season, and has an NBA-leading field-goal percentage of 59.9.

Miami went 2-2 in the four games where it was essentially without O'Neal, losing in overtime to the Bulls and Indiana on the road, then sweeping a weekend home-and-home with Orlando.

``He looked fine,'' Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said after Tuesday's two-hour workout. ``He always looks pretty good when he plays.''

 

[THE HITMAN]

In addition, the Heat waived Wesley Person today , paving the way for Alonzo Mourning to get some playing time Thurs. , also. Looks like the rest of the East, traditionally big-man-starving, is in for more doses of double trouble from Miami.