Basketball - Shaquille O’Neal’s Return To Be Delayed

Fans will have to wait for some more time before they can see Shaquille O’Neal in action again. O’Neal is still recovering from a surgery that was done to repair a torn left knee cartilage. Interim coach, Ron Rothstein, announced that there was going to be a delay of another two games before O’Neal returns to Miami Heat’s lineup.

O’Neal has not played a game since November 19, 2006 when he underwent the surgery and he is dying to return to the game. He missed Miami’s home game against Indiana in January and it was announced that O’Neal would not be playing against Philadelphia too. O’Neal will only return most probably for the game against Dallas when the Heats hosts them. This could be quite exciting as it would be a rematch of last year’s NBA final which Miami Heat won in six games.

The game against Indiana was the thirty second game that O’Neal had missed since the surgery. However, O’Neal recently took part in full contact and five-on-five workout. This was the first time he did so after the operation. O’Neal informed based on the way his knee responded it would be decided whether he should play against Dallas or not.

However, Rothstein informed that the team was cautious about O’Neal though he was able to take part in the shootaround. O’Neal is working out now on a daily basis. Rothstein felt that O’Neal is still not ready to play.

This season O’Neal has played just four games and none of them were with point guard Jason Williams. Williams missed the season’s first seven games and then five more as he is still recovering from an off season knee operation.

When O’Neal returns to play, the Heat will have their all their rotation players available for the first time since winning the NBA Championship last year on June 20, 2006.