Shaq's Injury. Update on Pg. 4, Advised to shut it down?

[lalalisa]

Remember how Patrick Ewing practically had to be rolled off the court?

That's what's gonna happen with Shaq

[D-Wade]

Shaq's not going to go out like this. No way. No how.

I agree with you, but I hope we are wrong.

[MiamiHeatFan2004]

Shaq is just so disappointing at times..................

Why doesn't he work out like Zo does? yea Mourning got hurt anyway, but it seems like all Shaq's problems come from his conditioning.

He says he doesn't lift weights so that he isn't too bulky, but he can get cut up and stuff like Zo.

IDK I'm just annoyed by him making all that money and how lazy he acts. Always talking about he knows what hes doing, asking for th eball and not working hard ever.

Hes a great person off the court, gotta love him, but he isn't giving his all to us the last 2 seasons.

[LEIF]

now I have been known to be critical of Diesal for various reasons but...BUT....
the sad thing is I think Shaq could be a real nice fit as a 3rd option behind Wade and another great scorer/shooter to take bodies out of the lane. we just rely on Shaq to be close to a 20-10 guy in order to win and that aint happening.

Shaq needs help, and with it he would be producing.
remember the times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5UBEqajUC8

[dflash3]

^I agree. People saying Shaq is naturally big are just making excuses for him. Its due to his motivation and work ethic that he isn't fit like Zo or Howard. When you take a look at how he looked before his Laker days he looks like a stick compared to what people have come to expect of him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFqZlGVswZ8

[Flash3]

Shaq's just getting old. Plain and simple.

Conditioning may be an issue, and I doubt anyone would say no. But the man has been to 6 NBA Finals, has 4 titles and has had his team consistently go deep into the playoffs. This alone will take a toll on your body, let alone him being the focal point of the offense for many of his teams, and taking the beating he does in the post.

If he retires sooner rather than later, props to him. If he doesn't props to him, too. But, I kinda see Riley sitting down with him and talking about his 'legacy' and seeing if the two can work something out for Shaq to go now, rather than prolong this version of Shaq....

[G.cracker]

I stumbled across Riley on Sid's show this AM and there was interesting stuff on this topic. Sid was dancing around it basically, but said to Riles he thinks given the production, this is the worst contract in sports and asked Riley if he would do something (suggesting a buy-out or retirement). Riley reiterated that it is strictly an injury thing and that Shaq is very proud and won't want this type of season (as an ending) be part of his legacy. Riley went on to say that when healthy, he believes Shaq is stilla 15/8-9 guy and he insists there is legitimate interest even now from contending teams who would like to have him. He specifically called Shaq an asset.

He also went on to say that if Shaq wanted to talk about his future (retiring or elsewhere), that he would have to bring that to Riley as Riley would not initiate that conversation.

[Lane1974]

Shaq goes to LA for medical opinion

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breakin ... 69789.html

Shaq leaves Heat road trip for medical care
Posted on Mon, Jan. 07, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY MICHAEL WALLACE
mwallace@MiamiHerald.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- Heat center Shaquille O'Neal, who has missed the past five games with a hip injury, has left the team's five-game road trip to seek medical treatment in Los Angeles.

O'Neal said Sunday that he had hoped to return to the lineup for Tuesday's game at Minnesota. But apparently those plans changed after the Heat's loss at Memphis.

Coach Pat Riley confirmed Monday that O'Neal was on a morning flight to Los Angeles, where O'Neal maintains a home, business interests and medical contacts from his playing days with the Lakers.

O'Neal initially bruised his left hip when he dove for a loose ball and slid several feet into a scorer's table during the Heat's Dec. 22 home win against Utah. He aggravated the injury two games later in a Dec. 26 loss at Philadelphia. O'Neal saw a doctor in Miami the next day and said he was told to sit out until the hip was completely healed.

He had already been playing with pain in his right hip and surgically repaired left knee since the preseason. O'Neal had taken cortisone injections to relieve the pain in his knee and hip. He said he stopped taking the shots during his Dec. 27 doctor's visit.

''It's still the same,'' said O'Neal, who attempted to practice Saturday. ``I still feel it when I have to jump, especially when I have to jump with people on me.

''Hopefully, I won't have to go to my last resort,'' he said, referring to another round of cortisone shots.

[CoolD]

If Shaq is not going to retire any time soon, I hope he take this season off. Let the guy get some rest, hopefully it helps him, and the guy comes back next year somewhat productive, if Shaq could at least put better defensive effort next season, and we get a top rookie next year, we could have a nice little year, if Riley works magic in the offseason.

[salqaddoumi]

Not sure why you included the first part, I don't think it was ever 'not legit'. The problem is just that he's so old and it takes him much longer to recover than younger guys.

[Flash3]

QAM just reported that Shaq is officially done till at least the Bulls game.

[DBurks2818]

Riley insisted that O'Neal has been working toward a return.

"He's lost 12, 13 pounds over the last two weeks," Riley said. "He's in the low 320s. His body fat is around 11 percent. It's never been there. He's doing everything that he can do.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/bask ... 9167.story

[D-Wade]

Look @ the wire tap. Classic stubborn Riles.

Love him, but he will always be the most stubborn man in the business.

[dflash3]

Look @ the wire tap. Classic stubborn Riles.

Love him, but he will always be the most stubborn man in the business.

Shaq has a no trade clause in his contract, and it would just create unneeded tension for Riley to say he is willing to trade Shaq when there probably aren't any enticing deals for the Heat to act upon.

I don't see anything wrong with Riley showing faith in Shaq. He should show support for Shaq while he is on the team, but if a good deal is offered he'll probably pull the trigger.

[Lane1974]

Shaq doesn't have a no-trade clause, but he does have the threat of retiring on his side.

Kobe is the last player to get a no trade, they are no longer permitted in the CBA

[G.cracker]

Given this development, if Shaq is gimp upon return, wouldn't it be best to have him sit, claim injury exemption, get two MLEs in the summer. Convince whoever we sign with them to take mutual opt outs after 2 years so that, in theory, when 2010 summer hits, we sign one BIG FA (Lebron , Brand, JON), then resign Wade to supermax, Haslem, the two MLE guys assuming they want to and they work out with Wade, all at their current market value, plus have Cook and our #1 this year. I'm thinking good young role players like Pietrus or Childress.

[SmushedPennies]

Shaq doesn't have a no-trade clause, but he does have the threat of retiring on his side.

Kobe is the last player to get a no trade, they are no longer permitted in the CBA

I'm 99.9% sure they gave Shaq trade-veto powers. I don't know if they somehow put it in sneaky terms or what, but I'm almost positive he can reject any trade.

[SmushedPennies]

-= original quote snipped =-

I don't see anything wrong with Riley showing faith in Shaq. He should show support for Shaq while he is on the team, but if a good deal is offered he'll probably pull the trigger.

Shaq back in gold for Bynum and Turiaf. Do it Riles!

[IndoorOutdoor]

With Riley set to step aside after the season and the team more then likely going into the hands of Spolestra and the youth movement/post-Shaq era truly begins-- will Shaq force a trade or retire knowing that Miami is no longer a real contender?

[G.cracker]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_ba ... 4-hea.html

Then again, if there is any substance to word of Shaquille O'Neal being told by advisors to shut it down for the season, Blount just might wind up with more playing time than he ever could have imagined.