Shaq Injured in Heat's Loss to Bobcats In the MIAMI HERALD, Michael Wallace writes "The preseason setbacks are now coming in twos for the Heat, which fell to 0-4 after Friday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats at Greensboro Coliseum." Source: http://www.nba.com/news/486443.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/271071.html Print This Article Posted on Sun, Oct. 14, 2007 Shaq injured in Heat's preseason loss to Bobcats BY MICHAEL WALLACE The preseason setbacks are now coming in twos for the Heat, which fell to 0-4 after Friday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats at Greensboro Coliseum. But of far greater significance than the game's 92-76 outcome was the player it claimed. Heat center Shaquille O'Neal left in the first quarter shortly after he sustained a left quadriceps contusion. O'Neal immediately grabbed his hip and grimaced after a collision with Bobcats center Emeka Okafor just five minutes into the game. O'Neal had attempted a hook shot in the lane. Okafor jumped to block the shot, but caught O'Neal with a knee. O'Neal remained in the game for several minutes before he was replaced. He re-entered late in the first quarter but was noticeably limping and soon came out for good. He stayed in the locker room for the second half as the Heat was blown out for the third time in four games. After the game, O'Neal said he didn't believe the injury was serious. He seemed more frustrated that he had another ''freak injury'' despite his wearing padded protection. ''The crazy thing about it is, I've got pads,'' O'Neal said. ``I've got knee pads. I've got quad pads. I've got shin pads. And the place it's not padded, [Okafor] got me.'' O'Neal's status for the final three exhibition games is uncertain. The Heat's next game is Friday in Biloxi, Miss., against New Orleans. With guard Dwyane Wade expected to be out through late November as he recovers from knee and shoulder surgeries, the Heat could least afford to lose O'Neal for an extended time. Heat coach Pat Riley had intended to use the preseason to get several new players on the roster accustomed to playing with O'Neal. But the injuries seemed to have piled up in the preseason as quickly as the losses. ''We're not accomplishing one thing,'' Riley said. ``So, we get to start over again Monday. The one thing we are accomplishing is that I see the younger players feeling better about themselves. ``But we haven't gotten anything from [many of] our veterans, whether they're hurt or out of shape or they don't know the system yet. So the whole process is just trying to get the team together.'' It's not the first time someone's knee did damage to O'Neal, who was injured twice early last season when he banged knees with opposing players. O'Neal eventually had knee surgery and missed 34 games. The Heat was already thin on post players before Saturday's game. Backup center Michael Doleac missed his second consecutive game after injuring his hip and knee in Wednesday's loss to Atlanta. Reserve forward Wayne Simien has had complications with his surgically repaired right knee and stayed in Miami for treatment. The Heat was also without point guard Jason Williams, who missed his second game in a row with a shin injury and guard Penny Hardaway. The injury absences forced Riley to play young players in the second half. Daequan Cook, the Heat's first-round draft pick, was its lone player in double figures with 10 points. ''It's tough because these are guys who play huge roles on the team,'' forward Udonis Haslem said. ``It's tough to get into any rhythm.'' Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 18 points.
Does anybody know when Wade will be able to play. Damn, that injury against Rockets really slowed him down
Agree. Shaq may play a few games in the season because of the injuries. We cannot be sure Wade will be the same player as he was before the injury. I like Miami, but It really won't be suprise if the miss the playoffs...
he would have missed his usual share of games in the first half of the season as usual anyway. No big surprise here.
Sounds like what Ron Artest did to him 3-4 years ago and he never quite fully recovered. A quad injury for a huge guy like Shaq can linger a long time.
Shaq I hope you get well again, soon, as i want to see Yao Ming take full advantage of the fact that you are over the hill!!
I agree. Shaq's body is currently only good for about 60 games, not including the playoffs. If the team makes it to the playoffs, I think he goes into an extra gear but with the amount of rings he has, he probably doesn't want to play the entire season. Also, the Heat are in the East where teams below .500 frequently make it to the playoffs.
actually it's more like shaq's body is currently only good for about 60 games at best including the playoffs. the heat are really over the hill. they will miss the playoffs easily.
Side note: The Shaq-love has reached a comedic level with the media these days. Read any article about Shaq and you will see things like "he may have lost a step but..." and "when he is healthy he is still the most dominant player" Come on, the guy "lost a step" 5 years ago. Right now, even when healthy, he has lost about 3 steps. I have never seen a player so far past his prime still get so much undeserved respect. The guy is a has been and even if healthy won't average more than 14 and 7 this season. That is just a little better than average......far from dominant or even pretty good. What will be truly sad is when he is replaced as a starter (it will happen if he sticks around for another season or two) and people will still talk like he is a franchise player.
Nothing against Shaq, but I am far more interested in Wade's health. I hope he can return this season in full form...
Shaq has two more seasons after this one at $20 million each! He has way too much pride to just retire. You know he's going to play every year of that contract. Luckily, Wade can bolt after 2010 and get away from that train wreck just as he is entering his prime
shaq is such a loser now, but he is still better than kobe, since he got one more ring. Heats is such a joke now. They got nothing other than wade.
