I looked around and I didn't see anything, but my feeling is this could be huge...Indiana is a great team, but with O'Neal, they're mediocre at best...ESPN kept on showing the highlight and man I'm sure he's out for a couple of weeks, if not more... INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal left Monday night's game against the Chicago Bulls in the second quarter with a sprained left knee. O'Neal injured the knee trying to set a pick, colliding with Bulls guard Ronald Dupree just inside the baseline. O'Neal had to be helped off the court and into the locker room with 8:21 left in the half. The Pacers were leading 33-20. O'Neal, who leads the Pacers with 20.6 points per game and 10.2 rebounds, will be reevaluated on Tuesday, the team said.
Even if he's back but half speed, they're in trouble after the first round. With Jason Kidd also hobbled with that bum knee, the smart money's on the Pistons. Evan
I can't imagine he'd be as effective b/f the injury, but to me, it seems a little too soon... O'Neal Hopes for Sunday Return By Conrad Brunner Indianapolis, March 23, 2004 (Updated March 24 at 11:30 a.m.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jermaine O'Neal left the Pacers locker room after their Wednesday morning shootaround without a pronounced limp and with words of encouragement: "I'm going to be fine." Though the Pacers will be without their All-Star power forward and MVP candidate for the next two games -- tonight against Dallas in Conseco Fieldhouse and Friday in Orlando -- O'Neal said he was "shooting for next week, at least," and held out hope he might be back for Sunday's home game against Miami. He said the pain was receding but swelling remained an issue. That's good news for an already shorthanded Pacers team battling for the best record in the NBA, which brings homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Jonathan Bender is doubtful for tonight's game with a sprained right shoulder, and Austin Croshere is expected to play despite a sprained left thumb that could hinder his effectiveness. Those injuries offer a serious challenge to the team's vaunted frontcourt depth. Al Harrington will move into the starting lineup at power forward, with Croshere his primary backup. Carlisle "As a team, we've got to step up and help with rebounding," said coach Rick Carlisle. "Jermaine averages over 10 a game and it's hard for one guy to make that up. As a team, everybody's going to have to chip in on the boards. In terms of scoring, we're going to have to become a little bit more of a diverse team. We're not going to be able to just pound it in to hom. We're going to have to do other things -- drive and kick, post up some, pick-and-roll and be able to run with efficiency." An MRI Tuesday revealed O’Neal, who injured his left knee in a collision with Chicago's Ronald Dupree on Monday night, has a bone bruise. Bender, who injured his shoulder in the first half against Sacramento last Friday night, was placed on the injured list Wednesday afternoon and will miss at least the next five games. Center Primoz Brezec was activated. Croshere was injured late in the Chicago game. “We’re just hoping for the best,” said Carlisle. “That’s all there really is to do right now. … We’re in a tough spot right now.” The Pacers are a combined 11-2 without one of their three top scorers – 6-2 without Ron Artest, 3-0 without Harrington and 2-0 without O’Neal. But their vaunted frontcourt depth hasn't faced a challenge of this magnitude, although none of the injuries are though to be long-term. “One of the realities of an 82-game NBA season is you’re going to deal with injuries at some point,” said Carlisle. “I’ve never seen a team in this league go through a year and not have some situations come up. That’s also the reason you try to have a team with depth and have guys that can play 12 to 15 deep. We’ve dealt with it before. It makes it tough with a team like Dallas coming in, but we don’t have a choice. We’ve got to have other guys step up, be ready and go out there and play our game.” Harrington has filled in admirably before, averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in 12 starts. Though most have come in place of Artest at small forward, Harrington is more comfortable at power forward. Harrington “We’ve been through this all year,” Harrington said. “It’s never been for an extended period, except for Ron’s five games (on the injured list). But I think everybody here is ready to step up. We look at it as a challenge. “The fact we have been through this a couple times this year, we know we can do it, so we don’t have to panic about it. If (O’Neal) is not able to play, we just have to step up. We’ve done it all year, so we feel confident about that. If that does happen, obviously I’m going to have to step up – and in a big way because Jermaine’s 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) every night. I’m ready for it. And I know the other guys are ready to pull their weight and raise the level of their games.” Another player whose role could expand in O’Neal’s absence is Reggie Miller. A background scorer who has conceded shots to the team’s younger big men, Miller scored 17 points against Chicago and is prepared to assume a more aggressive posture within the offense. Miller “That’s one thing that has gotten us over the hump throughout this year. Some guys have gone down or been suspended and other guys have stepped in and played very admirably. The same thing is going to have to happen these next few ballgames,” Miller said. “Obviously, Jermaine is a big part offensively as well as defensively, but putting points on the board is going to be a key factor for us. You’re losing 20 points and you’ve got to be able to make it up some kind of way.” Croshere said he wasn’t sure how effective he'll be with the heavy wrap on his left thumb very similar to that worn by Artest, who recently missed five games after undergoing thumb surgery. “If Rick sees me out there struggling or if I'm tentative to put a hand in a passing lane or something like that, that would be his call,” he said. “But I'm definitely planning on going out there and playing through it." Because the Pacers have been through this situation before, there are no panic buttons being pressed. In fact, the team projects a calm confidence. “We’ve just got to play with energy and keep getting victories till J.O., Cro and J.B. get back healthy,” said Artest. “I think we’ll be fine. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game and the team has confidence in their games. We have confidence in each other.” http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/injuries_040323.html
