Shaq Has MRI On Left Hip

[kdogg]

MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal had diagnostic tests performed on his ailing left hip Tuesday, and the Miami Heat were bracing to have their center sidelined again for possibly an indefinite period.

The team did not immediately release the MRI exam results. Heat coach Pat Riley said he still was gathering information but did not expect O'Neal to play Thursday when the Heat -- losers of 14 straight games -- host the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

Asked if O'Neal could be sidelined longer, Riley responded, "I don't know."

O'Neal was not available to reporters Tuesday.

Riley said the hip is inflamed, which has led to a fluid buildup in the joint.

"His activity, the activity, is exacerbating it," Riley said. "That's all. That's what happens. He's trying to do everything he do. He's gotten all the treatment he can get. And now it's probably going to be an inactive period of time until the thing heals."

He suffered the hip injury while diving for a loose ball against Utah on Dec. 22 -- the last game Miami won. He missed eight games from Dec. 28 through Jan. 11, sought treatment in Los Angeles over that stretch and returned when the Heat started their current seven-game homestand Jan. 16.

O'Neal left Monday's game against Cleveland in the first quarter to have the hip re-taped and then returned to the game with a noticeable limp. He finished with 10 points, none after halftime.

He's averaging a career-low 14.2 points this season, and his string of 14 straight All-Star Game selections -- which matches a league record -- could be in jeopardy.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who scored 32 of Miami's 38 second-half points in Monday's 97-90 loss to Cleveland, said it's tough to continue watching O'Neal play in obvious pain.

"He's judged more than a lot of the athletes in the world because of who he is, who he has become," Wade said. "If he's playing and hurting and not playing good, he's being talked about. If he's not playing and he's trying to get healthy, then he's being talked about for taking time off. It's a lose-lose situation. As his friend, I want him to be healthy. That's the most important thing to us."

Mark Blount will likely become Miami's new starting center, now that O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning (season-ending knee and quadriceps injuries) are hurting. Centers Joel Anthony and Earl Barron are also on the Heat roster, although they've combined to play 207 minutes this season.

Depending on how long O'Neal is out, Riley said the team might try to add another big man for depth.

"We'll talk about it," Riley said.

For now, Blount -- who started 81 games for Minnesota last year and who has averaged 5.7 points in 16 minutes per game this season -- will be the primary pivot man Miami, which has the Eastern Conference's worst record at 8-32.

When Blount was acquired before the season in a trade, he expected to spend the year playing alongside O'Neal and Mourning and helping the Heat get back to their championship form from two seasons ago.

"It's been different," Blount said. "There's nothing I can do about that. Nothing you can really say. The team is looking at me to try to help them out right now. Of course, you want to be there with Shaq and be there with Zo, but that's not the situation right now."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3208759

 

[kdogg]

Somebody change the title from knee to hip please.

 

[.GR]

Their Season = Over. 8-32 already.

 

[.GR]

Yeah, hes out 2 weeks

SOURCE