Pietrus Could Return to Action Tonight!

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND - The Arena no doubt will be packed Wednesday night as Bay Area fans catch their only glimpse of Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat this season.

They may get a bonus appearance as well.

Warriors swingman Mickael Pietrus reported no pain in his right knee after logging heavy practice time Monday, a sign that he might be ready to return to a team that sure could use his spark off the bench.

Pietrus has missed the past 21 games with a sprained medial collateral ligament he sustained Nov. 21 against New Jersey. Neither he nor coach Mike Montgomery said he would play for certain Wednesday, but they didn't rule it out either.

He's officially listed as questionable against Miami.

"I wouldn't go that far" as to say he's ready, Montgomery said after Monday's practice. "But he looked good. There were no ill effects. It was good to see. (We wanted) to get him a couple of minutes to see what happens, and he never came out."

Pietrus said he took part in about "75 percent" of practice and hoped to engage in a full workout today.

It turns out this current five-day break in the schedule came at a great time for the Warriors, who have several players on the mend.

Center Adonal Foyle, on the inactive list for two of the past three games with back spasms, certainly needed the rest. And forward Troy Murphy, who sprained his left ankle in Thursday's loss to Indiana, is expected to play against the Heat.

"Adonal is fine," Montgomery said. "Troy would have been unable to play (the past couple of days). He went today. That was good."

Pietrus' return would be especially timely. The Warriors have been shaky defensively of late and need his energy on both ends of the floor.
They'll also be without veteran swingman Calbert Cheaney (strained left thigh) for about two weeks, so depth behind small forward Mike Dunleavy is an issue right now.

"I'm going to try to feel like myself," said Pietrus, who was averaging 10.5 points before going down. "I'm going to try to be the player I was before I was injured."

Foyle-ing Shaq

Foyle is happy his back feels better, but he's not so sure facing O'Neal is the ideal way to ease back into action.

He jokingly suggested that banging with O'Neal is like "donating your body to science." O'Neal, who's 7-foot-1, is listed at 325 pounds but probably weighs much more.

Though rookie Ike Diogu has taken over starting center duties from Foyle, expect Foyle to see major minutes Wednesday.

Diogu, at 6-8, will be facing a big size disadvantage against O'Neal. Rookie big man Chris Taft, who has been bothered by injury throughout the season, could be another option for Montgomery.

"Adonal is going to have to be a key against Shaq," Montgomery said. "He's the biggest guy we have, and he's a veteran. Chris Taft has not been with us all that much."

Foyle, who is 6-10, can at least fall back on experience in guarding O'Neal. The two have matched up plenty over his nine-year career.

"I've always played Shaq as hard as I could," Foyle said. "You give him as many different looks (as possible), and hopefully he doesn't get the ball so low on the block that he can put it in the hole."</div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 707to805:</div><div class="quote_post">damn shapecity, i almost drove to the sports bar for the game cuz of this post hahaha...ran into my friend at my last class and he was all "uhhh, i dont think the game's tonight."</div>

My bad man, I got my days mixed up as well. I kept thinking yesterday was Wednesday. I only realized it was Tuesday when I was at this micro-brewery and they had $2.50 pint Tuesdays.