<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> MIAMI -- The Shaquille O'Neal comeback watch will continue for at least a few more days. O'Neal, who's recovering from surgery to repair torn left knee cartilage, will miss at least two more games before returning to the Miami Heat lineup, interim coach Ron Rothstein said. That means he'll miss Miami's home game Thursday night against Indiana and the Heat's trip to Philadelphia on Friday. The earliest he could come back is Sunday, when the Heat host Dallas in a rematch of last year's NBA finalists, which Miami won in six games. "Shaq is working out, feeling good, getting better day to day," Rothstein said after the Heat's shootaround Thursday morning. "That's it. Case closed." Thursday's game will be the 32nd O'Neal has missed since the Nov. 19 surgery. He took part in a full-contact, five-on-five workout Wednesday for the first time since the operation and said a decision on playing against the Pacers hinged on how his knee responded from that test. Rothstein said O'Neal did not have a setback and was able to take part in the shootaround, but stressed the team is continuing to exercise caution. O'Neal will continue working out on a daily basis. "Each individual knows when they're ready," Rothstein said. "He wants to play. You think he wants to do all those court drills? It's much easier playing. But he's not ready to play yet, in any sense. Confidence in the leg, conditioning, wind. ... You've got to remember, he's 7-foot-1, 330 pounds. He's a different individual." O'Neal was not available for comment Thursday morning.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Pgballer17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He will help the heat, but he can only do so much.</div> Thanks for the great incite. Wade actually encouraged Shaq to come back later rather than sooner because he believed Shaq wasn't in game shape and physically ready to play. A few more days of practice and workouts won't hurt.
<div class="quote_poster">Pgballer17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">yeah, i think most people have figured that one out by now.</div> I'm sure many were unaware that Shaq can only do "so much".
