<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI ? The most optimistic prognosis was for Shaquille O'Neal to return in four weeks after having surgery. Now, even six weeks - which would have him playing Jan. 3 - appear to be out of the question. O'Neal spoke to reporters Tuesday for just the second time since his Nov. 19 operation to repair cartilage in his left knee and reported that nothing much has changed in the past two weeks. In other words, O'Neal still is not running. "I'm working out two times a day," he said. "I don't want to say I'll be back in six weeks and set myself up. I'm just taking my time and whenever my leg is 100 percent I'll be back." O'Neal said he will start swimming this week. He was told by doctors Monday to "strengthen my knee; when I feel like running give it a try." Which means O'Neal has yet to start conditioning on the court, something coach Pat Riley believes is critical. Although O'Neal's procedure was thought to be routine, Internet reports have indicated that the surgery was more complicated and the Heat might have considered microfracture surgery, a much more serious procedure. "I didn't hear nothing about a fracture," O'Neal said. "All I heard is I had cartilage and clean out the bone." O'Neal was asked whether he's facing more serious surgery. "I hope not," he said. "But no, that's not true." O'Neal will miss his 17th game of the season tonight when the Heat faces Phoenix. Miami is 7-9 without its starting center.</div> Source
