Crucial Week Ahead For JO, Pacers

“Every day we’re going to try to step it up a couple notches and see the reaction to the knee,” O’Neal said. “The knee didn’t swell any (Wednesday) or (Thursday). The key is for the next day I come to practice to see if the knee is reacting well. So far it’s been great.”[/quote]

[quote]"We want to try to put together a string of practices and see where I’m at," he said. “Every day is very, very important for me considering there’s only 13, 14 games left. I think the goal would be to try to get in the last 10 games and just build from the games. I think three or four more practices and we can evaluate if I can start playing next week or whenever.”[/quote]

[quote]"I would think it would have an enormous impact on us," Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. "Sometimes when a guy is not playing for as long as he’s been on the sidelines you forget how athletic and big and quick he is.

“And what he brings at both ends of the court. We’re anxious to get him back.”[/quote]

[quote]O’Brien said O’Neal’s conditioning is at a level where he can go up and down the court hard for about “11/2 to 2 minutes.”

O’Neal has spent the majority of the past couple of weeks doing individual drills, including playing one-on-one, after practice.

The Pacers have missed O’Neal’s presence on defense. Teams regularly get to the paint for uncontested layups. O’Neal can block or alter shots.

O’Neal, who is averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 33 games, said he’s open to coming off the bench so he doesn’t disrupt things.

“I think anything I can do can help,” he said. “Obviously we got some guys going well offensively. Defensively I think I can really help the team being able to step up and stop guys from driving so much, blocking shots and altering shots, taking charges are some of the things I’m looking forward to doing. I’m not looking to come in and take over the scoring load. It would be ridiculous to think that way.”

If he can make it back we’re probably going to see the J.O. from his first season in Indy. The destructive defense and workman-like board work filled in by the odd basket.

Hopefully they’re evaluating his knee wisely because I’d love to see him make a good/full recovery.

And I disagree, this is a great system for Jermaine, he fits this fast paced offense perfectly. He only struggled because of his recovery from injury and some issues getting acclimated (him and his teammates – entry passes to the post especially). This is the type of system he’s wanted to play in for years and years and suits him perfectly. Isiah had Jermaine playing in a similiar system and that’s were Jermaine flourished and became an MVP candidate. He had a short period were his knee felt okay (80% he said) were he battled Amare and Dwight and looked fantastic in this system, there’s no problems with how he fits in, only problems with patience.

It’s like saying Pau Gasol couldn’t fit into Memphis’ fast paced offense ….. it’s stupid. He goes to LA and they play even faster than Memphis, were are those claims now? They were stupid then and stupid now (the Pau claims).

Jermaine’s case is muddied by a serious injury (same as Gilbert Arenas) and the long recovery process that comes with it. Let him get healthy, then talk about he fits in. This has been the perfect system for him since the day he entered this league, and he’s already shown promise in it despite the injury. If he recovers well he’ll fit in perfectly.