Jermaine O'Neal Optimistic About Return for Playoffs

Jermaine O'Neal, the Indiana Pacers All-Star forward, announced on Friday night that he will miss the rest of the regular season after sustaining an injury to his right shoulder. However, O'Neal was hopeful about the chances that his shoulder would be healed in time for him to play in the first round of playoffs, which are scheduled to begin in the last week of April.

O'Neal spoke to the media for the first time since hurting his should on March 3rd in a loss to the Denver Nuggets when his arm was pulled back while he was driving to the basket. He discussed the injury during the third quarter of Friday's game against the Lakers, a 103-97 victory for the Pacers. He had been silent about the injury because he did not want to become a distraction for his team and he did not want to steal the spotlight away from the other 14 players on the team, as they attempt to make a run for the playoffs.

As for the injury, O'Neal said that his shoulder was dislocated during the March 3rd game, but he popped it back into place. The injury caused a tear in the capsule of the shoulder joint. According to his doctors, O'Neal said that the problem can heal with time, but if it does not heal on its own, then he will need surgery. If he does need surgery on his shoulder, it would sideline him for an additional six to seven months while it heals, which would cut into next season as well. If O'Neal returns to play prior to his shoulder fully healing, it could slip right back out of place and he would risk tearing the muscle completely, which could potentially be a career-threatening injury. Currently, Jermaine is rehabbing the shoulder twice each day, iciing it, and taking medication for it.

The All-Star forward is among the league leaders in scoring averaging a career high 25.1 points per game. His team, the Pacers, are battling for a spot in the playoffs. Up to date, they have posted a record of 33-31, and are holding onto the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. O'Neal expressed his confidence in the team on Friday, saying that he is confident that the Pacers would continue to win games. He says the team will deal with his injury the same way they have dealt with the many injuries and suspensions thus far this year, including injuries to Reggie Miller, Jamaal Tinsley, Jeff Foster, Jonathan Bender, and Scot Polard. The Pacers are 22-19 with O'Neal in the lineup this season, and 11-12 without him, but they have recorded a 5-2 record since O'Neal's injury on March 3rd.