Shaquille O’Neal News

Dirk Nowitzki, the reigning NBA MVP, was named a reserve for the Western Conference All-Stars on Thursday. via Quick

“He has been under the weather the last couple of days”

Things keep getting worse for the reeling Miami Heat . Wade All-Star guard Dwyane Wade is still suffering from flu-like symptoms and did not fly Wednesday with the Heat for their game against the Southeast … via ESPN

“If you take a look at his career statistics as a starting center, they’re good. They’re really good, and he’s had some great games for us.”

Be strong.

That was coach Pat Riley’s message to Mark Blount as he took the floor for the final 5.8 seconds against Indiana on Saturday.

As the buzzer sounded, the Heat gained its long-awaited victory. Riley regained his mental health for at least a day. And Blount listened, rewarded with his most successful game in a Heat uniform.

The Heat was aware of Blount’s skills long before the October deal that landed the 6-11 center from Minnesota. Drafted 55th overall by the SuperSonics in 1997, Blount was relegated to the CBA to start his post-college basketball career. Read more

“I am looking forward to seeing what dunks are submitted and will be selecting one that is creative and will excite the crowd during the competition.”

Injuries have kept him from playing much, and he hasn’t been very effective when he has been on the court. via Deseret Morning News

“All the close games kept people in the building but it’s good just to end it”

The Miami Heat brought an end to their miserable 15-game losing streak with a 98-96 home victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. via Boston Globe

“It doesn’t feel good (to lose)”

Heat forward Udonis Haslem attends the NBA-run chapel service before every game. via Palm Beach Post

“The most important thing is to get as healthy as possible so I can get back out here with my guys”

Shaq might not play in All-Star game if selected Shaquille O’Neal will learn soon if he earned a record 15th straight selection to the NBA’s All-Star lineup.He’d enjoy the recognition, but he’s not fixating on … via Charlotte Observer

Andy Glockner and Andy Katz get into the arguments surrounding good conference play and poor non-conference play. via ESPN

It takes a big man with deep pockets to figure out what to do with $1.3 million a month — on expenses so extravagant they’d make Paris Hilton jealous. via Miami Herald

“Like I’ve said, right now we’ve lost to everybody we could probably lose to”

It’s after the final buzzer, beyond the walk into the tunnel, out of sight of the still dazed home crowd. That’s where the introspection begins.

‘Just a lot of heads hanging,’ power forward Udonis Haslem said of the scene inside the Heat locker room after the recent losses that have extended the team’s losing streak to 15. ‘No one’s loud. There’s no shouting. There’s a lot of frustration from coaches and the players, a lot of heads down, a lot of disappointed faces.’

The homestand that was supposed to revive hope instead has delivered only five more consecutive losses and a fall to 8-33 at the season’s midpoint. Read more

“I am the son of an army drill sergeant, and when we enlist, we go full term. So I’ve got two years left on my term and after that, I’ll be looking to do other things.”

January 25, 2008, 5:42 PM by Jeremy Sandler Down in South Beach, the Miami Heat are trapped in a deep freeze. via National Post

The O’Neals have really let us down this year. Jermaine is openly wondering if he has played his last game of the season. via ESPN

Normally, winning streaks are matched to winning streaks and losing streaks to losing streaks, but the task to be completed in this space is to see which streak, Portland Trail Blazers’ thirteen-game winning … via Just The Sports

“We’ve been in every game so far this year. We just didn’t get stops.”

Manu Ginobili’s running layup with 36.5 seconds to go proved to be the game winner, as San Antonio battled back to deny Miami its first victory since before Christmas, 90-89, at AmericanAirlines Arena. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Right now, I’ve got to focus on getting the leg back stronger.”

Amid media speculation about his future, Heat center Shaquille O’Neal again indicated Thursday he will not retire before his contract expires at the end of the 2009-2010 season.

In an interview Thursday, ESPN Radio’s Jack Ramsay told O’Neal, ‘I don’t hear retirement in your voice.’

Responded O’Neal: ‘No, never that. I am the son of an army drill sergeant, and when we enlist, we go full term. So I’ve got two years left on my term, and after that, I’ll be looking to do other things.’

When he was dealing with his current hip injury earlier this month, O’Neal told The Miami Herald there was no scenario in which he would walk away from the last two years of his five-year contract, which pays $20 million annually. Read more