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Shaq
to sit out All-Star game again LOS ANGELES — Shaquille O’Neal went on the injured list Thursday because of pain in his arthritic right big toe and he will sit out the NBA All-Star game for the second straight year. O’Neal was put on the injured list retroactive to Wednesday — before he missed the Lakers’ 97-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls — meaning he’ll sit out at least four more games before being eligible to return Feb. 19 against Boston. O’Neal, who missed last year’s All-Star game with an inflamed arch on his right foot, received the second-most votes of any player, 1,247,438, in fan balloting for this year’s game, which will be played Sunday in Philadelphia. He was replaced on the Western Conference team by Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers. Brand, who turns 23 next month, will be making his first All-Star appearance and will be the first Clippers player in the midseason game since Danny Manning in 1994. Brand, the first overall selection in the 1999 draft, was averaging 18.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots entering Thursday night's game in Detroit. “It’s not getting better,” Black said. “Our concern obviously is in the long run, having him be as healthy as possible for the playoffs. For him to play every game the rest of the season and jeopardize his availability for the playoffs would be stupid on our part. I’m sure he would like to play all 82 games of the season. He recognizes what’s best for him in the long run is to take time off.” O’Neal is averaging 26.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.35 blocked shots. |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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