Slam Dunk Central

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The Indiana Pacers are facing the increasing likelihood of forward Jermaine O’Neal missing a huge chunk - if not the entire season - due to his problematic knee.? According to the Indianapolis Star, O’Neal?said that he may be willing to sit out the rest of the remaining season to take care of his chronic left knee injury; the report comes 2 days after the Pacers issued a statement saying that O’Neal would miss at least a couple weeks due to a “bone bruise”.

O’Neal, on the other hand, told the Star that his knee hasn’t fully recovered and that he returned to the court entirely too soon.? O’Neal also added, “(Sitting out the rest of the season) really is the prime option for me.? We’re going to rehab now like it was the summer, with an extensive rehab.? If that consists of a month or the rest of the season, I need to take the necessary steps to not come back on something that’s not really healthy.”

O’Neal said he plans to meet with 2 specialists - one in New York and one in Los Angeles; O’Neal, as of this writing, is averaging 15.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG - numbers that have declined from previous campaigns and no doubt bring validation to his knee issue.? The Pacers, assuming they lose O’Neal for an appreciable length of time, will take a major hit.? It no doubt will put more pressure on other stars on the team - Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy for starters - to produce even more.? And although Ike Diogu hasn’t really been a factor in the Pacers’ offense, the O’Neal injury may change all of that.

There’s also the issue of the “trade rumor” involving O’Neal going to the New Jersey Nets.? The news of the O’Neal injury will put that on the backburner - for now.? Depending on what these specialists say about O’Neal’s knee will have an impact on whether?he stays in Indiana or goes elsewhere.? It should become more transparent, probably near the trading deadline in February.