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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shaq Aims For Early Return

From Wire Reports

Shaquille O’Neal, who suffered a serious injury to his left knee in Minnesota last Wednesday night, says he hopes to return to the Los Angeles Lakers at least two weeks ahead of schedule.

When O’Neal’s injury was diagnosed Thursday, the Lakers said he would be sidelined a minimum of 8-10 weeks, meaning he would likely miss the rest of the regular season, which ends April 24.

That’s nine weeks from Sunday.

“I don’t think it’ll be that long,” O’Neal said following Seattle’s 102-91 victory over the Lakers on Sunday. “I think it will be six weeks.

“Life is full of challenges, but this is going to be a good challenge for me. The mind can do a lot of things. Mentally, I’m kind of frustrated, but I’m not going to allow myself to get fat and go crazy.”

O’Neal, who turns 25 next month, is the NBA’s third-leading scorer and fourth-leading rebounder.

He seemed in good spirits during a postgame press conference that lasted about 10 minutes. A day earlier, he issued a statement to Lakers fans saying, among other things, that it had been “a very difficult and disappointing week for me.”

O’Neal said he believed the Lakers would “do just fine” during his absence, although he acknowledged he didn’t know the extent of the injury to starting forward Robert Horry.

Horry sustained what was termed a sprained left knee early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game and will be re-examined today. He left the Forum on crutches with his left leg in a large brace.

“Don’t count us out,” O’Neal said. “I’ll be well-rested when I come back, and I’ll have fresh legs. We’ve got a very talented team with a lot of hard-nosed guys, and they’re going to hold the fort until I get back. We have high hopes, and the guys are going to stay focused. I have no worries at all about that.”

In an NBC interview aired during the game, O’Neal apologized for missing the All-Star game activities in Cleveland last weekend, which included a tribute to the top 50 players in NBA history.

O’Neal was ordered by doctors to stay in Los Angeles to rehabilitate his knee. However, O’Neal, whose selection to the Top 50 team was widely criticized, said given a second chance to attend the ceremony he would.

O’Neal said he wouldn’t mind coming off the bench when he returns to action.

“I wouldn’t want to break anything up,” he said.

Then, he said with a smile, “That would make me the world’s greatest sixth man - another award.”

Orlando coach needs some magic, quickly

For the Chicago Bulls, it was another routine victory. For the Orlando Magic, it was another step in the freefall that has touched off reports that coach Brian Hill is on his way out.

“I think we’re all disappointed with the way we’ve been playing,” Hill said Sunday after his team lost 110-89 to the Bulls, Orlando’s fourth consecutive loss since the All-Star break.

“The energy level doesn’t seem to be there,” said Hill, whose club reached the 1995 NBA Finals but minus Shaquille O’Neal - is only 24-24 this season. “Every coach is responsible for the actions of his team, the wins and losses. That comes with the territory. But nobody has said anything to me.”

NBC-TV reported Hill would be fired after the game, but Magic general manager John Gabriel said Hill would coach tonight’s game at Charlotte. Still, Gabriel didn’t exactly give Hill a strong vote of confidence.

“As far as Brian being fired at this moment,” Gabriel said, “it’s false.”

At this moment?

“We’re going to evaluate a lot of things, all parts of our basketball operations,” Gabriel said. “We’re going to try to make some improvements.”

Starks sparks Knicks

John Starks scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter and the New York Knicks’ guards, held to eight points on 3-for-23 shooting through the first three periods, combined for 27 points in the fourth quarter of an 89-80 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The Knicks held Indiana without a field goal over the final 10:12 to win their fifth in a row.