March 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Monday was a day of contrition at Miami Heat practice. It also was a day when dark clouds lifted. Foremost, Dorell Wright was back on the court for the first time since last week's DUI arrest. "It was just one bad night," he said of what is widely considered an out-of-character moment for the 24-year-old forward. "I don't want anybody to get that confused." Then there was center Jermaine O'Neal making himself available to the media for the first time since being ejected from Sunday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers following a tussle with Philadelphia center Samuel Dalembert. "You have to play with some type of emotion," O'Neal said. "But you have to find a way to play with emotion, be ..."
March 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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About the only drama came with 5:06 to play in the third quarter. That's when after being poked in the eye on the previous possession, Heat center Jermaine O'Neal got tangled with 76ers center Samuel Dalembert at midcourt and was ejected after putting his hand around Dalembert's neck in the ensuing scrum. O'Neal was charged with two technical fouls and Dalembert with one. "We need that passion. We need that toughness," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "J.O. brings both those things. It just can't boil over to that point. But I want that passion.""
March 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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How do you make up for the absence of Michael Beasley? You split the challenge. So center Jermaine O'Neal took care of the scoring and forward Joel Anthony handled the rebounding. With O'Neal scoring a season-high 25 points and with Anthony, who started in place of Beasley, adding a season-high 10 rebounds, the Miami Heat pushed past the injury-ravaged Chicago Bulls 108-95 Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "We came out to try to control the tempo," said O'Neal, who shot 8 of 13 from the field and 9 of 11 from the line. "Coach wanted to go to me right away." For a while, it also seemed like the Heat was lacking Dwyane Wade, with its star guard closing the first half with five points and ..."
March 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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This time, coach Erik Spoelstra's options were limited, with sixth-man Dorell Wright sidelined by a sore left knee and center Jermaine O'Neal leaving in the second quarter with his own knee problem, one O'Neal vowed to return from Tuesday in Charlotte, when the Heat next plays."
February 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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After an entire year of trying to fit in with the Miami Heat, center Jermaine O'Neal finally feels the love. And it seems that, more than veteran guile or good health, has led to his recent run of success. "I feel more involved, I feel comfortable, I feel a part of the situation here," O'Neal said Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena. In 10 games in February, O'Neal, acquired from the Toronto Raptors a year ago, is averaging 16 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting .543 from the field. Not coincidentally this surge has come after O'Neal, the No. 3 scoring option as a starter behind guard Dwyane Wade and forward Michael Beasley, was installed as the No. 1 scoring option ..."
February 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Michael Beasley returned to the Miami Heat starting lineup Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks after a two-game absence, but center Jermaine O'Neal replaced him on the team's inactive list. After missing two games with a hyperextended right knee sustained in Wednesday's loss to the Toronto Raptors, Beasley returned after being fitted with a bulky knee brace. He was approved to return after working during Monday's pregame session at AmericanAirlines Arena under the eye of trainer Jay Sabol."
January 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Jermaine O'Neal isn't the first Miami Heat center to feel somewhat slighted in the post. In fact, he isn't the team's first O'Neal to vent such frustrations. But unlike the brooding from Shaquille O'Neal that could last for weeks, if not months, Jermaine O'Neal appears to be sated. At least for now. Afforded 15 shots in Wednesday's 115-102 victory over the Golden State Warriors that lifted the Heat to 2-2 on this six-game Western Conference trip that continues Friday against the Houston Rockets, O'Neal responded with a season-high 24 points, four shy of his highest total with the team since he was acquired from the Toronto Raptors at last February's trading deadline. "It's difficult, ..."
January 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal, who sat out Monday's rout of the Atlanta Hawks with ongoing hip and groin issues, went through aggressive shooting drills and corrective exercises Tuesday, but did not practice, leaving his status for Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena in doubt. "It's not a serious injury, but it's a groin/hip, so those are always a little bit tricky,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's day to day. He wanted to play last night . . . and is feeling better.'' With a 10-day, six-game road trip to open Friday against the Phoenix Suns, it is more likely that O'Neal will miss his fifth game of the season, and that Joel Anthony again will start, ..."
January 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal missed his fourth game of the season Monday night, due to a balky right groin that is being classified as strain and hip flexor. Joel Anthony started in place of O'Neal in Monday's game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena, with coach Erik Spoelstra hopeful of having O'Neal back for Wednesday's home game against the Boston Celtics. Spoelstra said it was a lingering concern that the team decided was time to address. "He's going to do therapy and hopefully, in the next 24 hours, we'll see it respond more," the second-year coach said. "It is getting better, but it got to the point where it would get better, then tweak it again, get ..."
December 23
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal sat out Tuesday's practice, in advance of Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz at AmericanAirlines Arena. O'Neal rested a sore right hip and groin."
December 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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While center Jermaine O'Neal returned to practice Saturday after missing two consecutive games to attend his uncle's funeral in South Carolina, starting small forward Quentin Richardson didn't practice due to a nagging hamstring injury. And perhaps more significantly, star guard Dwyane Wade practiced, but he's nursing a slightly sprained right wrist, his shooting hand, after taking a bad fall in Friday's 106-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Wade said he injured the wrist while breaking his fall after a missed reverse dunk in the first half. Wade shot 8 of 24 overall, including 4 of 12 in each halves. Both Wade and coach Erik Spoelstra expect Wade to play Sunday night against Memphis at ..."
December 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat was without center Jermaine O'Neal for a second consecutive game Friday night, in the wake of his uncle's funeral in South Carolina. O'Neal, who also missed Sunday's victory against the Sacramento Kings to be with family, was scheduled to return to South Florida late Friday night, after the Heat faced the Dallas Mavericks at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It was a very emotional week and emotional last 48 hours," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He will practice (Saturday) and he's looking forward to being back around the guys." It is the third game O'Neal has missed this season, having missed a Nov. 14 victory over the New Jersey Nets due to a left hip contusion. Joel Anthony again ..."
December 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat will be without center Jermaine O'Neal for Sunday's game in Sacramento against the Kings due to a family issue. O'Neal, who had left the team a week ago to be with a critically ill uncle in Columbia, S.C., will miss the game to return to his family there. O'Neal was to leave the team following Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center to return to South Carolina."
November 30
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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A solid string of recent performances by Jermaine O'Neal has surprised neither his coach nor the opposition. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said extra work put in by the Heat center has paid the anticipated dividends. "The main thing what I'm seeing is he's doing what he needs to make sure that his body is ready for the schedule and for the grind of an NBA schedule," Spoelstra said before Sunday's 92-85 loss to the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena. "He spends a lot of time in the training room, not only with ice, but with treatments, doing all his corrective exercises, making sure that he has the strong base and flexibility that he did not in the past two or three seasons." The ..."
November 29
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Center Jermaine O'Neal said the delicate balance between team and family could take him away from the Miami Heat in coming days. O'Neal, who rushed back from a family emergency in South Carolina to make it to Friday's game against the Washington Wizards just over two hours before tipoff, said the situation with his seriously ill uncle could have him back in Columbia in coming days. "It could be a situation where it could take me away from the team," he said after Saturday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena, as the Heat prepared for Sunday's game against the visiting Boston Celtics. O'Neal's circumstances are compounded by the Heat leaving Monday morning for Portland, Ore., where a ..."
November 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Erik Spoelstra had the opportunity Sunday against the Hornets. Quentin Richardson still was out and Udonis Haslem was back from the strained left shoulder that had sidelined him for two games. But instead of inserting Haslem into the starting lineup and shifting Michael Beasley to small forward, the second-year coach remained with James Jones as his starting small forward. In two games in place of Richardson, Jones is 3 of 10 from the field, 1 of 7 on 3-pointers, with eight rebounds and five assists. In his two starts, before he was sidelined with his back spasms, Richardson, amid dwindling minutes, was 3 of 6 from the field, with five rebounds and two assists. And in the two games ..."
November 3
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Daequan Cook all missed Monday's practice as the Miami Heat prepared for Tuesday night's lone visit of the season by Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Wade did not even make it to the session, instead tied up in a courtroom in a matter related to a failed business interest. O'Neal watched from the side, a day after breaking his nose late in Sunday's 95-87 victory over the Bulls. And Cook was held out with the same shoulder ailment that forced him to skip the Chicago game. In addition, guard Chris Quinn, who had been out since the start of training camp with a sprained ankle, went through the entire session and has been deemed healthy enough to return. The ..."
November 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Erik Spoelstra's argument was mostly halfhearted, as he challenged the second-quarter technical foul Jermaine O'Neal was assessed for following a dunk with a chin-up on the rim. In fact, it could be argued that the second-year Miami Heat coach savored the moment in Friday night's victory in Indiana almost as much as the 14th-year center did. "If he's jumping that high," Spoelstra said, "I'll take anything." To say O'Neal has shown a spring in his step in the Heat's 2-0 start would be understatement. His consecutive games of 22 points and 12 rebounds represent the first time in the franchise's 22 seasons a player has opened with back-to-back 20-10 performances. For a player who averaged 13 ..."
October 31
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It wasn't exactly the Indy 500. But the Miami Heat's 17 consecutive losses at Conseco Fieldhouse certainly felt like triple-digit misery. Now? Now there is a one-game winning streak in Indiana, with Friday's 96-83 victory over the Indiana Pacers. "It was gratifying," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "To have this feeling here hasn't happened very often for us." After 14 consecutive regular-season losses in Conseco, with three more in the playoffs, the Heat finds itself with its first 2-0 start to a season since it went 4-0 to open 2004-05. Both victim and former victimizer contributed for the Heat. Guard Dwyane Wade, who had lost all 11 of his previous Conseco visits, led the Heat with 32 ..."
October 19
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Heat center Jermaine O'Neal has always talked the talk, but in the last five years a myriad of injuries haven't allowed him to walk the walk like he used to. But despite playing without knee pain or swelling for the first time in years after undergoing a grueling, eight-week workout regimen with renowned Chicago-based fitness guru Tim Grover, O'Neal has still been slowed by nagging injuries such as foot, groin and shoulder tweaks, limiting his minutes and production (averaging 8.3 points, three rebounds in nearly 22 minutes) in appearing in three of the five exhibition games. That said, O'Neal, who turned 31 last Tuesday, is confident he will not only be ready for the season-opener against ..."
October 8
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Jermaine O'Neal immediately made sure to quell the concerns. "Not the knees," the Heat center before Wednesday night's 90-86 preseason loss to the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena, "it's not the knees." But it was a game played in the injury absence of O'Neal, and considering the 14th-season veteran's history, that's always a concern. "I'll be back at practice ready to go on Friday," O'Neal said, with the Heat expected to be given Thursday off, before beginning preparations for Sunday's home exhibition opener against the Spurs. "I have no doubt in my mind that I'll be ready to rock and roll at a high level come Sunday." O'Neal has been limited since being kicked in the left foot during the ..."
September 29
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Heat center Jermaine O'Neal won't be accompanied by his "best friend" when the team opens training camp Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. Consider that a good thing. It turns out O'Neal's "best friend" is a portable ice machine. It was his constant companion for three years because O'Neal's injured left knee would swell so much and so often he needed a constant source of ice to treat the ailment. That shouldn't be the case this season, his 14th in the NBA. "I'm 100 percent (healthy)," O'Neal said at Monday's Media Day. "The knee isn't giving me any problems." If that's true it could be a comeback season for O'Neal, who will earn $23 million this year, the final year of his contract. And ..."
March 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal was held out of Monday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies at AmericanAirlines Arena due to a bruised right hip. Coach Erik Spoelstra said O'Neal was injured last week while unsuccessfully attempting to draw a charge against Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce. "It's definitely just one game," said O'Neal, who vowed to be back in the starting lineup for Wednesday night's road game against the Indiana Pacers. "I'm just trying to calm it down. "We're not worried about it at all." O'Neal said Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills was the first time the ailment significantly limited his mobility. He closed that game with ..."
March 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It was only six points: Two baskets, two free throws. But for Jermaine O'Neal, it was a start. For the first time since arriving a month ago, the veteran center mattered in a fourth quarter, mattered at the finish. For the Heat, that made Wednesday's 107-99 victory over the Celtics significant. Plan B just might take some of the pressure off Dwyane Wade, after all. "It's very important to have that ability to go down in the post and him make not only the jump shot, but also go to the basket," Wade said. Before the victory over the Celtics, O'Neal had not scored more than four points in the fourth quarter of any of his previous 11 Heat appearances. And these were no accidental points. They ..."
February 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Lawyers. Arbitrators. League officials. Media. Fans. Jermaine O'Neal had a lot of explaining to do, to all sorts of people, and none of it was pleasant. "But the toughest part for me was to explain it to my daughter," he says. He hadn't brought himself to tell Asjia what had happened on Nov. 19, 2004, or why, in the days that followed, he was home watching games in progress rather than reviewing games on tape. But a sharp 5-year-old doesn't take long to figure it out, especially when her friends are fans of her father, and that father had recently participated in the ugliest brawl in NBA history. "Dad, somebody told me you were suspended for punching somebody."Her information was accurate, ..."
February 19
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Jermaine O'Neal's South Florida welcome included an elbow to the right eye from Mike Miller and enough Minnesota Timberwolves 3-pointers to leave the Miami Heat feeling dazed. What began as a triumphant arrival for O'Neal, with an early 11-point Heat lead, turned into a defenseless showing and a 111-104 loss Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. "It's a terrible loss," Dwyane Wade said after his game-high 37 points and 12 assists weren't enough to rescue the Heat. The new-look Heat, at least in O'Neal's debut, proved incapable of rebounding from its early blown lead, or rebounding at all, for that matter. Despite gaining much-needed size with the addition of O'Neal in last week's ..."