Quote:
Heat stung yet again by injury bug
Associated Press
MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade started rehabilitating his dislocated left shoulder Tuesday, a piece of good news for the Miami Heat. Jason Kapono, though, may be gone for a while -- adding to the team's seasonlong list of injuries.
Kapono, the NBA's leading 3-point shooter at 51.3 percent, will miss an "indefinite" number of games after being diagnosed with a high left ankle sprain, Heat coach Pat Riley said.
Kapono was hurt Monday in an 88-81 win over Atlanta. He jumped to defend a shot by Joe Johnson, landed on teammate James Posey's foot and the ankle turned inward. X-rays were negative, but Kapono had more tests Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury, then was placed in a hard cast.
The team said Kapono would be reevaluated in 10 days. On that time frame, he'll miss at least six games, with the earliest possible return March 18 at home against Orlando.
"It's going to be awhile," Riley said.
That's become an unfortunate refrain of sorts this season for the defending NBA champions, who have already lost three starters -- Wade, Shaquille O'Neal (knee surgery) and Jason Williams (knee and abdominal problems) -- for long periods this season. Even had Riley leave for 22 games because of knee and hip operations.
O'Neal, Williams and Riley have all returned. But Wade, who decided against immediate surgery, most likely will miss several more weeks before he determines if the shoulder he injured last month is strong enough to allow him to play again.
Now with Kapono out, Riley will have either Posey, Antoine Walker or Dorell Wright join the starting lineup for Wednesday's home game with Chicago, playing alongside O'Neal, Williams, Eddie Jones and Udonis Haslem.
"It just gives somebody else another opportunity to step in," Heat center Alonzo Mourning said, motioning to Wright. "We've got the young fella right here, ready to step in, and other guys waiting for the opportunity. Somebody can step up and give us some good minutes. We've got enough to get it done -- I keep saying that -- regardless of who's out."
And it likely means the Heat will have to rely even more on O'Neal.
With Wade and Kapono out, the Heat will be missing 39.9 points a game. So O'Neal, who is averaging 16.0, will probably get even more touches now for the Heat (30-29), who topped .500 for the first time in nearly four months with Monday's win.
"It feels pretty good, but it's nothing to be too happy about," O'Neal, who turned 35 on Tuesday, said after Monday night's game. "I won't get too happy until we win the whole thing. We're where we are. We're trying to move up and make the playoffs and get some sort of home-court advantage. We're supposed to be over .500."
To stay there, the Heat will have to figure out a way to beat Chicago for the first time in four meetings this year. The Bulls won 108-66 at Miami on opening night, spoiling the Heat's ring ceremony, and has since added wins in Chicago by six and three points.
"We owe them," Mourning said.
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This is really hurting them, but surprisingly, they're doing OK.
How untimely.
03-08-07, 08:38 PM
Heat stung yet again by injury bug 
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