Shaquille O'Neal Out with Hand Injury

by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Feb 25, 2010 8:26 PM CST in Cleveland Cavaliers in the News

The Cavaliers depth inside is about to get tested in a major way. Shaquille O'Neal left Thursday NIght's game in Boston in the 2nd Quarter with what the Cavaliers are calling a "significant thumb sprain" on his right hand. O'Neal looked to get injured when Glen Davis of the Celtics swiped the ball out of Shaq's hands as he was going up for a shot. O'neal originally stayed in the game, but left shortly thereafter when he continued to feel pain in the hand.

The Cavaliers are already down Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was traded to Washington in the deal to acquire Antawn Jamison. Ilgauskas agreed to a buy-out with the Wizards, but can not re-join the Cavaliers until March 21st at the earliest.

Leon Powe did make his Cavaliers' debut after Shaqq left the game.

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Thats all she wrote...Shaq hurt

No legitimate center till end of March. Once again Cleveland comes up short. No championship again. There may never be one again for this city.

by socialdude on Feb 25, 2010 8:44 PM CST reply actions

Would you describe yourself as a pessimist or an optimist? Circle one.

by rockemsockem on Feb 25, 2010 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

Ok because obviously going without Z for 30 days in February and March = no championship again. Lets ignore the fact we will have the 1st seed with or without Z and Shaq and lets ignore the fact that they should both be back for the finals. And lets just ignore the fact that we beat one of the elite teams in the east by 20 points. If you ignore all that i could see why you think there will be no championship.

by CavsLebronFan on Feb 25, 2010 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

dude, debbie downer

Bleeding blue and white and black and gold.

by raimman on Feb 25, 2010 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, that 77-46 spurt we had after Shaq left the game really sucked.

All is doomed now

The Buckeye Battle Cry
SB Nation's official Ohio State blog

by Jeff at the BBC on Feb 25, 2010 10:17 PM CST up reply actions

Ha!

by emily522 on Feb 25, 2010 10:20 PM CST up reply actions

We made it without Mo Williams or Delonte West

We made it when shaq was out with an injury at the beginning of the season.

Without Shaq, we clawed back and snuffed out the Celtics in Boston.

We can make it through this.

by WaveOcean on Feb 25, 2010 10:06 PM CST reply actions

when Glen Davis of the Celtics ~~swiped the ball out of~~ hacked Shaq~~’s hands~~

I’m guessing if he swiped the ball, Shaq wouldn’t have been hurt. Otherwise, the officiating was OK, except maybe for the tech on Andy.

by JulioBernazard on Feb 25, 2010 10:07 PM CST reply actions

This is an opportunity

With every injury, comes an opportunity for someone else to step up. Cavs will be fine.

by Cavs Fan1 on Feb 25, 2010 10:08 PM CST reply actions

Yep

This gives the other guys a chance to get some good time in, get more confidence for the postseason and makes the Cavs deeper, and more dangerous

Whoever said it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, probably lost.

by David Harnden on Feb 25, 2010 10:53 PM CST up reply actions

Just remember that come playoff time the rotation goes to seven or eight guys not ten or eleven. We need to find out who those eight are now! That much depth does help a lot during the regular season but that advantage tends to diminish some what during the playoffs!

LeBron was unavailable for the picture, had to go with Sherry instead! Damn my luck!

by Doogie5 on Feb 25, 2010 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

and

It also gives us the chance to say “but but but we’re not healthy”.

Magic, Laker, and Celtic fans are gonna be sooooo jealous.

The Buckeye Battle Cry
SB Nation's official Ohio State blog

by Jeff at the BBC on Feb 25, 2010 11:07 PM CST up reply actions

+1

Whoever said it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, probably lost.

by David Harnden on Feb 25, 2010 11:14 PM CST up reply actions

This injury gives JJ and Powe a chance to step in and provide some defense in the paint.

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 25, 2010 10:19 PM CST reply actions

We also get to recall Darnell Jackson from D-League to provide 6 fouls and a few rebounds if necessary.

"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay

by woodsmeister on Feb 26, 2010 9:25 AM CST up reply actions

Thats always a good thing. Gotta have at least one banger

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 26, 2010 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

I’m going to bask in the win and worry about this later haha.

by emily522 on Feb 25, 2010 10:20 PM CST reply actions

Hickson played like he didn’t like sitting on the bench. He was an animal on both ends of the floor.

"My signature is only one line. You're welcome."

by jaws. on Feb 25, 2010 10:29 PM CST reply actions

One of the many strengths of this team is depth. We got a lot of guys who can play. We went undefeated without our best 2 guards. We’re 45-14 right now, let that sink in for a minute. And when you consider 5 of those losses (the first 2 of the season and the first 3 after the all star game) were immediately after we added a major piece to the team. You could say we might even be 50-9 if we had this team since day 1.

by CavsLebronFan on Feb 25, 2010 10:36 PM CST reply actions

Am I the only one that saw Davis grab his thumb and yank on the next play? Sure looked intentional to me! NBA should look at that and suspend him for the remainder of the season if I seen what I think I seen!

by Doogie5 on Feb 25, 2010 10:37 PM CST reply actions

I saw it too, if it really was what it looked like he should be fined and suspended. I think he saw Shaq hurt his thumb and the next chance he got he made it worse. Terrible sportsmanship.

by CavsLebronFan on Feb 25, 2010 10:39 PM CST up reply actions

did you expect anything more from the thugs in Beantown? They push and shove and hack all game long. Fined and suspended? Hell, last year Ray Allen elbowed Andy in the nuts. No fine. No suspension. They are lower than whale dung.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Feb 26, 2010 6:50 AM CST up reply actions