Tue Apr 1 13:09:12 2008

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O'Neal's return makes no difference for Pacers

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(Sports Network) - The return of six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O'Neal is just another case of too little, too late for the Indiana Pacers.

O'Neal missed 33 straight games with a bone bruise on his left knee, and returned to the hardwood in Monday's 105-85 victory over the Miami Heat. He played less than 20 minutes and scored nine points, making three of his four shots from the floor and sinking 3-of-4 free throws. O'Neal's miniscule results lifted his season average to 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in 34 games.

It's hard not to forget O'Neal is the same man who was involved in trade rumors earlier in the 2007-08 season, and the team struggled without their disgruntled face of the organization with a 12-21 record in his absence. Unfortunately for O'Neal, who had surgery on the knee last April, he will not help the streaky Pacers to the playoffs no matter how well he plays over the last eight games of the season.

The Pacers have won two straight and six of eight, and pulled within three games of Atlanta for the eighth and final playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference. Indiana has four games remaining on the road and at home, and will try to stay in contention on Wednesday in the opener of a two-game road trip at Boston and Milwaukee. It is 13-24 away from Conseco Fieldhouse this season.

O'Neal will put his knee to the test against the top-seeded Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden. He will bang inside for a bit with the likes of Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins. It won't be an easy task for O'Neal and the Pacers, who have eclipsed the 100-point mark in nine straight games for the first time in more than a decade (1993-94). Boston is one of the top defensive squads in the NBA, so don't count on Indiana hitting the century mark once again.

Let's not forget, though, how dominant O'Neal can be at full strength. He is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year on a usual basis with his ability to swat shots and steer pesky guards out of the paint. O'Neal is averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 716 career games.

Of the remaining eight games on the 2007-08 schedule for Indiana, the Celtics, Hawks, 76ers and Wizards will pose as the biggest threats. The Pacers should have no problem with Milwaukee twice, Charlotte and New York, however.

In other team news, forward Danny Granger leads the Pacers with 19.0 points per game. Over his last eight contests, the New Mexico product is posting 24.2 points per game.

Meanwhile, forward Troy Murphy had his career-high streak of 19 straight games in double figures come to an end against Miami with seven points.