Shaquille O'Neal Chooses Surgery: "When I Return It Is On"

Sports News - March 1st, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

Shaquille O'Neal's broken thumb is headed for the carving table. The beefy center tweeted on Sunday that he will undergo surgery to repair the damage caused against the Boston Celtics, and may not return until the playoffs begin in late April.

"(G)oing into surgery today on my thumb," he wrote on Twitter. "(W)ill be out for a min but when I return it is on, win da ring for da king! Luv my team, Cavs baby!"

O'Neal broke his thumb when he had his shot blocked by Boston's Glen Davis, and has been out of the lineup since.

The Diesel was advised to have the procedure done during a consultation with Baltimore hand physician Dr. Thomas Graham, and the team will evaluate his future after the operation.

It is believed that he will miss at least six weeks, and may not be back until late April.

Above all, it begins the countdown to Zydrunas Ilgauskas' return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was traded to the Washington Wizards in a trade deadline deal for Antawn Jamison, but agreed on a buyout with the club over the weekend. It is expected Ilgauskas will return to the Cavs, but will have to wait 30 days to return, per NBA rules. Otherwise, he is free to sign with any other team before then.

Without he or O'Neal, Cleveland is without a true force at center, and will rely on Anderson Varejao. Rookie Danny Green was also called up from the NBA Developmental league.

The team says it plans to pick up the pace a bit on offense without Shaq in the line-up to take advantage of LeBron James and Jamison's athleticism.

“With Shaq, you have to take advantage of his size and you have to go in the paint. He gets teams in foul trouble real easy,” guard Mo Williams told the Associated Press. “Without Shaq, it’ll be more pick and rolls, more drive and kicks and more 3-point attempts. We’ll spread the floor out and attack the rim in different ways.”

O'Neal is averaging 12 points and 6.7 rebounds for the first-place Cavaliers, who are 4-1 against last year's NBA Finals teams, Los Angeles and Orlando.

“I think we’ll be all right,” Williams added. “We’ll weather the storm while the big fella gets some rest.” It's not yet clear how Shaq's surgery will affect the NBA odds.