3/11/2005 06:02:00 PM|||Shep|||Concern grows for O'Neal:
All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal probably will be out longer than the five games he is required to miss for being placed on the injured list.

How much longer? Nobody knows.

"There's no official word yet, but I'm starting to be afraid this is more serious than we hoped," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday.


Fantasy Impact

Obviously anyone with O'Neal is hurting. But other managers with Pacers on their roster are probably pretty happy (unless that Pacer's name starts with J and ends with amaaltinsley). Dale Davis has stepped in and averaged 9 rebounds in his first 3 games with the P's. 2.7 AST, 1.7 STL, and 1.0 BLK doesn't hurt either. Stephen Jackson is BOC with 25.4 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.6 STL, 2.8 FG3, on 48% FG, 37% FG3, and 81% FT in the last 5. Actually most of those numbers are about on par for him, but the points is a big jump as is te FG%. Who would have thought he'd shoot better with O'Neal out. Reggie Miller is also putting up some hot numbers. He might even be available on the FA list, and is worth a look.



|||111057137738688595|||O'Neal may be out longer than expected