O’Neal Finally Gets a Timetable

The return of Shaquille O’Neal came a bit more into focus Tuesday when the Lakers announced that he could be back in about two weeks, the first time they have come close to pinpointing a target date.

Rather than circle a specific game, they prefer to wait and continue to gauge the strength of his strained abdominal muscle. But after O’Neal saw two more specialists in Vancouver, Canada, and with today marking five weeks since his last game appearance, the team said Drs. Andrew Seals and Ross Davidson confirmed that the all-star center continues to improve.

That the soft two-week time frame equals what O’Neal will need to heal a hairline fracture of his right wrist is a coincidence, the Lakers said. The unrelated injury, the result of his punching a heavy bag, was diagnosed Monday, about two weeks after O’Neal hurt his shooting hand during a boxing workout.

His wrist was not placed in a cast. But it is not known how long he will have to wait before being allowed to shoot again.

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Though injured, O’Neal is the leading vote-getter for the Western Conference all-star team and easily tops balloting at his position with about 42,000 more votes than San Antonio’s David Robinson, according to the first set of returns released. Laker teammate Eddie Jones is second among Western Conference guards, trailing only Seattle’s Gary Payton. At least O’Neal has played eight games. Chicago’s Scottie Pippen, who has been sidelined the entire season, is second among Eastern Conference forwards. . . . The Lakers’ 4-1 mark on their recent trip was their best run on a five-game swing since they went 5-0 in January 1991.