Even more bad news for Indiana

[Fillmoe]

O'Neal out 8 weeks with groin injury

Associated Press



INDIANAPOLIS -- Jermaine O'Neal is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a left groin tear, leaving the Indiana Pacers without their leading scorer and rebounder.

Jermaine O'Neal

Forward-Center
Indiana Pacers
The news came Thursday, a day after the Pacers acquired sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic from the Sacramento Kings for the volatile Ron Artest.
The Pacers described the injury as "significant," but said it was doubtful he would need surgery.
O'Neal injured his groin in the fourth quarter of Indiana's loss at Cleveland on Tuesday.
After the game, O'Neal said, "We sure have had enough bad luck for a year. I'm really, really concerned. I heard it pop. Hopefully, I won't need surgery."
O'Neal leads the Pacers with 20.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. When he joins the team, Stojakovic has a 16.5-point scoring average.
Indiana has a 21-20 record and is third in the Central Division.



source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2307307

 

[nbrans]

Peja will feel right at home.

 

[piksi]

he might be the healthiest there

 

[Packt]

Just in time for Peja to swoop in and take over franchise duties. Go Peja!

 

[BMiller52]

That sucks for them. Peja and Jermaine will really complement eachother I think. Maybe they could try to trade a PG+something for Al Harrington? He could be a good 6th man and step in while jermaine is out.

 

[DoughDole]

That blows for Indy. Well I guess they could replace JO with Peja at the 4 now, since Bird believes that Peja is a great rebounder for his size.

 

[Purple Reign]

Just in time for Peja to swoop in and take over franchise duties. Go Peja!

PLEASE!!!

I love Peja, but Peja couldn't take over a franchise if someone handed him a toy McDonald's.

 

[blitzology]

Pacers are deep enough and have a great coach to still go .500 until JO gets back.

 

[Ryle]

Maybe our injury curse was because of some strange mystical cloud that hung over Peja and now that he's gone we will be healthy and his new team will suffer injuries to key personnel at the worst time .

If this is true to bad we couldn't have sent him to the Spurs

 

[TheRaven]

That really hurts Indy. Not just the lack of their best player, but the fact that they might not be able to see how Peja plays with O'Neal for an extended period of time. If Peja and O'Neal had been able to play from their next game to the end of the season, plus maybe playoffs, it would help them figure out if they want to make a serious run at him when he opts out.

 

[Evenstar]

sucks for them

 

[Packt]

PLEASE!!!

I love Peja, but Peja couldn't take over a franchise if someone handed him a toy McDonald's.

If they can incoporate him into their offense (if he's even heathly to play), and win some games with the flair he's capable of, it should raise eyebrows. I'm not saying he's franchise material, but the spotlight will be on him with Artest gone and JO out.

 

[DocHolliday]

I'm thinking now that Peja had the bad mojo. The day that Peja is traded to the Pacers JO tears his groin?? Coincidence. I think not. Maybe we just got rid of our injury bad mojo.

 

[kennadog]

You know...I've often felt that the Kings were cursed, but man.....Indiana is beyong cursed the last couple of seasons. There must be a black cloud of doom over Conseco Fieldhouse. I feel really bad for them.

 

[Kings113]

Eek, that really sucks for Indy now

 

[BMiller52]

Tinsley messed up his elbow again, he'll be out for a while too.

 

[Kings113]

I keep waiting for him to be healthy, I always get into the guy, then he's out again :/

 

[BMiller52]

I keep waiting for him to be healthy, I always get into the guy, then he's out again :/

Is he on your fantasy team or something?

 

[Kings113]

No, just from watching him over the years with the Pacers. I start to enjoy watching him, then he gets hurt soon after (Tinsley).

 

[BMiller52]

Ah, that sucks. Man Indy has so many injuries, they've had 2 since Peja got there . Jermaine and Tinsley...

 

[Kings113]

Tinsley's been out though..

Pacers had like 7 or 8 guys vs. Cavs on Fri... Granger looked excellent, BTW