Shaquille O'Neal could be Heading Back to Los Angeles

Relax Miami Heat fans, before you send Shaq a bunch of hate mail, read this.

As ya'll know, the Miami Heat this season is nowhere in comparison to the Miami Heat team that got lucky winning the NBA Championship. They are more than a few games below .500 and things seem to go even worse when Pat Riley took a leave of absence to fix his somewhat ailing knees and hips.

Perhaps the biggest factor of Miami's demise this season is the absence of Shaquille O'Neal. Since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, this seven-foot monstrosity has been susceptible to early-season injuries. Now I don't know if Shaq is really getting hurt more as he ages or he's just doing this on purpose, only caring about post-season play.

Well, on Jan.15, Shaquille O'Neal could be heading back to Los Angeles. Nope, the stupid Miami Heat won't trade away this guy yet, but on Jan.15, he could be available for the Miami Heat when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Now ya'll Heat fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Hell, who would want an overweight, aging nuisance anyway?

Shaquille O'Neal will take the final stage of his knee rehabilitation on the road and might return to the Miami Heat lineup by its Jan.15 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

O'Neal is recovering from Nov.19 surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and has missed 24 games. But coach Pat Riley said that the Heat center will soon start running and practicing with the team.

''He's to the point where it's time,'' said Pat Riley, who would not set a specific date for O'Neal's return. ''He's been on the bike and the treadmill. He's really worked to be ready and now the test is when he starts to pound up and down the court. But now, we're in the stage of 'He's back. Thank you, God.' We have to make sure he stays back.''

Well, if I was coaching this stupid team, I would just sit Shaq for the rest of this already lost NBA Basketball season and just play him next November.

Can the Miami Heat make it to the NBA Playoffs? Um... NO. Who will win the 2007 NBA Championship? Here are some odds from Bodog:

Chicago Bulls 7/1

Detroit Pistons 9/1

Dallas Mavericks 7/2

Miami Heat 4/1 (boo!)

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