No Miami Heat player benefits more from Shaquille O’Neal’s absence than the rejuvenated Alonzo Mourning. And no Heat player wants the injured nine-time all-star to return to the lineup more than Mourning.
“I want him back,” said Mourning, 35. “I didn’t come here to play all these minutes. I want him back, and I came here to back him up and play my little 10 to 15 minutes per game. Get in and get out, and if he gets in foul trouble, just come in and handle the load.”
Mourning has more than handled the Heat’s load with O’Neal out the past 17 games with a sprained right ankle. O’Neal is not expected to return tonight against the Nuggets, but possibly Sunday against visiting Washington.
Mourning is averaging NBA bests of 3.8 blocked shots and a .579 field-goal percentage. He is also averaging 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. His play is reminiscent to his glorious past, when he was a seven-time all-star before kidney problems in 2000.
“Wonderful, it’s great. It’s a great story,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “A year or two ago, I wanted him to retire because I wanted to remember him in a special light. He’s come back to be special.
“He’s proven at old age that he’s beaten old age. It’s because he is such a great competitor and warrior. He has a big body but when he plays, he plays with such a passion and intensity.”
O’Neal is hopeful both will be named to the Eastern Conference all-star team.
Not long ago, O’Neal and Mourning were fierce rivals. Now, they are good friends and teammates hoping to bring Miami its first NBA title.
“Big fella is very supportive,” Mourning said. “I’m supportive of him. We’ve established a brotherly type relationship in the short time that we’ve been together.”
Although Mourning has picked up his game and 2005 all-star guard Dwyane Wade is playing well, the Heat certainly misses O’Neal. Miami was projected to be an NBA title contender and added several talented newcomers to its team: Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and James Posey. But the Heat (10-9) has dropped three straight and is 9-8 without O’Neal.
“Whenever you’re on a team with a lot of players, you’ve got to learn to play with those guys and you have to learn to play without those guys,” O’Neal said. “Right now, everyone is learning to play without me, and we’re doing pretty good. We’ve let a lot of games slip away. But we’re still learning (to play with) each other. It’s all about us. We’ve just got to go out there and give our best. But it’s nothing that worries me.
“We’re going to focus on things we have to focus on, concentrate a little bit and pick up our game a little bit. All those teams that are 12-2, 13-2, I’m not impressed.”
Although the Heat has some ground to make up, it will have the most formidable center combo once O’Neal returns.
O’Neal, however, is hopeful they can get Miami back on track by playing on the court at the same time, which was rarely the case last season.
“I’m going to get a lot of practices under my belt before I even decide to come back,” O’Neal said. “Hopefully, we can play together. It would be nice to have us both out there. We’ll see.”
DENVER AT MIAMI
5:30 p.m., Altitude
SPOTLIGHT ON MICHAEL DOLEAC
Rumors continue that the Nuggets might deal guard Voshon Lenard to Miami for forward-center Michael Doleac. Lenard, who played for Miami from 1995-2000, has asked for a trade. Doleac played for the Nuggets during the 2003-04 season. “I’m not going to comment on that,” Lenard said. “I’m in a situation that’s not nice. I’m going to stay professional as much as you can, but there is just so much you can take.” Doleac joked about the recent rumors: “I don’t know how to read, so I don’t follow the sports pages. No, I choose to read different things.”
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin said he didn’t expect to play despite the fact he is listed as a game-time decision. He missed the second half of Tuesday’s game against Atlanta with tendinitis in his left knee. … Center Francisco Elson is expected to play after missing the past two games with an infected right foot. … Forward Bryon Russell said he expects to return in mid-March. He had surgery on his right knee Nov. 4 and is rehabilitating by riding an exercise bike and lifting weights. … The agent for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, Calvin Andrews, said Thursday that his client met with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo about playing for Team USA two weeks ago. USA Basketball has stated it wanted players to make a three-year commitment beginning with the 2006 World Championships in Japan. … ESPN.com reported that Nuggets guards Andre Miller, Voshon Lenard and DerMarr Johnson were each fined $10,000 from the NBA for wearing long shorts.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
