Shaq to Undergo Thumb Surgery Monday

Shaquille O'Neal will have surgery on his right thumb on Monday and the Cleveland Cavaliers center could miss the rest of the regular season.

O'Neal visited a specialist at the National Hand Center on Sunday to assess the severity of the sprained thumb he hurt in a win on Thursday in Boston. Dr. Thomas Graham decided surgery was needed, which indicates a complete tear of a ligament in O'Neal's thumb.

The Cavaliers did not release a timetable for his return, but there are indications it could be as long as two months. The team said it would update a timetable for O'Neal after the surgery, which is to take place at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.

The Web site of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes the severity of sprained thumbs. By definition a sprain means a tear, and in the thumb it is a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. According to the site, if the ligament is partially torn the thumb would be immobilized with a cast or splint for as much as three weeks.

The Web site stated that if the ligament is completely torn surgery may be needed.

"Fragments of bone that sometimes are pulled away when the ligament tears may

be removed or put back in their correct positions," the Web site writes. "After surgery, a short arm cast or a splint may be worn to protect the thumb ligament for six to eight weeks while the injury heals."

The surgery could well mean O'Neal might not be able to return until mid-to-late April, which would sideline him perhaps through the first round of the playoffs.

The injury took place Feb. 25, and six weeks from that date would be April 8. Eight weeks will be April 25. The NBA regular season's last games are on April 14.

The Cavs ran away from Boston and beat Toronto without O'Neal, but the team knows he will be missed.

"It impacts everybody's game when you don't have a presence like Shaq around," coach Mike Brown said. "I think your team is different. He's hard to replace on both ends of the floor."

"I don't think we're a better team without him at all," Antawn Jamison said. "Just the short amount of time I've played with him, this guy demands so much attention he makes the game a little bit easier."

The Cavs will turn to Anderson Varejao at center, with Leon Powe and perhaps J.J. Hickson getting time behind him. If Zydrunas Ilguaskas re-signs with the Cavs after being bought out by Washington (cough, cough), he would not be able to play until March 22.

"You have to live with what you got," Jamison said, adding it was evident the Cavs will run more and attack differently without O'Neal.

"We have to," said guard Mo Williams. "With Shaq you have to take advantage of his size and you have to go in the paint. He gets teams in foul trouble real, real easy and real quick. Without Shaq there will be more pick and roll, more drive and kicks, more three-point attempts.

"We will do certain things on the floor that will spread the floor out and attack the rim in different ways. Give Bron (LeBron James) the opportunity to attack the rim and get them in foul trouble that way. Even put Bron in more postups than usual to give us a post presence.

"I think we'll be all right. Weather the storm while Big Fellow is getting some rest."