Conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day with this one.
On the day trade talks linking them became more public than ever before, neither the Raptors' Jermaine O'Neal nor Shawn Marion of the Miami Heat played for their respective teams yesterday. Toronto officials maintain O'Neal was held out of a 117-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns because of his sore right knee. He travelled with the team for its game in Atlanta today and is listed as probable. O'Neal, officials said, took part in practice on Saturday but didn't play against the Suns because there were concerns about the grind of back-to-back games.
O'Neal had missed nine games before Friday because of swelling after he bruised his right knee against Golden State on Dec.29.
Marion was a surprise scratch for Miami's game last night against Oklahoma City because, Heat officials said, he aggravated a groin injury in a game Saturday against Houston. It's the fifth game Marion has missed this season.
Heat president Pat Riley issued a statement concerning the O'Neal-Marion story yesterday afternoon which said: "It's typical this time of year in the NBA that people put the cart before the horse. Whoever is saying that is putting the cart before the horse."
