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Wade working his way back; O'Neal says he's there

MIAMI - While Monday's Heat media day offered little in the way of personnel news, with the team's 20-man roster locked in last week, it did offer hope.

Coach Pat Riley said guard Dwyane Wade continues to make strides in his recovery from May knee and shoulder surgeries, and also said center Shaquille O'Neal exceeded his camp conditioning benchmarks.

In addition, point guard Jason Williams said he believes he is over the knee troubles that limited him the past two seasons.

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Riley said Wade has only one remaining hurdle.

"He's been cleared to do everything but hit in practice," he said.

While Wade still is expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season, it appears dire predictions will prove unfounded.

Riley said seeing Wade back in a jersey was encouraging enough, even if it merely was for a few photo opportunities.

"I just know he's breathing and he's in the locker down there, and that makes me feel good," Riley said.

Wade said he would be practical with his comeback.

"The only thing I could do all summer and the only thing I can continue to do is continue to get stronger, continue to rehab, and, hopefully, when they tell me I'm clear, that I'm as close to shape as I can be," he said.

# Riley said O'Neal made a statement during his pre-camp conditioning test.

"He's got more flexibility than I ever think he had," he said of the 35-year-old center. "He killed his conditioning test. As a matter of fact, he did more than he should have on his conditioning test."

O'Neal said he has no plans to limit his regular-season exposure.

"Hopefully I could maintain myself where I don't miss any games," he said. "But the object is still all about winning. If I play 82 games, go injury free and we don't win, it doesn't matter anyway."

O'Neal said the Heat's first-round playoff demise worked in favor of his conditioning upgrade.

"This is the first time I've had time to get ready," he said. "In my career, I've always played through the season and I'm always taking 15 or 20 days off just to reset my body. But when you win as many championships as I do, you are done in June and you are back in September. Now I had time to get ready."

He also said his pending divorce petition will not turn into an on-court issue.

"If I ever do have a bad game or bad couple games, I won't ever blame it on that," he said. "I will never make excuses if I have terrible play. It's something that I obviously have to deal with and I'm going to deal with it the best way possible. But it's something that won't be discussed."

# Williams said he did not see any reason he wouldn't be able to push through the 82-game schedule, after being limited to 61 games last season and 59 the season before.

"Right now I feel great," he said. "I haven't felt this good for a long time."

In fact, point guard Smush Parker, obtained in the offseason to challenge Williams for a starting role, said he anticipates Williams being the opening-night starter, when the Heat tips off the regular season Nov. 1 against visiting Detroit.

"Why not? He's been in the system the last three years," Smush Parker said.

See more at www.sun-sentinel.com