MIAMI -- With the Eastern Conference Finals not scheduled to start until at least Monday, the Miami Heat don't appear overly bothered by Shaquille O'Neal's still-uncertain health.
O'Neal, plagued for a month by a thigh bruise, missed the final two games of the East semifinal sweep of Washington. He did some cardio work Tuesday with the team, which plans to resume full-fledged practices Wednesday. It's unknown if O'Neal will be ready.
"He's feeling better," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "It's not worth having a goal. It's a matter of when he's ready to go. ... Whenever we get him back, we get him back."
Teammates still insist they are confident O'Neal will be ready for Game 1 against either Indiana or Detroit in the East finals.
"Without a doubt," Heat forward Eddie Jones said. "His mood is getting better. Physically, he's getting better. I think this time is great for him."
O'Neal did not speak to reporters Tuesday. The two games he missed against the Wizards were the first playoff games he sat out in his career.
"Having a Shaq that's 75 percent is better than not having him at all," said Miami guard Dwyane Wade, who averaged 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists against the Wizards. "That's what we're trying to get him to."
Back-to-back sweeps in the opening two playoff rounds have given the Heat no shortage of down time this postseason. Miami closed out Washington on Saturday night, meaning it'll have either nine or 11 days between that game and the opener of its series with the Pistons or Pacers.
That, coupled with the seven off days Miami had between the first and second rounds, means the Heat should have plenty of energy for the next series.
"We're going to reap the benefits of this one and really get our rest," Wade said. "We came in today and got some good work in and come in tomorrow and do the same. Take this rest for what it's worth because the next series is going to be hard and we understand that."
One of the top concerns -- other than O'Neal's leg -- going into the Washington series was how Miami would stay sharp during its down time.
The Heat quickly put those questions to rest, taking command of the series with a 19-point win in Game 1 and then pulling out three significantly closer games to close out the sweep.
And they expect the break not to be a deterrent to sharpness this time around, either.
"I don't think it makes any difference," Heat reserve center Michael Doleac said. "Practice hard, play hard and we'll see what happens."
Denny Burkholder 
