The Clippers and the Lakers have been affected by injuries this summer. The Los Angeles times reports on some of the injuries plaguing the LA teams this preseason.

It has been learned that Shaquille O?Neal will start the season on the injured list for the Lakers. This means that he will miss the first five games of the regular season at least. O'Neal, who had surgery on his right big toe six weeks ago today, could return Nov. 7 against the Boston Celtics. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, said he figured O'Neal would miss at least two more games.

Having O'Neal on the injured list would let the Lakers have another player active, presumably Soumalia Samake.

O?Neal met with his shoe company to discuss the fit of his playing shoes. Shaq will meet with his doctor on Thursday. "If everything's OK, I'll be cleared to run," O'Neal said.

The Clippers are finally starting to get healthy. After preseason injuries to most of their key players, forward Elton Brand, center Michael Olowokandi and sixth man Quentin Richardson, practiced Tuesday for the first time in more than two weeks.

Brand, Olowokandi and Richardson each indicated to Gentry they hope to play in their final preseason game tonight, but Gentry couldn't say for certain Tuesday whether any of the three would face the Cavaliers.

Brand underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 26 and isn't expected to be sound for at least another week or so. Olowokandi has a sore left knee and Richardson has a sprained right knee. Their availability also is uncertain.

"I'm really frustrated with all the injuries," Gentry said. "We haven't had all our guys out there for one single [exhibition] game. We can't walk out there on opening night and expect that everything is going to click."