Howard Beck of the Orange County register reports that Shaquille O?Neal may be back to action in a week. O?Neal went through a full practice yesterday and declared that he will return against the Bulls on the 22nd. Jackson called the scenario "plausible."

O?Neal will meet with doctors next Thursday for a re-evaluation. He?s been told that his injury is improving. If he?s cleared on Thursday, he will play against the Bulls.

There has been some pain in the bottom of his foot that hasn?t improved. The pain is pretty much the same as two weeks ago, O?Neal admitted. Orthotics ease the discomfort when O'Neal is on the court. But the pain flares up after every workout, and O?Neal?s podiatrist Dr. Robert Mohr has advised him it might not go away -- "He said maybe a couple weeks, maybe a couple months, maybe never."

When asked if his return was because the foot is feeling better or because the team is 2-6, O?Neal said "A little of both".

"I just wanted to wait until (the pain) died down a little bit," he said. "Hopefully, in a couple days it will die down. ... We'll just have to see what happens next week, but it looks pretty good."