Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal hopes to return to the court on Wednesday night against the Pistons.

O'Neal practiced with his teammates on Monday after missing five games with a strained shoulder.

He asked for a cortisone shot, but the team insisted that he treat it with rest and rehabilitation.

"You can tell it's a great organization," O'Neal said. "I was cursing and screaming and trying to make them shoot me up, but they wouldn't do it."

The future Hall of Famer suffered the injury while trying to block a dunk attempt by Miami's Michael Beasley on Nov. 12.

"My hat goes off to them for being above board," O'Neal said. "I'm from the old school. If it ain't broke, let's just keep going, shoot it up with whatever is legal. But they refused me many times."

Cleveland has been cautious with the injury.