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Pacers Fan · 01-17-2005, 04:42 PM

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Q. How have you responded to adversity without being able to explicitly help your team on the court? How do you keep yourself physically and mentally prepared for an imminent return? Do you believe your play will be directly affected by the suspension or will you be able to continue as if nothing has happened? (From Andrew in Bloomington, IN)

A. It's basically behind me already. The way I've been able to stay focused and stay sane is just being around my teammates, being able to practice with my team and travel with the team. That has helped me keep my mind off being suspended, off not being able to play. Just being with the team as a family has helped me forget about it. When I get back, I won't be 100 percent. I know it'll take a couple of games to get in game shape and get my timing back and everything, but I will be effective. I will contribute. My first game back, I will be able to help my team. It will affect me, but it won't affect my game, it'll just affect my conditioning.

Question for Head Athletic Trainer David Craig | Jan. 14, 2005
Q. This season the Pacers seem to have caught the injury bug. As an athletic trainer, how do you combat these injuries? What is the best thing an athlete can do to prevent injury? (From Andrew in Bloomington, IN)

A. By staying in the absolute best physical condition the individual can stay in, and also to develop a high level of basketball shape – in other words, playing the game. Taking care of one's body means off the court as well as on the court and includes good nutrition, hydration, conditioning as far as weightlifting, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility. All of these factors lead into a better athlete and will help decrease the number of injuries if not the severity of those injuries.

As trainers, every day we are encouraging our athletes to take better care of themselves on and off the court. We have a strength and conditioning coach as part of our staff who works with them on their physical well-being and conditioning. We also monitor and try to prevent some of the injuries they may have had in their past medical history and take care of those injuries that do occur.

Question for Jermaine O'Neal | Jan. 13, 2005
Q. What is it like traveling from city to city? How do you keep in touch with family and friends while being with the team during basketball season? (From Steven in Fishers, IN)

A. Keeping up with friends is not as important as keeping up with my family, especially my daughter. It's really tough for me to be on the road a lot because she's only 5 and she's a daddy's girl. If we go on a seven-day road trip, the first day I'm gone she always asks me if I'm coming back tomorrow. That's the toughest thing. Being on the road is tough. You're away from home, you're always in a hotel, eating out all the time and living out of a bag. The plus is that you get to meet new people, see new cities and experience different things.

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/ask_the_pacers.html

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