The time O'Neal is absent is even longer than initially expected, taking 'undisciplined' to the extreme.
O'Neal worked so hard last season largely because he wanted to prove that during the 06-07 and 07-08 seasons, his lackluster performance wasn't because he had lost it, but because Pat Riley's coaching was problematic.
After proving himself, he lost motivation in the regular season again. The Bobcats are strong, and he's not the type to chase regular season records. When he did play, he put in decent effort, especially during the phase of fierce double-core attacks with Zhang Yang, showing great focus. But after he got injured, he really lacked the patience to properly heal, playing around as he pleased. If it weren't for having to face Kobe before the All-Star weekend, he could have stayed out until after the All-Star break.
After criticizing the 'brotherhood' of the OK duo, Zhang Yang turned his attention to the other players on the opponent's side.
