The Heat are Happy, Shaq's not... NOT YET

Shaquille O'Neal is Back in the NBA Finals.

This is not the flu season. And yet Dwyane Wade somehow gets the flu. What are the odds? Of the few people in South Florida who have the flu, Wade, of all people, has to be one of them?

It couldn't be a less important player against a lesser opponent at a less important time of year. No, it had to be the Miami Heat's star against the Heat's biggest rival at only the most important time in franchise history. Miami, fortunately, had one monster of a vaccine.

Name of Shaquille O'Neal.

Seven-feet of feel-good-fast.

Three hundred thirty pounds of get-well-soon.

Shaq (28 points, 16 rebounds, two missed shots) helped cure all of Miami's ills. Helps, too, that Jason Williams (21 points, six assists, one turnover) gave Miami an enormous shot in the arm. And now it is the Detroit Pistons who feel sick.

O'Neal didn't celebrate at the center of the madness. Didn't hold up the trophy with a smiling Pat Riley. Didn't hear Wade keep repeating ''Very sweet. Very sweet.'' Didn't hear Alonzo Mourning say, ''I've never had an opportunity to experience a moment like this.''

Shaq, a three-time champion, the Heat's only champion other than Riley, doesn't celebrate the possibility of second place. He said he wasn't satisfied with this celebration. He wants the parade.

Last season at this time, Miami suffered the most heartbreaking loss in franchise history because Wade had a bad rib and Shaq had a bad thigh and Damon Jones had a bad foot and Udonis Haslem had a bad finger. Miami's body, crippled.

This time, it was Detroit that was falling apart in pieces. Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton limped on sore ankles and Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess had wrapped wrists.

And at the end, just to rub it in, Walker broke out his patented shimmy-shake of the shoulders.

''Only because I don't like Detroit,'' he said. ``Just for them. They kind of disregarded us. A swagger, a cockiness. This isn't the same team they played last year. We didn't really respect them because they didn't respect us.''

However, as sweet as this victory was, the Miami Heat is looking like a team who is HAPPY to just be in the NBA Finals. That may prove to be the weakness the team from the West will be looking for.

The Mavericks will be the ones more likely to face Miami in the NBA Finals. Can these Texans do it against a Phoenix Suns team led by reigning MVP, Steve Nash? Bet on Bodog now.