i just had a thought about ison

what IF it breaks up, just prior to perihelion? Say into a hundred, or so pieces. Every single one of them will have less mass than the intact comet, so will be far more affected by the sun's gravity, and will be whipped around the sun at a far tighter angle than the intact comet would. correct?

Now, in mid December it is flying directly over the earth, at a distance of 39 million miles, on the way back out of the solar system, BUT, if this hypothetical break up were to occur, could smaller but still devastating chunks be slung shot around the sun directly into our orbit?

if so, then surely the chances of impact would shorten dramatically?

I know it's an unlikely scenario, but is it POSSIBLE, in anyone's opinion?