Shaq's struggles

[j804]

Not sure what the numbers are if they show a significant drop all around from the beginning of the season but that's what it seems like.

What is to account for Shaq struggling so much? Is he not getting enough touches? Are we not looking for him anymore? Something related to Perk and starting roles? Hopefully not but Shaq just doesn't look the same anymore for some reason, he looks disinterested.

[Megatron]

Hes old. He isnt going to have it every night. Right now hes dealing with a sore hip, sore calf, and oldness. He'll be fine for the playoffs, but right now hes just struggling with multiple nagging injuries and playing through them.

[xmuscularghandix]

He's shooting 9-19 in the past five games. He just hasn't gotten the time or touches that he got before. Bynum and Cousins are tough matchups because they're two guys that can actually go toe to toe with the big man size-wise. Phoenix was a hoax because of the cheap fouls he got all night, and against Utah he hit the only shot he took followed by a Celtic blowout and a minor Shaq injury.

His poor performance has been overblown, plus Perkins has been playing so well that he doesn't need to do that much. Shaq has been playing to his role, grabbing tough rebounds and blocking shots... which he's been doing quite well. The Big Plug  has 17 blocks in the past 10 games, and despite not having eye popping rebound totals... his presence on the boards forces the opposing team to focus on his big body, which allows other players to snatch up the available boards.

The Shaq Attack is fine.

[Atzar]

Not sure what the numbers are if they show a significant drop all around from the beginning of the season but that's what it seems like.

What is to account for Shaq struggling so much? Is he not getting enough touches? Are we not looking for him anymore? Something related to Perk and starting roles? Hopefully not but Shaq just doesn't look the same anymore for some reason, he looks disinterested.

Not to nitpick your post, but I don't think he looks disinterested.  On the contrary, when this team is down I think Shaq is consistently one of the guys who tries to light a fire under the team by hitting the floor and providing energy.  

I think he's dealing with nagging injuries and is probably a little bit tired otherwise - we didn't intend to play him this many minutes coming into the season.  Hopefully with Perk back we can find him some opportunities for rest down the stretch - we need him fresh in the playoffs.

[barefacedmonk]

He'll be fine once he recovers from that painful hip injury. He still demands attention while he is on the court..and I'm glad he is a Celtic.

A little off topic...but I thought I should post this article that was on globe today.

There was a perception he was being coy, and the moment he was relegated to an afterthought, Shaq would begin chirping and alienate himself as he has in a few of his previous stops.

Yesterday would have been one of those prime moments to gripe about his lack of touches and his scoreless game in Los Angeles on the season’s biggest stage. [.....]But it’s February and Shaquille O’Neal is still saying all the right things.

“Winning is all that matters,’’ he said in his whisper voice yesterday morning at ARCO Arena. “It’s not my role to take a lot of shots, so no, I’m not frustrated. All the stuff that usually matters, I done already been there and done that.’’[....]“I don’t want to talk about offense because it doesn’t matter to me,’’ O’Neal said. “My job is to rebound and block shots and just try to make the right play. You are not going to worry about getting a 38-year-old the ball when you’ve got [the Big Three]. That’s just keeping it real. When I do get my shots, I shoot at a high clip.’’

He called the refs "zebra" while talking about that charge against Fisher.

“I should have just [expletive] dove on his [expletive],’’ O’Neal said. “But my things with the zebra is that you just have to call it both ways. There’s a lot of tough whistles out there, but we won the game.

“I’ve been out there playing 20 years and there’s a lot of tough whistles. That’s what teams are going to have to do to try to beat us, little tactics like that. But it didn’t work. It’s all about the win.

“The next time he does it, I’m going to fall on his [expletive].’’

But limited minutes, a winning atmosphere, and encouraging teammates have kept his confidence high. He is an important part of this team and there have been nights this season where he saved the Celtics.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/02/02/oneal_isnt_starting_anything/?page=full

[mgent]

Shaq is good when our guys (mostly Rondo and Pierce) are driving and then dropping it to him when he's 1 foot from the basket and open.  Otherwise he just tries to post up and either turns it over or throws up a weak low percentage hook shot.

If we keep posting him up instead of attacking the basket he'll continue to struggle.

[billysan]

For me, Shaq is still an important piece of the puzzle if only for a couple of minutes out there every nite. He is not getting the touches because he is not open as often and he is not the focus of the offense. He is still getting mad respect in the paint when he is on the floor and is still drawing fouls. He still causes match up problems and has a significant effect on the game.

That is plenty big fella, let us know when you need a break.

[CbrewEra]

We knew what we were getting when we got him.  A 38 year old man who would not play nearly 82 games, or average staggerring numbers.  These are the dog days of the season for older guys, and he is trying to save himself for the playoffs.
What we did get, was a GREAT replacement for Perk while he has been out/recovering, as well as someone to be "the big plug" (As tommmy says).  He has single handedly one of a couple of games this year, and showed that he still has game.
Come playoffs, his "no layups rule" will be fantastic for us, as the ref's call less fouls and the fouls that are given are all acceptably hard.
Can't wait to see this guy go 110% come this time.

[pearljammer10]

Because its the first week of February and he is coasting through games in order to a)not wear himself down and b)not reinjure one of the many injuries he has had so far this season.