Update on JO

[Roy H.]

This is a couple of days old, but I didn't see anybody mention it:

Center Jermaine O’Neal, recovering from knee surgery, worked out separately.

“He’s doing great, actually,’’ Rivers said. “I think he feels really happy he did the surgery. It’s a race for him because he wants to get back and try and help us.’’

Link.

I like JO, but man, I wish he'd gotten surgery sooner.  If he had, there's a good chance he'd be healthy by now.

[Jon]

Thanks for the update.

Having both O'Neals and Perk would be such a luxury.  We could go at the likes of Dwight Howard for 48 minutes without ever having to worry about foul trouble.

[Chris]

Yeah, I agree that he should have done the surgery earlier...although I think the C's management had as much say in it than he did.

Anyways, this is good news.  I really think JO is an incredibly important piece to this team come playoff time, and gives them a combination of skills they don't have in anyone except Garnett.  

[Jon]

Yeah, I agree that he should have done the surgery earlier...although I think the C's management had as much say in it than he did.

Anyways, this is good news.  I really think JO is an incredibly important piece to this team come playoff time, and gives them a combination of skills they don't have in anyone except Garnett.  

Yeah.  He even intrigues me as a closer in games.  He provides the rebounding and length that Baby doesn't, but Shaq and Perk do, while giving the C's a player that can actually hit a free throw (what Baby does, and Shaq and Perk can't). 

[CelticG1]

Yeah, I agree that he should have done the surgery earlier...although I think the C's management had as much say in it than he did.

Anyways, this is good news.  I really think JO is an incredibly important piece to this team come playoff time, and gives them a combination of skills they don't have in anyone except Garnett.  

I think JO could be huge as well (along with our other big guys). If those guys are healthy I think against any team, the Magic, Heat, Bulls, Lakers, Spurs, Dallas having a frontline of Shaq, KG, Perk , JO, Baby, and Semih would just be devastating

[footey]

when is he projected to return? can't realistically expect him to be 100% by play off time, or ever, for that matter.

[wdleehi]

when is he projected to return? can't realistically expect him to be 100% by play off time, or ever, for that matter.

Do the Celtics need him to be 100%?

[JSD]

when is he projected to return? can't realistically expect him to be 100% by play off time, or ever, for that matter.

He was projected to be out a month and half to two months back on February 4th. So that places his return around late March early April.

If that projection is correct, the timing of the surgery was probably a premeditated deadline set to ensure he's ready come playoff time. It's good they did their due diligence by exploring other options and didn't tread too closely to season ending surgery.

After delaying the decision as long as possible, exhausting all possible options outside of a surgery, Jermaine O’Neal had an arthroscopy performed on his left knee yesterday, forcing him to miss another 6-8 weeks

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/02/05/oneal_has_knee_surgery/

[Celtics4ever]

I wish him a speedy recovery.  We could use him.

[pearljammer10]

This is a couple of days old, but I didn't see anybody mention it:

Center Jermaine O’Neal, recovering from knee surgery, worked out separately.

“He’s doing great, actually,’’ Rivers said. “I think he feels really happy he did the surgery. It’s a race for him because he wants to get back and try and help us.’’

Link.

I like JO, but man, I wish he'd gotten surgery sooner.  If he had, there's a good chance he'd be healthy by now.

Yeah I wish he had just done this at the beginning of the year. He would probably be playing and helping team chemistry right about now.

[CelticG1]

when is he projected to return? can't realistically expect him to be 100% by play off time, or ever, for that matter.

Do the Celtics need him to be 100%?

Absolutely not. Even if he was giving us what he was before surgery (which wasn't much) I would definitely take that. Now that we have Perk back he really only needs to give 10-15 quality minutes at the most

[jdub1660]

If he is expected to make a full recovery and be productive, then please lets use him in a Big Z type deal to a team that will waive/buy him out. That way we can net another player or 2 for our bench depth

[Jon]

If he is expected to make a full recovery and be productive, then please lets use him in a Big Z type deal to a team that will waive/buy him out. That way we can net another player or 2 for our bench depth

Big Z had an expiring contract, so the Wiz simply bought him out and saved a few bucks. 

A team would have to buy out JO this year and next.  I don't see any team doing that unless the C's agree to take on someone with an even worse deal (say like Al Harrington and his 5 year deal), which I don't see the C's doing. 

[MBunge]

If we get JO back, I just hope Doc can figure out how to use Shaq and him situationally.  I'd love to see JO get at least a look at the 4 in lineups with Shaq and Perk on the floor.

Mike

[SCBirdman]

This is a couple of days old, but I didn't see anybody mention it:

Center Jermaine O’Neal, recovering from knee surgery, worked out separately.

“He’s doing great, actually,’’ Rivers said. “I think he feels really happy he did the surgery. It’s a race for him because he wants to get back and try and help us.’’

Link.

I like JO, but man, I wish he'd gotten surgery sooner.  If he had, there's a good chance he'd be healthy by now.

I have a good friend in Columbia, SC that spoke with George Glymph, who is JO's high school coach and he told my friend that JO should be back in early March-full go.

I hope this is true. We need JO healthy and we need Delonte and a SF to get banner 18.