Shaq Update??

[vinnie]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

[Chris]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

Yeah, looked like a bit of hyperbole based on a throwaway comment by Davis (where he said "if").

Hearing Doc and Danny talk about it, I don't really hear anything different than I heard a month ago.  They are resting the guy, and he will be playing come playoff time. 

The only "ifs" are whether he will play before the playoffs, and if he will be 100%.  But either way, he will be out there, and even at 80%, he is still a very valuable player to this team.

[P2]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

[Chris]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

I really think that KG injury is what has made everyone so paranoid about this stuff.  And I have to agree that this is looking way too similar to that situation.

However, the difference for me is that I think Shaq will play through it...while I think KG was so rattled by the injury (he had not really dealt with an injury like that before), he was afraid to try to play through it.  The fact that Danny called him out after the playoffs, and said that it was KG's choice was telling.

Shaq on the other hand has a history of having injuries (or just cruising) through the regular season, and then turning it on, and ignoring the pain once the postseason starts. 

This has always been a "pain" injury.  The issue isn't that he will hurt himself more, or he simply can't play, the issue is that he still has pain when he runs.  Those are the kind that get played through when the games start to matter. 

[GreenEnvy]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

I really think that KG injury is what has made everyone so paranoid about this stuff.  And I have to agree that this is looking way too similar to that situation.

However, the difference for me is that I think Shaq will play through it...while I think KG was so rattled by the injury (he had not really dealt with an injury like that before), he was afraid to try to play through it.  The fact that Danny called him out after the playoffs, and said that it was KG's choice was telling.

Shaq on the other hand has a history of having injuries (or just cruising) through the regular season, and then turning it on, and ignoring the pain once the postseason starts. 

This has always been a "pain" injury.  The issue isn't that he will hurt himself more, or he simply can't play, the issue is that he still has pain when he runs.  Those are the kind that get played through when the games start to matter. 

DO you have any links? I never heard that. I find it hard to believe he was cleared to play medically and refused. That's the picture you are painting. If they said it's up to you and he couldn't play because of the pain, that's a different story. It's hard to gauge another person's pain, but KG has proven that he is a warrior and has a heart for basketball like no other.

[Tai]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

Half of the article is the same from the Herald, I think. Definitely trying to make a story out of nothing. Honestly, if Shaq was able to come on this road trip, I'll remain positive he at least practices, if not get in at least one game before coming back to Boston.

[LilRip]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

I really think that KG injury is what has made everyone so paranoid about this stuff.  And I have to agree that this is looking way too similar to that situation.

However, the difference for me is that I think Shaq will play through it...while I think KG was so rattled by the injury (he had not really dealt with an injury like that before), he was afraid to try to play through it.  The fact that Danny called him out after the playoffs, and said that it was KG's choice was telling.

Shaq on the other hand has a history of having injuries (or just cruising) through the regular season, and then turning it on, and ignoring the pain once the postseason starts. 

This has always been a "pain" injury.  The issue isn't that he will hurt himself more, or he simply can't play, the issue is that he still has pain when he runs.  Those are the kind that get played through when the games start to matter. 

during the KG injury, i don't think i heard something along the lines of "if it were the playoffs, he'd be out there playing". as far as i remember (though i might have selective memory on this one), it was always setback after setback and he never got cleared to play. kinda like JO without the mid-season surgery.

meanwhile Shaq has said that he's at 85% and that if it were the playoffs, he'd be playing.

[barefacedmonk]

Not sure if this has been posted already:

Despite being with the team for this three-game road trip, coach Doc Rivers said he doesn't anticipate O'Neal will play in any of the three games.

"I doubt if he plays on this trip, but he's close enough," said Rivers. "When they get close, we always bring them on trips because of shoot-arounds, and he can be involved in stuff that we're doing."

O'Neal, who hasn't played for the C's since Jan. 21, is looking forward to being around the team more.

"Playing by yourself, doing sprints by yourself is different from being in a game," said O'Neal, who hopes to practice with the team early next week. "I haven't been able to simulate game-type situations yet. You can only do so much by yourself. The true test is when I get out there with the guys, banging and pushing and off-balance. We'll see from there."

Link

[winsomme]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

I really think that KG injury is what has made everyone so paranoid about this stuff.  And I have to agree that this is looking way too similar to that situation.

However, the difference for me is that I think Shaq will play through it...while I think KG was so rattled by the injury (he had not really dealt with an injury like that before), he was afraid to try to play through it.  The fact that Danny called him out after the playoffs, and said that it was KG's choice was telling.

Shaq on the other hand has a history of having injuries (or just cruising) through the regular season, and then turning it on, and ignoring the pain once the postseason starts.  

This has always been a "pain" injury.  The issue isn't that he will hurt himself more, or he simply can't play, the issue is that he still has pain when he runs.  Those are the kind that get played through when the games start to matter.  

Given that this is a "play through it" kind of injury, the Perk trade shouldn't have been made for that fact alone.

I just don't understand any assertions from Danny that having  the O'Neals gave him any security in the "losing a big" aspect of deciding to make the trade.

[Bankshot]

So I guess Shaq won't be back tonight?

Any more recent news?

[Chris]

Globe story today says Shaq's status has quietly gone from "when" to "if" he returns. Maybe the Globe is making this up, but given that he has missed almost two months and 18 games with an injury that was supposed to keep him out 2 or 3 games, who knows? I will believe Shaq will be back when I actually see him on the court.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/03/18/celtics_piece_it_together/

I'm starting to think that Shaq doesn't return this season and might have played his last NBA game on February 1. This seems a lot like the KG injury in 2009. First it's a couple of games, then a couple of weeks, and then indefinite. Garnett supposedly would have played, had we passed Orlando in the ECSF. Same here with Shaq.

I really think that KG injury is what has made everyone so paranoid about this stuff.  And I have to agree that this is looking way too similar to that situation.

However, the difference for me is that I think Shaq will play through it...while I think KG was so rattled by the injury (he had not really dealt with an injury like that before), he was afraid to try to play through it.  The fact that Danny called him out after the playoffs, and said that it was KG's choice was telling.

Shaq on the other hand has a history of having injuries (or just cruising) through the regular season, and then turning it on, and ignoring the pain once the postseason starts.  

This has always been a "pain" injury.  The issue isn't that he will hurt himself more, or he simply can't play, the issue is that he still has pain when he runs.  Those are the kind that get played through when the games start to matter.  

Given that this is a "play through it" kind of injury, the Perk trade shouldn't have been made for that fact alone.

I just don't understand any assertions from Danny that having  the O'Neals gave him any security in the "losing a big" aspect of deciding to make the trade.

Well, I just don't think the Perk trade is that directly related to the Oneal injuries, since I think even with Perkins, they were still going to need at least one of the Oneals healthy in the playoffs to win it all.  Semih Erden (or Troy Murphy) were not going to be enough to supplement Perk against some of the better teams in the league in a 7 game series. 

[SHAQATTACK]

I believe the Boston staff figures they have ONE SHOT with Shaq .  He always brings it, and stands a good chance of reinjury by playing over zealous before the playoffs. Everyday he rests is better for us in the long run.

So, I think Doc &Danny will save their one "ace in the hole" for the max effect starting in the playoff. His health is fragile on that old frame.  

I think he has one final series left in him and I think he will leave it all on the floor in his final hurray.

Basically Shaq may have onlyOne bullet left in the chamber ............lets don't use it now.

Save him for the playoffs.  

[Bankshot]

Shaq needs to be back before the playoffs to get into a rhythm.

[JSD]

Well, it's a good sign he's on the trip... My guess is  a week away.

[Tai]

So I guess Shaq won't be back tonight?

Any more recent news?

Greg Dickerson said in a conference call last night on Sports Sunday (showing again at 12:30 PM if you're not at work) that he MIGHT (MIGHT) be back Friday.