Why so skeptical?

[vinnie]

I just don't believe much that comes out of the mouths of Danny and Doc. Don't get me wrong -- telling stories/lying is part of the business, but it is also the reason why I am skeptical. Here are a couple of examples:

Two years ago: We don't need to be reminded that KG was coming back every two weeks, until he never appeared again and they lost in the eastern conference semifinals.

This year: Shaq is going to miss a few games because of a few bumps and bruises becomes missing six weeks with an achilles tendon problem that apparently is still bothering him.

This year: JO is going to rest and aggressively exercise his knee for 4-5 weeks and we are confident he will be able to come back and play without any restrictions. Three weeks later he is undergoing surgery.

This year: Less than 24 hours ago, Doc is quoted as saying they are probably going to keep Chris Johnson and he goes on to say good things about the guy. 12 hours later, Carlos Arroyo is signed and Johnson is sent packing.

This year: Doc constantly has been wrong about when guys are going to come back from injuries.

So, in a nutshell, that is why I just don't buy what Danny has to say about Shaq and JO. And, this has nothing to do with the trade. Who knows, maybe Perk would never had made it back either. Bottom line, however, is that the Celtics are far from upfront about injuries and I just don't believe them.

[Megatron]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

[Redz]

similar sentiments can be found here:

Danny.. ..this constant lying thing. It's got to stop. I get that you thought this was the best way to help the team short term and long term. I get that it's your job and you're confident. I get that your values may be different especially since you yourself was traded.

But this lying thing is getting out of hand. It's so out of hand that you have other people lying for you and with you now.

Let's look at the following things said by you and your associates in the past few weeks.

1. We offered an extension to Perk and he didn't take it and we were afraid we'd lose him.


Did you talk to him? How'd he look in those Thunder profile pics? Happy to be with a new team that might give him the money? How does he sound about throwing out his shoes? A guy whose heart wasn't in Boston? A guy who wanted every cent? Did he hold out for every cent in the past? Cmon Danny. Cmon.

2. We think Nenad is a starting center in this league.

In this league? Maybe. On a championship team? On our team? There's lots of starting centers in this league. Start Chris Johnson there tomorrow. Boom. Starting center. Nazr Mahommed? Kwame Brown? Darko? All starting centers I guess.

3. Jermaine O'Neal will be healthy for the playoffs. Danny. Jermaine. The last time we saw this guy he could hardly walk. Boy who cried wolf at best. Either you lie about injuries or the team has medical staff issues.

4. Tommy says Semih wants to go back to Turkey. Highly convenient. Way to keep a tight lid on that till juuuusssssttt the right time, and the time just happens to be damage control time and we don't trust you any more so you get Tommy to say it for you. Oh Danny. Danny Danny Danny.

5. You would have traded Bird before he got old. Actually I rather believe you on this. That's the problem. I know you think it would have been great to trade him for Clyde Drexler, Sam Bowie and a bag of peanuts in 1988 and that's the problem. Hey Danny. Do me a favor ok? Try not to trade Lucky for the Suns Gorilla and a draft pick, and try not to trade Red's statue and Bill's new medal he got from Obama for 40 pieces of silver ok? If someone calls you offering a great deal for Paul Pierce involving a young stater and a Euro just hang up. Nobody will think less of you. It's ok. Just let it go.



Hey Danny. I know you were traded son. I know you wanted to be here. It's not your fault Danny. It's not your fault.



 No look at me. It's not your fault.




It's not your fault son.

[Roy H.]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

Well, does it make a huge difference if they're lying, or just wrong a lot?  Neither gives fans a lot of confidence that they're accurate when talking about Shaq and JO coming back.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

Well, does it make a huge difference if they're lying, or just wrong a lot?  Neither gives fans a lot of confidence that they're accurate when talking about Shaq and JO coming back.

Why think them accurate though? It's quite clear that a lot of speculating is going on, even they admit it. "Well, I don't know maybe next week".

On that regard, the Spurs are also liars considering that Parker just returned. What about those Thunder playing Durant when no one knew? [dang] fantasy team took a hit since I benched him.

[vinnie]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

Well, does it make a huge difference if they're lying, or just wrong a lot?  Neither gives fans a lot of confidence that they're accurate when talking about Shaq and JO coming back.

Why think them accurate though? It's quite clear that a lot of speculating is going on, even they admit it. "Well, I don't know maybe next week".

On that regard, the Spurs are also liars considering the Parker just returned.

Yes, but the Spurs lying goes in the other direction. Their players comeback a lot sooner than expected -- 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Does Danny get points for honesty? Considering that a week ago he mentioned he would sign 1 big, 1 wing, 1 guard and he just did that.

[vinnie]

Does Danny get points for honesty? Considering that a week ago he mentioned he would sign 1 big, 1 wing, 1 guard and he just did that.

Give him 1/2 point for this, because I think this is what all of us expected him to do anyway. Plus, really no reason for him to lie about this. I guess I don't think so much that he lies all the time, but just think he really is not sure when he makes definitive statements and then those come back to bite him.

[Roy H.]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

Well, does it make a huge difference if they're lying, or just wrong a lot?  Neither gives fans a lot of confidence that they're accurate when talking about Shaq and JO coming back.

Why think them accurate though? It's quite clear that a lot of speculating is going on, even they admit it. "Well, I don't know maybe next week".

On that regard, the Spurs are also liars considering that Parker just returned. What about those Thunder playing Durant when no one knew? [dang] fantasy team took a hit since I benched him.

I didn't say they were necessarily liars.  However, I do agree with vinnie that there's no reason to be particularly confident in what Danny and Doc say about injuries.  Since Danny used Shaq's health and presence in the lineup as a major selling point for the Perk trade, I understand why this topic has sprung up a couple times.

[Mike-Dub]

Don't blame ya with Shaq being pushed back again.

[Donoghus]

I never expect straightforwardness from any professional sports front office.  Its all about spin.  I've come to accept it. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Why would they lie about Shaq and JO?

Its been a known fact for the past couple of seasons that JO and Shaq and injury prone and will miss long stretches of the regular season.

Well, does it make a huge difference if they're lying, or just wrong a lot?  Neither gives fans a lot of confidence that they're accurate when talking about Shaq and JO coming back.

Why think them accurate though? It's quite clear that a lot of speculating is going on, even they admit it. "Well, I don't know maybe next week".

On that regard, the Spurs are also liars considering that Parker just returned. What about those Thunder playing Durant when no one knew? [dang] fantasy team took a hit since I benched him.

I didn't say they were necessarily liars.  However, I do agree with vinnie that there's no reason to be particularly confident in what Danny and Doc say about injuries.  Since Danny used Shaq's health and presence in the lineup as a major selling point for the Perk trade, I understand why this topic has sprung up a couple times.

I have confidence that they'll be available to us for the playoffs assuming a new injury doesn't happen. I'm not confident in the time-table they have in place for their return, I don't think anyone is... so I don't know why hold it against them when they give an opinion on their most recent information (he looked good today, so maybe next week. Today it looked like x was bothering him so we might push it back a little)... that sort of thing.

As for Perk, considering that we got two healthy bodies in return, I'm not sure if it's really accurate to say that we only did the Perk deal because they thought Shaq and JO would be healthy. In fact, if they had doubts about them I would definitely do the trade considering that Perk isn't healthy either. So it can go both ways.

[Mike-Dub]

I never expect straightforwardness from any professional sports front office.  Its all about spin.  I've come to accept it. 

That's the way it should be IMO.  Whatever can get you a competetive edge.

[Donoghus]

I never expect straightforwardness from any professional sports front office.  Its all about spin.  I've come to accept it. 

That's the way it should be IMO.  Whatever can get you a competetive edge.

Its been this way out of Foxborough for a decade now.

I know it drives reporters and some fans nuts but I have no qualms about it. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

This is the thing that happens often. Doc gets asked about Shaq. He answers with a vague he doesn't know, but today he looked good so he might come back on Wednesday. Then what gets propagated through the internet is solely the "Doc said Shaq will play Wednesday" bit, losing a lot of the context. Doesn't always happen, but that's the usual.