Ainge - Shaq better now than in the fall...

[ScoobyDoo]

Exactly, I think there are a number of reasons that Shaq is not playing right now and some of you hit them squarely on the head.

1. He may be injured but I don't think it's serious

2. I bet he is on a "major" conditioning program and the Vets and management are telling him to just chill, workout and get ready for the playoffs.

3. As long as we arent' grinding Rondo, Pierce, Ray and KG there is no reason to bring Shaq back immediately. The longer we can shelf him the better. With the additions of Murphy, Krstic, Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo and with baby and DWest due back soon, there is zero reason we should have to grind the big three.

4. This allows, as someone mentioned, to have these new guys get some major burn right now and get up to speed. This will pay off, big time, come playoffs.

5. I would particularly ride Murphy hard on minutes and rest Baby as much as possible. Baby will be fine and Murphy needs to get in better shape. The better shape he gets in, the more he'll help us down the stretch. And help us he will...

By the way -

Perkins, Gody, Erden, Daniels and Nate
For
Nenad, Murphy, Jeff Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo?

I'll take that.

When everyone is back, we become literally unguardable. And out defense will continue to round into shape as well.

[Boris Badenov]

Shaq is safe and sound in an "undisclosed location" and we are all on a "need to know" basis....it is a matter of national (Celtics nation) security...no need to panic...he will be available when we need him...

[aporel#18]

I remember someone reported he had lost 10 pounds, so probably Danny means he is in better shape, and also is rested.

If he can play the way he's played this season, that's very good news... if he can play better, that would be insane.

I think it's great to have 3 games over Chicago and Miami.

[zerophase]

Dont you have to play to be better? I dont get it.

not when you're shaq. when you're shaq... you rest to get better.

i believe he's healthy. i've been through a similar injury that he's going through. it's definitely not as dire that his leg is going to fall off. bring him back with 15 of so games left... get the chemistry right, and let's go.

[clover]

I caught that too, and took it as very reassuring that Shaq's got a 'Healthpoint strain' (the modern version of the Hellenic flu) at this point.

[kozlodoev]

By the way -

Perkins, Gody, Erden, Daniels and Nate
For
Nenad, Murphy, Jeff Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo?

I'll take that.

This isn't what you should be looking at, since we made a series of unrelated moves at the deadline. The real question is how we would have done with:

Gody, Erden, and Daniels
for
Murphy, Pavlovic and Arroyo

Most people would have taken that, too.

[Fafnir]

By the way -

Perkins, Gody, Erden, Daniels and Nate
For
Nenad, Murphy, Jeff Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo?

I'll take that.

This isn't what you should be looking at, since we made a series of unrelated moves at the deadline. The real question is how we would have done with:

Gody, Erden, and Daniels
for
Murphy, Pavlovic and Arroyo

Most people would have taken that, too.

I'd be nervous about having Pavlovic as our only SF, very nervous about it.

[Megatron]

Of course hes better now. He had multiple injuries that he was playing through earlier in the year.

Hip injury, calf injury, foot injury.

Now that hes rested and has lost weight supposedly theres no reason we shouldnt expect the good old shaq. Shaq has gone for 20-10 multiple times this year if I recall, whens the last time Perkins has done that? Has he EVER done that?

[winsomme]

Of course hes better now. He had multiple injuries that he was playing through earlier in the year.

Hip injury, calf injury, foot injury.

Now that hes rested and has lost weight supposedly theres no reason we shouldnt expect the good old shaq. Shaq has gone for 20-10 multiple times this year if I recall, whens the last time Perkins has done that? Has he EVER done that?

So why is he out indefinitely when they were just saying that he was close to returning?

[ScoobyDoo]

Point taken Kozlodoev, but for me I'd also rather have Nenad and Jeff Green, than Perkins adn Nate.

I think Jeff Green b eing able to spell Pierce more is going to pay huge dividends for us in the playoffs as Pierce should be very well rested the majority of the time. Something he has not been at playoff time the last two seasons.

We are now equipped to ahndle LeBron / Melo / Artest / Kobe much, much better.

Only time will tell how much we'll miss Perkins. I think is Shaq and O'Neal can give us decent minutes, we'll be every bit as tough and intimidating in the middle as with Perkins.   

[Megatron]

Of course hes better now. He had multiple injuries that he was playing through earlier in the year.

Hip injury, calf injury, foot injury.

Now that hes rested and has lost weight supposedly theres no reason we shouldnt expect the good old shaq. Shaq has gone for 20-10 multiple times this year if I recall, whens the last time Perkins has done that? Has he EVER done that?

So why is he out indefinitely when they were just saying that he was close to returning?

Because they dont need him.

C's dont need Shaq until the 2nd round of the playoffs.

If it was my choice he would rest until then.

[mgent]

By the way -

Perkins, Gody, Erden, Daniels and Nate
For
Nenad, Murphy, Jeff Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo?

I'll take that.

This isn't what you should be looking at, since we made a series of unrelated moves at the deadline. The real question is how we would have done with:

Gody, Erden, and Daniels
for
Murphy, Pavlovic and Arroyo

Most people would have taken that, too.

I'd be nervous about having Pavlovic as our only SF, very nervous about it.

Yeah but in the playoffs all the perimeter minutes would have gone to Nate and Delonte.

[Fafnir]

By the way -

Perkins, Gody, Erden, Daniels and Nate
For
Nenad, Murphy, Jeff Green, Pavlovic and Arroyo?

I'll take that.

This isn't what you should be looking at, since we made a series of unrelated moves at the deadline. The real question is how we would have done with:

Gody, Erden, and Daniels
for
Murphy, Pavlovic and Arroyo

Most people would have taken that, too.

I'd be nervous about having Pavlovic as our only SF, very nervous about it.

Yeah but in the playoffs all the perimeter minutes would have gone to Nate and Delonte.

I don't like having Ray being our secondary defender on LeBron, which is what that'd mean.

[get_banners]

I'm wondering about the weight loss. I mean, if Shaq could drop 20 pounds or so (stories are he's dropped a lot during his "injury" time), that would make a big difference. He's still bigger than anyone. I always thought one of Shaq's biggest mistakes was getting bigger. If I remember correctly, he was told to bulk up so he could take the punishment in the paint better - though he was still the biggest guy, anyway. Look at young Shaq (probably 300 pounds) versus Laker Shaq (330+?). He was an absolute monster when he wasn't as big - still stronger than anyone, but fairly quick, too. He's been big Shaq the rest of his career...but if he could drop down to 315 or so, he could still be a monster today, at least for 15-20 mpg.

[barefacedmonk]

I'm wondering about the weight loss. I mean, if Shaq could drop 20 pounds or so (stories are he's dropped a lot during his "injury" time), that would make a big difference. He's still bigger than anyone. I always thought one of Shaq's biggest mistakes was getting bigger. If I remember correctly, he was told to bulk up so he could take the punishment in the paint better - though he was still the biggest guy, anyway. Look at young Shaq (probably 300 pounds) versus Laker Shaq (330+?). He was an absolute monster when he wasn't as big - still stronger than anyone, but fairly quick, too. He's been big Shaq the rest of his career...but if he could drop down to 315 or so, he could still be a monster today, at least for 15-20 mpg.

Something along those same line...

http://www.csnne.com/03/06/11/Dr-M-With-Shaqs-injuries-size-does-matte/landing_celtics.html?blockID=434452&feedID=3352