Interesting note about Shaq's injury

[Junkyard Dawg]

Some doctors have taken to calling what O'Neal has as Achilles tendinosis rather than tendinitis because the ailment is due to overuse, not inflammation. With tendinosis, there can be a very, very slow growth of new cells in the area due to a lack of blood flow. Doctors sometimes refer to this as the "watershed area." Also, Achilles tendinosis does not respond well to anti-inflammatories, which are used to treat Achilles tendinitis.

But whether it's tendinitis or tendinosis, it behooves the Celtics and O'Neal to be as patient as possible, for one setback could end his season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=may_peter&id=6252351

I guess this explains why they keep saying if it were the playoffs Shaq would be playing right now, but they want to keep pushing it back as much as possible.

You almost wonder if it would be better to just bring Shaq back with 2 or 3 games left.  As other posters said he looked so good early on in the season but seemed to kind of wear down into January and Feb.  Either way if we have JO somewhat healthy and Shaq at the very least giving us 6 fouls a game I think we will be much improved.

[Tai]

Lol, I just heard Skip Bayless say that on First Take; that they were calling it tendinosis now. Wow.

Come on Shaq, please actually be back on April 1.

[Junkyard Dawg]

yeah i didn't really mean for this to be a pessimistic thread but it kinda sounds that way

[P2]

I hate to say it, and I've said it a couple of weeks ago already, I think Shaq is done for the year.

[Raising 18]

i went back and researched ben wallace with his injury back in the day in orlando.. as a sherrod reported last night.. ben would wear the boot whenever he wasnt playing and he was able to compete...

and for P2 who sasys that a couple weeks ago said shaq was done for the year... u have absolutely no evidence thats the case.. i could just as easily say he will be back next friday and we both have an equal chance of being right

[Marcus13]

I hate to say it, and I've said it a couple of weeks ago already, I think Shaq is done for the year.

Im sure he'll attempt to get on the court for a few games at least, but his body sure isnt going to hold from April until June

[P2]

i could just as easily say he will be back next friday and we both have an equal chance of being right

You might think. But looking at the injury timeline and all the predicted returns, it seems to me he won't be available this year after all.

[Who]

But whether it's tendinitis or tendinosis, it behooves the Celtics and O'Neal to be as patient as possible, for one setback could end his season.

Wow, that is worrying news.

Be as patient as possible. No need for Shaq to return before the playoffs begin if he isn't fully ready.

[Raising 18]

i could just as easily say he will be back next friday and we both have an equal chance of being right

You might think. But looking at the injury timeline and all the predicted returns, it seems to me he won't be available this year after all.

again u have no evidence at all to make the statement.. the celtics have never given a firm timeline after he has his setback last month except that he will be back before april 1st

[zerophase]

I don't see where all this pessimism is coming from. It's like no one here has ever had an injury from athletics before. Shaq said himself he would play if this were the playoffs so why is everyone counting him out for the season? He'll return soon, just relax. He'll never be 100% but he'll be close to 90% that will be fine for the minutes we play him.

[Junkyard Dawg]

I don't see where all this pessimism is coming from. It's like no one here has ever had an injury from athletics before. Shaq said himself he would play if this were the playoffs so why is everyone counting him out for the season? He'll return soon, just relax. He'll never be 100% but he'll be close to 90% that will be fine for the minutes we play him.

At first I thought Shaq doesn't have to do much other than get up and down the court and commit fouls to have an impact on a game.  He's such a beast people will be afraid to drive on him.  Then I remembered that the highlight of Rondo's career may have been attacking the basket during last year's CLE series.. and guess who was patrolling the paint in that series? 

But in the end the C's overall are a much better team than the Cavs were.  Bottom line if Shaq and/or JO can give us minutes of any kind I think we are golden.