Jermaine O'neal targets Thursday against the Spurs to return

[Tai]

According to A. Sherrod Blakely, JO looks ready to play tomorrow:

Unless he has an unexpected setback in the next 24 hours, look for JO to play tomorrow vs Spurs

.

Edit: And Von Wafer did a full practice, too.

Beat me to it. Great news.

And Wafer apparently will be active vs Spurs, too.

@Terek_Pierce #Celtics Von Wafer is back practicing with the team. Will probably be on the active roster vs. #Spurs tomorrow night.

[Chris]

Good news.  If he really is doing as well physically as they say, there is no reason not to get him out there ASAP.  He needs to get used to NBA speed, and get his timing back before the playoffs, and the only way to do that at this point of the year is to just get out there and play.

[Finkelskyhook]

I'll believe it when it happens.

I think the Cs have been pretty good with the range they've given about when JO would be back.  Its the target dates with Shaq that keep getting moved back.

LOL.  That "anytime between now and the 2012 playoffs" narrows it right down.

I really hope I'm wrong and O'Neal makes a meaningful contribution yet this year.

[Jon]

He's playing tomorrow:

“I’m going to play tomorrow," O'Neal said. "We talked a little bit about me playing back-to-back games. Obviously, it’s sensitive, but I told them the plan is to play back-to-back games, the plan is to play as many minutes as I can without limitation.”

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2011/03/oneal_expects_t.html

I'm very intrigued by what JO could bring as a wildcard.  Obviously, his health is very precarious.  But if he could be even as good as he was last year, he'd be an enormous help.  He's probably the best defensive center we have on the team and he's an even better shot blocker than Kendrick was (though obviously, weaker in other defensive areas).  He also can hit the jumper nearly as well as Krstic and Baby. 

[Greenbean]

According to A. Sherrod Blakely, JO looks ready to play tomorrow:

Unless he has an unexpected setback in the next 24 hours, look for JO to play tomorrow vs Spurs

.

Edit: And Von Wafer did a full practice, too.

Beat me to it. Great news.

And Wafer apparently will be active vs Spurs, too.

@Terek_Pierce #Celtics Von Wafer is back practicing with the team. Will probably be on the active roster vs. #Spurs tomorrow night.

Underrated story line....Celtics are 6-7 since Wafer's injury. Welcome back Von! It was you the whole time!

[jgod213]

Gotta like JO's attitude right now. 

I know it's not worth much on the court, but over the past week or so it really sounds like JO's been very hungry to get out there and get in as much work as possible.  I know Doc doesn't want him out there doing too much too soon, but if Jermaine brings this seemingly eager and sense-of-urgency attitudce to the court it might breath just enough life into everyone else to win a few more regular season games while still trying to accumulate rest for some others.

Crazyier things have happened...right?

[Fafnir]

Gotta like JO's attitude right now. 

I know it's not worth much on the court, but over the past week or so it really sounds like JO's been very hungry to get out there and get in as much work as possible.  I know Doc doesn't want him out there doing too much too soon, but if Jermaine brings this seemingly eager and sense-of-urgency attitudce to the court it might breath just enough life into everyone else to win a few more regular season games while still trying to accumulate rest for some others.

Crazyier things have happened...right?

Yup, PJ Brown gave the C's huge minutes in the playoffs after looking like a Troy Murphy type signing in the regular season.

[Mr October]

I'd love to see JO back in action. If we can get 12-15 minutes from him per game and then the same from Shaq, this team will look a lot more functional in the middle. This is exciting news.

[Drucci]

I've been excited about JO's return for weeks but now these reports on his great condition and his excitement/hunger are just the icing on the cake so I really hop he doesn't suffer any setback... I think he will be litterally huge for us, not necessarily in his first game back because I think he needs some time to get his rythm back but I definitely think he will be a big boost to the team soon and a huge asset in the playoffs.

[Jon]

If healthy (and that's a big IF), he's the most well-rounded center that's been on this team all year (including Perk).  That doesn't necessarily mean he's the best, but he really has a diverse skillset. 

[LarBrd33]

DOnt' know what to expect from JO.  Theoretically if he's over whatever health issues he's been struggling with, he's the best center out of the three (Perk, Shaq, JO).  Or... he might totally be toast.  His stats last season (prior to the playoffs when he played hurt) were solid... 14, 7 and 2.  But he's a former allstar who is 2 years younger than KG and 7 years younger than Shaq... I don't know what to really expect here.  I've seen younger big men considered totally washed up and then suddenly have a post-injury resurgence (Antoino Mcdyse comes to mind)... and I've also seen younger big men considered totally washed up... end up actually being totally washed up (Chris Webber comes to mind).  Don't know who to expect.

One personal observation, though...  I'm not sure if anyone else had this impression, but of the few games I saw of JO earlier this season... he didn't look happy AT ALL to me.  He looked like a guy who didn't want to be here.  I mean... #1 - I might have been imagining things... #2 - that might have been because he was hurt and frustrated... but I had a different perception of it.  From seeing his body language and seeing him sulk on the bench, he looked like the only guy who wasn't part of the team.  At the time, my thought was that he had been brought in originally as "KG insurance" and probably promised the starting role until Perk came back.  Then suddenly the Celtics went out and signed Shaq and JO's role was no longer defined.  I was getting the same vibe from him as I got from Baby when he was crying about his lack of defined role.  He was giving me a vibe of a guy who felt he had made a mistake by signing here.  No guaranteed role, purpose or minutes.  Short term it was Shaq starting with Baby as backup... long term it was Perk starting with Shaq and Baby as backup.  I was guessing that Jermaine felt like he was too young and talented to be the "spot minute insurance guy" at the age of 32 when just a year before he was the 2nd best player on a playoff team.  I remember vividly a game we played against Indiana where the Pacer's broadcast team said that Jermaine probably regretted not taking time to appreciate his time as a star on the Pacers... and there he was sitting on the bench sulking while they said it.  A washed up backup to a backup with his glory days behind him... at the age of 32.

Again, I might have been imagining it, but... seems to me that trading Perk gives this guy a defined role again.  He's no longer an afterthought on a Finals-bound team.  He now has a purpose.  The team is struggling... they NEED what he can provide.  It goes back to the concept I brought up in another thread where Shaq can no longer be looked at as a bandwagon hopper... he's now going to be a crucial part of any playoff run we make.  Trading Perk gives both of those guys a major sense of purpose.  I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing out of Jermaine... sounds like a guy who is ready to fit in as a key piece.  If he's healthy again... he will get major minutes backing up both Shaq AND KG.  It's on him now.  The minutes are there if he can play.

[LarBrd33]

Ya know... I'm gonna think positive here.   JO is younger than every one of the Big 3.  People are quick to point out he's one of those "Straight from High School" guys like KG whose age is irrelevant due to the amount of miles he has put on his tires. Even that is a poor excuse if you consider his first 4 years on Portland he played a total of 211 games and averaged about 10 minutes.  Can't really count that.

All-in-all JO's only got about 10 NBA seasons under his belt.  This is KG's 16th.

Everyone was quick to accept that Perk was going to return to pre-injury form for the playoffs despite the fact he was having major surgery that takes a year to recover from.  Last February prior to his injury, JO averaged 16, 8 and 2 over the month.  I think it might be a little silly to assume JO is going to be a total non-factor if he comes back healthy.  I'm gonna up my expectations from nothing to something.

[csfansince60s]

DOnt' know what to expect from JO.  Theoretically if he's over whatever health issues he's been struggling with, he's the best center out of the three (Perk, Shaq, JO).  Or... he might totally be toast.  His stats last season (prior to the playoffs when he played hurt) were solid... 14, 7 and 2.  But he's a former allstar who is 2 years younger than KG and 7 years younger than Shaq... I don't know what to really expect here. 

TP, LB33. He played 72games last year during the reg season with those stats.In April he hurt his knee AND his ankle just prior to the playoff series against us that everyone vilifies him for.

Quote
“I’m ready to go,” O’Neal said before last night’s game. “It’s been about a year, since I left Miami, that I haven’t had any limitations. It hasn’t been this year, for sure. I can’t wait to get back in the mix. If we had a practice (Sunday), I would have tried to go (last night). Now I have to get up to speed with the new plays and the new guys. The speed of the game is what I’m worried about, but my body I’m not worried about.”

That recent quote from JO gives me much hope and alludes to the limitations due to both his ankle and his knee injuries
from last April thru those playoffs and into our season.

Obviously, none of us "know" for sure, but I think there is better than an even chance that JO will be a significant contributor in the playoffs.

The guy has pride and has played through injuries throughout his career. The Cs brass is notorious for being cautious with their current group of players when injured, and rightfully so, and that's what happened to him this season. He has a lot to prove, and I think he will do it.  

[LarBrd33]

DOnt' know what to expect from JO.  Theoretically if he's over whatever health issues he's been struggling with, he's the best center out of the three (Perk, Shaq, JO).  Or... he might totally be toast.  His stats last season (prior to the playoffs when he played hurt) were solid... 14, 7 and 2.  But he's a former allstar who is 2 years younger than KG and 7 years younger than Shaq... I don't know what to really expect here. 

TP, LB33. He played 72games last year during the reg season with those stats.In April he hurt his knee AND his ankle just prior to the playoff series against us that everyone vilifies him for.

Quote
“I’m ready to go,” O’Neal said before last night’s game. “It’s been about a year, since I left Miami, that I haven’t had any limitations. It hasn’t been this year, for sure. I can’t wait to get back in the mix. If we had a practice (Sunday), I would have tried to go (last night). Now I have to get up to speed with the new plays and the new guys. The speed of the game is what I’m worried about, but my body I’m not worried about.”

That recent quote from JO gives me much hope and alludes to the limitations due to both his ankle and his knee injuries
from last April thru those playoffs and into our season.

Obviously, none of us "know" for sure, but I think there is better than an even chance that JO will be a significant contributor in the playoffs.

The guy has pride and has played through injuries throughout his career. The Cs brass is notorious for being cautious with their current group of players when injured, and rightfully so, and that's what happened to him this season. He has a lot to prove, and I think he will do it.  

Yeah he didn't even play prior to the playoffs.  That was obviously a case of "well it's the playoffs... better give it everything i got despite the fact my body is wrecked". 

I'm not going to deny the guy seems injury prone.  He started last season with a couple back-to-back 22 and 12 games... then broke his nose in game 3.   But the talent is there.  If he's healthy, he's our best center.

[Tai]

One personal observation, though...  I'm not sure if anyone else had this impression, but of the few games I saw of JO earlier this season... he didn't look happy AT ALL to me.  He looked like a guy who didn't want to be here.  I mean... #1 - I might have been imagining things... #2 - that might have been because he was hurt and frustrated... but I had a different perception of it.  From seeing his body language and seeing him sulk on the bench, he looked like the only guy who wasn't part of the team.  At the time, my thought was that he had been brought in originally as "KG insurance" and probably promised the starting role until Perk came back.  Then suddenly the Celtics went out and signed Shaq and JO's role was no longer defined.  I was getting the same vibe from him as I got from Baby when he was crying about his lack of defined role.  He was giving me a vibe of a guy who felt he had made a mistake by signing here.  No guaranteed role, purpose or minutes.  Short term it was Shaq starting with Baby as backup... long term it was Perk starting with Shaq and Baby as backup.  I was guessing that Jermaine felt like he was too young and talented to be the "spot minute insurance guy" at the age of 32 when just a year before he was the 2nd best player on a playoff team.  I remember vividly a game we played against Indiana where the Pacer's broadcast team said that Jermaine probably regretted not taking time to appreciate his time as a star on the Pacers... and there he was sitting on the bench sulking while they said it.  A washed up backup to a backup with his glory days behind him... at the age of 32.

Lol, I don't know about what JO may have imagined going into this season; you might be right about his role long term, but you definitely imagined BBD backing up the 5 over JO short term, and why I don't know. BBD is a power forward who can play center for spot minutes, simple has that. Maybe JO coming back will place BBD in his proper position.