Optimistic about Shaq/JO

[mc34]

I'll start with Shaq. Last year with Cleveland, he sat out the last 20 or so games, came back as soon as the playoffs began, and was one of the better players on that team. Before pointing to how that team ended their season, Shaq did his part well, but it was Lebron who came up small.

JO missed a lot of time at the end of last season also and played through the playoffs on a bad knee. While its a stretch giving him the benefit of the doubt, JO claims that he hasn't felt as healthy as he does now since before his injury last year. Pre-injury last year, JO was really good for the Heat. When JO was playing for us and looked okay-not-great, he was still playing on a knee that he did not feel comfortable on.

Calm down people, we'll be okay

EDIT: Just for the record, I'm NOT saying that Shaq and JO will both come back and start dropping 20-10, but I think people are underestimating what JO brings, and I do think Shaq will manage to stay healthy enough

[droopdog7]

Ironically, I am much more confident in JO than Shaq.  But yeah, having both would be nice (and probably necessary).

[get_banners]

the one good sign about JO is that he's supposedly been pushing hard and had no knee flare-ups for 3 or 4 weeks now. that suggests that MAYBE he's over that problem. i'm not expecting vintage JO or anything, but if he can give us 10 mpg of good D and rebounding, both of which he's very capable of doing (even with the lay-off) if his knee is no longer catastrophic, we'll be much improved.

[Surferdad]

It's not over-optimistic to think both will be back and at least somewhat productive in the playoffs.  Seems like the team has been cautious with both their returns, so perhaps the team will reap the benefit of that.  I would bet the big 4 will be energized with their returns as well. 

[PosImpos]

If we could get a combined 12-15 points, 5-10 rebounds, and a couple blocks out of them each night, we'd be in business (Shaq was putting up close to those numbers by himself early in the season when he was spry).

[winsomme]

If we could get a combined 12-15 points, 5-10 rebounds, and a couple blocks out of them each night, we'd be in business (Shaq was putting up close to those numbers by himself early in the season when he was spry).

It's not so much the points and reb's but allowing the defensive unit to function as it's supposed to. certainly those stats could come but the biggest impact I'm hoping for is the return of our swagger...

[mc34]

No one's afraid to drive in on Krstic. Krstic is also a pretty thin dude. Shaq can set some wall-sized picks, JO can at least do a better job than Krstic, and these two plus KG are a frontcourt that smaller guys don't wanna drive on. I'm confident

[CaliCeltics]

I just hope that in those 10 MPG, JO remembers how to foul... hard. He has six... use them.

[PosImpos]

If we could get a combined 12-15 points, 5-10 rebounds, and a couple blocks out of them each night, we'd be in business (Shaq was putting up close to those numbers by himself early in the season when he was spry).

It's not so much the points and reb's but allowing the defensive unit to function as it's supposed to. certainly those stats could come but the biggest impact I'm hoping for is the return of our swagger...

Fair enough, but I'm primarily concerned with having an actual inside presence on offense.  Whether that's the bigs actually scoring or just creating space inside so that our players can drive, so be it.

[winsomme]

If we could get a combined 12-15 points, 5-10 rebounds, and a couple blocks out of them each night, we'd be in business (Shaq was putting up close to those numbers by himself early in the season when he was spry).

It's not so much the points and reb's but allowing the defensive unit to function as it's supposed to. certainly those stats could come but the biggest impact I'm hoping for is the return of our swagger...

Fair enough, but I'm primarily concerned with having an actual inside presence on offense.  Whether that's the bigs actually scoring or just creating space inside so that our players can drive, so be it.

That's true. We can definitely dump it into Shaq every once in a while just to keep teams honest.

This could work but the achilles really worries me. It's very tweakable and it's not a pain you can really play through when it happens...

but my gosh will it be nice to see real centers playing in our system...

[winsomme]

With Danny now saying he has no idea, the Shaq returning to the court situation has officially become the KG situation of two years ago.

After the trade Danny told us Shaq was looking better than he had earlier in the season and now he is perpetually one to two weeks away from returning.

It's nice to have JO coming back, but Shaq is the difference maker. He is the one that can replicate most closely Perk's role in our system.

C'mon Danny. You said...you...said...

[housecall]

You just earned your second Tommy Point...very well stated.

[hwangjini_1]

Thanks mc for the positive thread. Given recent Celtic woes and the resultant gnashing of teeth here at cb, a more optimistic thread is greatly appreciated.

I have no doubt that shaq will play good basketball and will not physically fall apart in the play offs. He doesn't need to lead the celtics so the burden on him will be lessened.

JO? I don't know about those knees, but I believe he will do his best ot provide 10-15 minutes a game. He may be the celtics best defensive center and he will help the team along the road to number 18.

Recent troubles don't worry me. When the play offs come, celtics will answer the bell and play defense. And with shaq playing, on offense they should be fine.

Go celtics!

[StartOrien]

the one good sign about JO is that he's supposedly been pushing hard and had no knee flare-ups for 3 or 4 weeks now. that suggests that MAYBE he's over that problem. i'm not expecting vintage JO or anything, but if he can give us 10 mpg of good D and rebounding, both of which he's very capable of doing (even with the lay-off) if his knee is no longer catastrophic, we'll be much improved.

I was encourage to hear that he dropped 12 pounds working out. Shows he's been able to do a decent amount of works (or has had excellent results on his south beach diet)

[Roy H.]

I've tried to stay out of the "optimism" threads lately, because I still have a pretty sour demeanor about anything related to the trade.  However, there's really no other place to talk about Shaq's recovery right now, so...

I have absolutely no faith that Shaq will return at a high level.  The continual pushing back of his return date is a vivid reminder of the KG injury, and to me it suggests that the team doctors don't have a clue of when -- or if -- he'll be back.  Sure, he can probably get on the court, but will he be mobile and effective?  That's the big concern.

I'd love to know how much of this Danny knew at the time of the Perk trade.  Did he legitimately believe that Shaq's return was fairly imminent, or did he know that there was no firm diagnosis?  I know some will say that Shaq is fine and that the team is just resting him, but I don't buy that.  With the team struggling how it is, and with the need to get everyone used to playing together as a cohesive unit, I don't think the team would have the hubris to try to plug Shaq in at the last minute if they could avoid it.

So, yeah...  I'm not all that optimistic about Shaq.  As for JO, I like the guy, but I'll believe it when I see it.