Ainge "Shaq is either going to play Sunday or Tuesday"

[Drucci]

Other interesting tidbits : Ainge said each member of the Big 4 has seen his play drop in the last 12 games. Said the team won 5 games after the trade and there was no emotion. Ainge also thinks Green has been fantastic so far as a Celtic and thinks Delonte hasn't been the "real" Delonte yet.

Danny "Pravda Editor" Ainge. Jeff Green has been "fantastic." Wow, talk about hyperbole. Jeff Green  has been okay in some games and has been completely invisible in others. Overall, he has been okay.

He went on to compare his stats with OKC and Boston and his +/- and said he has been a lot better in Boston that he has been his whole career in OKC.

The most interesting thing to me was that Danny said what worried him the most was Delonte's health because he thinks he is the key and he hopes he can come back to his true level. Said he wasn't worried about the veterans (included Rondo in that groupe) so he isn't worried about Shaq and JO either.

[vinnie]

Ainge : "I felt more confident that Krstic was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy than Perk for sure".

What he meant to say: "I felt more confident that a medicore center who plays a little better offense and a lot worse defense than Perk was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy...."

[j804]

Ainge : "I felt more confident that Krstic was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy than Perk for sure".

That is stupid and a big slap in the face to Perk.

[vinnie]

Other interesting tidbits : Ainge said each member of the Big 4 has seen his play drop in the last 12 games. Said the team won 5 games after the trade and there was no emotion. Ainge also thinks Green has been fantastic so far as a Celtic and thinks Delonte hasn't been the "real" Delonte yet.

Danny "Pravda Editor" Ainge. Jeff Green has been "fantastic." Wow, talk about hyperbole. Jeff Green  has been okay in some games and has been completely invisible in others. Overall, he has been okay.

He went on to compare his stats with OKC and Boston and his +/- and said he has been a lot better in Boston that he has been his whole career in OKC.

The most interesting thing to me was that Danny said what worried him the most was Delonte's health because he thinks he is the key and he hopes he can come back to his true level. Said he wasn't worried about the veterans (included Rondo in that groupe) so he isn't worried about Shaq and JO either.

Sounds to me like the one guy who should sit out the rest of the regular season is Delonte. I don't think his "day-to-day" ankle injury is getting any better. And if Von plays tonight they can afford to rest Delonte.

[angryguy77]

Ainge : "I felt more confident that Krstic was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy than Perk for sure".

What he meant to say: "I felt more confident that a medicore center who plays a little better offense and a lot worse defense than Perk was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy...."

We maintained the best record in the east with semi-pro for the most of the season. Perk was not a factor this year

[P2]

Sunday or Tuesday in Celtics language means First or Second Round. Seriously, this has got to stop! Shaq ain't walking through that door by April 5!

[Drucci]

Ainge : "I felt more confident that Krstic was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy than Perk for sure".

That is stupid and a big slap in the face to Perk.

Not really, he admitted seconds after that Krstic was far away from Perk in terms of defensive abilities.

[nickagneta]

Ainge: "Shaq is either going to play Sunday or Tuesday"

He then said under his breath with his fingers crossed: "Or he's not."

[Chris]

Ainge : "I felt more confident that Krstic was going to make it through the rest of the year healthy than Perk for sure".

That is stupid and a big slap in the face to Perk.

Not really, he admitted seconds after that Krstic was far away from Perk in terms of defensive abilities.

Yeah, it was basically common sense, and is classic spin.  It was a very accurate statement, but does not make that strong an argument for the actual trade.

Of course Krstic is more likely to be healthy.  He is not coming off major knee surgery, he did not just sprain his other MCL, and he doesn't have bum shoulders. 

But it doesn't mean he is anywhere near as effective, or as valuable as Perk.

Really, I just hate these interviews, because you simply cannot put too much into a GMs explanations of a move this soon after.  His job is to spin it, no matter what, and paint it in a positive light, if for no other reason than to sell tickets. 

I am sure he believes plenty of the stuff he said, but it is impossible to know exactly what was completely true, and what was spin (which isn't really a lie, but a way of presenting the truth to prove your point). 

[jr_3421]

Not really concerned with what Ainge says to the media. Whether he lies or not, as long as we win a championship, I could care less.

[Vermont Green]

I don't get all the surprise with this.  Shaq's foot/heel/whatever is as healthy as it is going to get so they might as well put him out there and see what they have.  It may blow up, who knows, but then at least they will know where they stand.

I think we are fine if we can get 15-20 minutes out of the combined O'Neals (one or the other or both alternating games or something).  If we end up with 2 O'Neals + Krstic all able to play 15-20 minutes, you will even be able to say we have depth.  It still may turn out that both O'Neals prove useless but I just feel like things are going to work out.

[Jon]

I'm pretty sure that Danny's telling the truth.  That doesn't mean it's a good thing.  It may mean that the team has now realized Shaq isn't getting any better, they might as well just play him as he is to try to build some continuity back up. 

However, with a 3-headed monster at center (plus some time where KG/Baby plays there), I think we can do a nice juggling act with minutes. 

Even if Shaq can only give us 15 mpg, assuming JO and Krstic can do the same, we should be fine. 

[prov1ml34]

I would say why not throw Shaq "into the fire" so to speak and see how his foot/heel/leg respond? It is still a few weeks away from the playoffs to where if it did flare up or respond negatively they have time to either rest it some more or look for something different in terms of rehab (e.g. another cortisone shot or some type of therapy). On the flip side, if the injury doesn't flare up, then he has a few games left to shake the rust off and get back into game shape.

IF he does come back Sunday or Tuesday I would still not play him on back to backs but at least get him into some games....

My 2 cents.

[Tai]

Sunday or Tuesday in Celtics language means First or Second Round. Seriously, this has got to stop! Shaq ain't walking through that door by April 5!

I can't lie, you're embarking on Megatron territory to me with your pessimism on Shaq now, as if you're putting it on for show. Either way, sounds to me you almost want Shaq out for a while to be proven right on something. The trade?

I mean, it was one thing when Doc said he wasn't certain Shaq would play on April 5. If Danny truly said that there's a chance Shaq might play before April 5, if not ON April 5, then what's the big deal? Doc said Shaq was improving, and that he wasn't before. Also, you do know that our next home game IS on April 3rd, correct? What better way for Shaq to return than at home? It's what Perkins did. 

Hmmm....still, just as a friendly bet, are you willing to bet a certain amount of TPs he doesn't play April 5th or earlier? You know, if you're so confident that Danny is lying to all of us? I'll offer...20 TPs?

[Roy H.]

Now, to be clear, Ainge didn't say *which* Sunday or Tuesday it was going to be, right?  Just an indeterminate day of the week in the future?

Sounds about right.