Will Shaq finally suit up tomorrow?

[j804]

judging by this article and what Ainge has said it seems he will, either tomorrow or Tuesday. the clock is ticking I say throw him right into the fire and play him 10 minutes to see how he reacts to it, what good is waiting and waiting he needs to be on the court before the playoffs.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2011_0402ainge_offers_his_confidence_in_shaq/

[jojowhite10]

I think the good of waiting and waiting is that potentially with every day of rest, that's one day longer in the playoffs he could be used (assuming that Shaq has a "limited amount" of minutes left in the tank).

Another issue that people seem to be blowing out of proportion is Shaq's role on the team. Very little offense will be run through him. He simply needs to know where to go so that offensive sets can be run and do his job on the boards. I don't think it will take him longer than a week to familiarize himself with the playbook like every other new addition we've seen.

[PseudoElite]

I think the good of waiting and waiting is that potentially with every day of rest, that's one day longer in the playoffs he could be used (assuming that Shaq has a "limited amount" of minutes left in the tank).

Another issue that people seem to be blowing out of proportion is Shaq's role on the team. Very little offense will be run through him. He simply needs to know where to go so that offensive sets can be run and do his job on the boards. I don't think it will take him longer than a week to familiarize himself with the playbook like every other new addition we've seen.

His size will be a huge boost for defense, rebounding, and screen setting if he can play and stay healthy in the playoffs.

It's basically all up to Shaq now, which is bizarre.

[mc34]

My guess is Shaq won't play tomorrow, but Tuesday. We shouldn't need him against the Pistons anyway (you never know with this team lately, though), so instead get him an extra day of rest. A Tuesday return will help him get somewhat back up to speed before the game against the Bulls afterward.

The team used to go to Shaq a lot to open up games.. Maybe Shaq taking some of the load off our guys early will help us close these games out better.

[j804]

via CSNNE.com

BOSTON — Shaquille O'Neal just made his way into the TD Garden, looking fit as ever.

Will he play tonight?

That remains to be seen.

When asked by CSNNE.com if he was playing tonight, he said he wasn't sure.

"I'm going to try," he said. "We'll see."

[vinnie]

"I'm going to try"? I am guessing that means he is going to try to convince Doc to let him play.

[Drucci]

"I'm going to try"? I am guessing that means he is going to try to convince Doc to let him play.

I interpreted it like "I want to play and I probably can but I can't say anything until I get the official word/decision from Doc".

[j804]

"I'm going to try"? I am guessing that means he is going to try to convince Doc to let him play.

or maybe if his body allows him to 

[zerophase]

I take that as a "yes unless after warmups I start hurting again."

[Drucci]

A sign that he will play?

"Saw Shaq walking down the hall with a jersey on. No official word yet, though"

http://twitter.com/#!/CLNS_Brandon

[j804]

from Sherrod Blakely twitter

BOSTON — Shaquille O'Neal just made his way into the TD Garden, looking fit as ever.

Will he play tonight?

That remains to be seen.

When asked by CSNNE.com if he was playing tonight, he said he wasn't sure.

"I'm going to try," he said. "We'll see."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers told CSNNE.com that O'Neal will "probably" play tonight, but he wasn't sure just yet.

"If he does, it will only be for five, maybe 10 minutes," Rivers said.

O'Neal, out with what's being described as a right leg injury, would provide some much-needed depth for the C's at the center position.

The Celtics recently got Jermaine O'Neal back following surgery ln his left knee. But on the same night of his return, the C's lost Nenad Krstic to a right knee injury.

The Celtics were concerned that Krstic suffered torn ligaments in the knee. But an MRI revealed that he had a bone bruise and his status is now day-to-day.

As for O'Neal, his return can not come soon enough for the Celtics.

One of the reasons they traded away Kendrick Perkins in February was because they felt that O'Neal would give them the inside presence they needed to finish out this season strong, and adequately prepare them for the playoffs.

However, his injuries - he has had right foot, calf and Achilles Tendon issues - have taken longer to heal than initially thought.

[Jon]

My next question that I hope we will have reason to speculate about soon: how hurt was Shaq? 

I think there's a 50/50 chance he wasn't really that hurt and this was management's plan to rest him and get him to drop some weight for the playoffs.  Hopefully his play will reflect this. 

Unfortunately, the other "50" in my mind is that this injury isn't fully recovered and that we may simply see the Shaq of January, who really wasn't all that effective. 

[slamtheking]

I take that as a "yes unless after warmups I start hurting again."

that's what I thought too

[jambr380]

I take that as a "yes unless after warmups I start hurting again."

that's what I thought too

That sounds right, but I can't imagine how Doc would even let him near a basketball if it was true that he may still be hurting. I have to assume that he has been enjoying some time off and is ready for a big playoff run. 

[CelticSooner]

SeanGrandePBP

Shaq returns tonight and will come off the bench. I assume that means then that he's DVR-ing Wrestlemania. C's-Det 5:30 WEEI/NBA.com

Finally the big man returns.