We need the big fella.

[WeMadeIt17]

We need Shaq desperatly to be healthy in the playoffs. Last year we played crappy towards the end cause of injuries but I had a diffrnet kind of confidence that no matter what that team was going to pull through. Now this year WE need to have Shaq. Also to add in does it feel like this last couple of weeks were not really running anything for Ray? Why is that? Do we not want to give away some of our plays for the playoffs I mean we really gotta fix something.. Here's to hoping Shaq is ok for playoffs!

[stylo617617]

ive always thought that
A.we cant judge the trade AT ALL untill shaq comes back
B.that with shaq we'll win the title this year

its easy to judge green & our poor play becuase well as fans we have nothing else but seriously theres no way you can seriously seriously judge the trade untill we see this team with shaq playing his 24-28 mins i just dont understand how guys do it on here

im counting down till saturday )when the playoffs begin)

[RedsCeltics34]

A lot of my friends are quick to blame "the trade" for our recent slide. Im like dude its not the trade... what trade was it last season when we were a .500 basketball team after the all star break?, You cant judge this trade until Shaq is back!!!!

[Marcus13]

A lot of my friends are quick to blame "the trade" for our recent slide. Im like dude its not the trade... what trade was it last season when we were a .500 basketball team after the all star break?, You cant judge this trade until Shaq is back!!!!

But if Shaq isn't healthy for the playoffs, the trade is an epic fail.

But yes, if Shaq is able to give us 20 mpg - I see us getting out of the second round

[Senninsage]

Shaq makes this team far better. It's that simple. He really, really does.

Without Shaq, a great part of what has made this team dangerous all year is missing. However, the Celtics better learn to stop basing their entire offense around Rondo because he is simply not as proven in that area as Pierce, Garnett and Allen are.

Rondo cannot be relied on to be a team's best player, much less carry a team. He may have done it some games last year in the playoffs, but a lot of people are going to find out that was a much more isolated incident than many are willing to admit. Heading into the playoffs, this Boston Celtics team is in serious trouble.

I had zero concerns last year because I thought they were just having some bad luck, and it was obvious they were resting people. And I knew what those pieces being back in the playoffs would ultimately end up meaning for the squad. This year, heading into these playoffs, there is an inherent flaw in relying so much on Rondo to handle our entire offensive execution. It's foolish.

[BballTim]

Shaq makes this team far better. It's that simple. He really, really does.

Without Shaq, a great part of what has made this team dangerous all year is missing. However, the Celtics better learn to stop basing their entire offense around Rondo because he is simply not as proven in that area as Pierce, Garnett and Allen are.

Rondo cannot be relied on to be a team's best player, much less carry a team. He may have done it some games last year in the playoffs, but a lot of people are going to find out that was a much more isolated incident than many are willing to admit. Heading into the playoffs, this Boston Celtics team is in serious trouble.

I had zero concerns last year because I thought they were just having some bad luck, and it was obvious they were resting people. And I knew what those pieces being back in the playoffs would ultimately end up meaning for the squad. This year, heading into these playoffs, there is an inherent flaw in relying so much on Rondo to handle our entire offensive execution. It's foolish.

  If Rondo doesn't carry the team through some games this year our playoff run will be pretty short. This isn't 2008, and the big three aren't as good as they were then.

[Chris]

Shaq makes this team far better. It's that simple. He really, really does.

Without Shaq, a great part of what has made this team dangerous all year is missing. However, the Celtics better learn to stop basing their entire offense around Rondo because he is simply not as proven in that area as Pierce, Garnett and Allen are.

Rondo cannot be relied on to be a team's best player, much less carry a team. He may have done it some games last year in the playoffs, but a lot of people are going to find out that was a much more isolated incident than many are willing to admit. Heading into the playoffs, this Boston Celtics team is in serious trouble.

I had zero concerns last year because I thought they were just having some bad luck, and it was obvious they were resting people. And I knew what those pieces being back in the playoffs would ultimately end up meaning for the squad. This year, heading into these playoffs, there is an inherent flaw in relying so much on Rondo to handle our entire offensive execution. It's foolish.

  If Rondo doesn't carry the team through some games this year our playoff run will be pretty short. This isn't 2008, and the big three aren't as good as they were then.

I agree, Rondo is absolutely critical to this teams success.  He needs to be a difference maker if they are going to go anywhere.

[mgent]

Shaq makes this team far better. It's that simple. He really, really does.

Without Shaq, a great part of what has made this team dangerous all year is missing. However, the Celtics better learn to stop basing their entire offense around Rondo because he is simply not as proven in that area as Pierce, Garnett and Allen are.

Rondo cannot be relied on to be a team's best player, much less carry a team. He may have done it some games last year in the playoffs, but a lot of people are going to find out that was a much more isolated incident than many are willing to admit. Heading into the playoffs, this Boston Celtics team is in serious trouble.

I had zero concerns last year because I thought they were just having some bad luck, and it was obvious they were resting people. And I knew what those pieces being back in the playoffs would ultimately end up meaning for the squad. This year, heading into these playoffs, there is an inherent flaw in relying so much on Rondo to handle our entire offensive execution. It's foolish.

  If Rondo doesn't carry the team through some games this year our playoff run will be pretty short. This isn't 2008, and the big three aren't as good as they were then.

True, although Ray and Paul are shooting a career high from the field still.

[BballTim]

Shaq makes this team far better. It's that simple. He really, really does.

Without Shaq, a great part of what has made this team dangerous all year is missing. However, the Celtics better learn to stop basing their entire offense around Rondo because he is simply not as proven in that area as Pierce, Garnett and Allen are.

Rondo cannot be relied on to be a team's best player, much less carry a team. He may have done it some games last year in the playoffs, but a lot of people are going to find out that was a much more isolated incident than many are willing to admit. Heading into the playoffs, this Boston Celtics team is in serious trouble.

I had zero concerns last year because I thought they were just having some bad luck, and it was obvious they were resting people. And I knew what those pieces being back in the playoffs would ultimately end up meaning for the squad. This year, heading into these playoffs, there is an inherent flaw in relying so much on Rondo to handle our entire offensive execution. It's foolish.

  If Rondo doesn't carry the team through some games this year our playoff run will be pretty short. This isn't 2008, and the big three aren't as good as they were then.

True, although Ray and Paul are shooting a career high from the field still.

  Even at that, though, I don't think they shoot as well when Rondo's not playing. Ray for sure, Paul probably.

[Jeff]

it bothers me that we have so many critical pieces that have to work right for us to win this thing

I mean, that's the case most years for most teams but doesn't it feel just kind of ...moreso with this team?

Rondo = critical to the offense
Shaq = critical in the post
KG = critical to our defense
and oh by the way, if Ray isn't getting shots, that ain't good either

about the only constant this year has been Pierce and even he can fade in and out from time to time

oy vey, this believing stuff is hard work

[housecall]

I have said this for several seasons now,Danny should've worked hard on finding a decent backup pg that can replace Rondo when needed and the team hardly skips a beat.They have been to reliant on one pg to be the spark.Next,its also ashame the team's whole season is being determined by whether or not an aging center will show up big or not in the playoffs.And it almost seems like Ray Allen hasn't been as motivated since the night he broke Reggie Miller's record...one things for sure he hasn't had many good long distance shooting nights since his breaking the record.Is this just a coincidence or has the whole scheme of the offense gone in a different direction?

[Mr October]

it bothers me that we have so many critical pieces that have to work right for us to win this thing

I mean, that's the case most years for most teams but doesn't it feel just kind of ...moreso with this team?

Rondo = critical to the offense
Shaq = critical in the post
KG = critical to our defense
and oh by the way, if Ray isn't getting shots, that ain't good either

about the only constant this year has been Pierce and even he can fade in and out from time to time

oy vey, this believing stuff is hard work

Yeah, the Celtics need all parts firing on a high level in order to win a title. They don't have the same explosive 'carriers' as Miami, Chicago and LA.

C'mon, Shaq, we need ya buddy! Go Celtics!

[winsomme]

It's really all about Shaq...nothing more nothing less. everybody else is about as healthy as we could hope for.

there's absolutely nothing wrong with Rondo. The Big 3 didn't just get old overnight. Our team just functions properly with a snarly, screen-setting, low post defending center. Shaq and Perk fit that mold.

Now that Perk is gone it is absolutely essential that Shaq returns.

[Senninsage]

This here just shows how important shaq is to this team.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/04/09/statscube-playing-the-shaq-card/

We are way better with him in there.