Shaq has been working out at night and had a physiotherapist at his home 24/7

[chambers]

The big guy is apparently desperate to play and could possibly start on Sunday- if he asks Doc for the start.
He's cancelled multiple appearances and public spots and has been working out at the gym across the street from his house at night.

I'm feeling quietly optimistic- as the guys in the clip say- this calf twinge was a real wake up call for Shaq as it could've been something much more serious.
Vid is the interview with Sean Grande... titled 'Shaq and Delonte etc'...
Fingers Crossed...

http://www.csnne.com/pages/celticsvideo?PID=vqjwLyWMLHKcplcDYcBOfBtZ9CNUoFgY

[celticinorlando]

honestly if we can get 20 minutes a game out of him right now it would be a bonus

[Surferdad]

honestly if we can get 20 minutes a game out of him right now it would be a bonus

I'll take 10, 5 minutes to start the 1st and 3rd quarters.

[SHAQATTACK]

With Krstic & JO & KG feeling pretty good come Sunday... I don't see Shaq starting in the Knicks series, unless it becomes necessary in a do or die final game.  Although I hope he will dress and join the team on the bench for at least moral /team support. And be there just in case.

I believe everyday they can let his problems have more time to heal the better , and save him for the second round and work him in some as sparingly as possible.

If we can get by the Knicks , and Shaq is STILL available , its going to be some awesome knock out drag out brawl from there on out. Kg and PP look wild eyed with emotion.  

 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

What I got from that interview besides Shaq stuff... DWest will play even if he had only nubs! That guy goes hard for his team, so when people complain about him being glass, that's because that guy gives 100% in any game... I bet DWest would go hard in pickup games... he only knows, GO! He may have problems but I'd trust him on my team any day!

[LarBrd33]

We needed Shaq to have a "wake-up" call in August... not a day before the start of the playoffs.  Too late.  He can barely walk and is horribly out of shape.  He can work out all he wants, but as a fan I'm insulted to think that he only started "taking stuff seriously" once his comeback failed 3 minutes in.  Did that fat Laker scum seriously not realize his glory days were behind him and that his body was fragile?  He was too busy dressing like a woman, dancing with a clown mask and playing in Harvard Square to take the Celtic season serious until he body betrayed him.  He seduced Ainge with his charm and wit into thinking he had a center for the playoffs... Ainge trades Perk and now Celtic pride will die with a whimper against the Knicks.  I blame Shaq.  Once a Laker, Always a Laker.

[zerophase]

We needed Shaq to have a "wake-up" call in August... not a day before the start of the playoffs.  Too late.  He can barely walk and is horribly out of shape.  He can work out all he wants, but as a fan I'm insulted to think that he only started "taking stuff seriously" once his comeback failed 3 minutes in.  Did that fat Laker scum seriously not realize his glory days were behind him and that his body was fragile?  He was too busy dressing like a woman, dancing with a clown mask and playing in Harvard Square to take the Celtic season serious until he body betrayed him.  He seduced Ainge with his charm and wit into thinking he had a center for the playoffs... Ainge trades Perk and now Celtic pride will die with a whimper against the Knicks.  I blame Shaq.  Once a Laker, Always a Laker.

He's not out of shape. He's in great shape for a big man his size and his age. Previous reports were that he had improved his conditioning by several times during his injury.

You shouldn't call him fat Laker scum. As a Celtics fan you shouldn't call any Celtic player that. His outward appearance should not dictate his physical conditioning. Example is Big Baby. Although he has some chub, that doesn't mean he's completely out of shape. Some people are just genetically built that way. And for Shaq, at his age, I think he's doing fine.

Though this may be a little late for such urgency, I do appreciate that Shaq is doing all he can to for this team right now.

[cornbreadsmart]

But Shaq shouldn't BE that size. He let himself go along time ago. I don't understand when people use his age as an excuse. I'm 36 and hve lost 90 lbs in a year and a half.Look at the people on the biggest loser and what they accomplish in a short amount of time. Shaq isn't being asked to do that but there is no excuse for not losing A LOT of weight. He's chosen NOT to sacrafice for his team every year for the last several years. It's incredibly selfish.   

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

He obviously should have started his push 2 months ago, not 2 weeks ago.  But better late than never I guess.

The problem with the calf/Achilles area is that it doesn't get good blood flow, especially in older athletes.  A lack of blood flow will slow down the healing process.  I wonder if they've tried oxygen-rich platelet therapy.  Either way, we're looking at another 1-2 weeks.

***

IMO, the no-shows against CHI and Miami were a function of Shaq's absence.  We came to play in SA because they thought they team was finally coming together (JO came back that night, Shaq was expected that weekend).  When the dream of health was shattered, they mentally retreated and failed to show up the rest of the season.  Like KG's continued absence in 2009 (which was minimized by the brass, just like Shaq's), I'm scared that Shaq's continued injury problems will weigh on this team's psyche in a negative way.  Even KG and Paul have admitted recently that they believe this team is championship-caliber, assuming Shaq is healthy.

[Hiero 3 Eyes Watch]

But Shaq shouldn't BE that size. He let himself go along time ago. I don't understand when people use his age as an excuse. I'm 36 and hve lost 90 lbs in a year and a half.Look at the people on the biggest loser and what they accomplish in a short amount of time. Shaq isn't being asked to do that but there is no excuse for not losing A LOT of weight. He's chosen NOT to sacrafice for his team every year for the last several years. It's incredibly selfish.   

i agree with everything here. It's funny when people (like the comment above yours) say 'he's not out of shape'. Uhhhh, yes he is. Extremely out of shape. Just cus we're used to seeing the guy at this enormous size for several years now, doesn't mean that he's not terribly obese.

[vinnie]

I don't think Shaq is going to be walking through that door until it is too late. Never mind play, but you can still see him limping a bit when he walks. It will take a miracle to get him back. Not happening.

[Roy H.]

After reading this quote, I worry that Shaq is cooked:

According to McKeon, it's the entire "triceps surae complex" that's ailing O'Neal, with both the Achilles and calf still sore. But he stressed that O'Neal has not endured any setbacks.

"He's actually made progression every day," said McKeon. "This is a tough injury. The blood supply in this area is so weak and so poor, it's time. I was telling Danny and the coaches, in the last 20 years this is one area of medicine we've made no progress. Because it's just time. It's just hard to get enough healing potential in that area."

So, he's still got the same injury that he's had for 2+ months.  It's an injury that is notoriously difficult to treat, and one in which the medical community has made no progress in 20 years.  Yet, we're relying upon a 39 year old, 350 pound man to make a full recovery.

If I'm understanding McKeon correctly, it was stupid to expect Shaq to make a quick and full recovery. 

[JoT]

But Shaq shouldn't BE that size. He let himself go along time ago. I don't understand when people use his age as an excuse. I'm 36 and hve lost 90 lbs in a year and a half.Look at the people on the biggest loser and what they accomplish in a short amount of time. Shaq isn't being asked to do that but there is no excuse for not losing A LOT of weight. He's chosen NOT to sacrafice for his team every year for the last several years. It's incredibly selfish.   

Thank You as much as I hate to say it, that was part of the reason why he was hated in LA. He was dominant and brought championships out here, but Shaq's lack of concern for his teams are what destroyed him staying on teams.  When he broke his toe I remember him saying, " I hurt myself on company time, I'll heal on company time." that to me was selfish and that was what ticked Kobe off a bit. I can't stand Kobe, but I agree with him on Shaq's lack of leadership, laziness and  non concern for his body in the last part of that dynasty.
Shaq didn't care because he probably thought it wasn't as bad, but now since he sees that banner 18 and ring number 5 are in jeopardy, he's trying his hardest to get it together. It shouldn't have taken him this long to get to this and he shouldn't have waited until the latest injury to take things seriously.

[vinnie]

After reading this quote, I worry that Shaq is cooked:

According to McKeon, it's the entire "triceps surae complex" that's ailing O'Neal, with both the Achilles and calf still sore. But he stressed that O'Neal has not endured any setbacks.

"He's actually made progression every day," said McKeon. "This is a tough injury. The blood supply in this area is so weak and so poor, it's time. I was telling Danny and the coaches, in the last 20 years this is one area of medicine we've made no progress. Because it's just time. It's just hard to get enough healing potential in that area."

So, he's still got the same injury that he's had for 2+ months.  It's an injury that is notoriously difficult to treat, and one in which the medical community has made no progress in 20 years.  Yet, we're relying upon a 39 year old, 350 pound man to make a full recovery.

If I'm understanding McKeon correctly, it was stupid to expect Shaq to make a quick and full recovery. 

Can't wait to hear the excuses from Danny when Shaq never suits up again. Did you see him on TV today? It is clear that he is still in some pain even when just walking.